How to calm show steer?

[Cattle Crazy]

He was fine when I first trained him about 10 mo. ago but now he is acting up and I can't control him. He's too high-strung. He just starts galloping and I can't run that fast. I have a show coming up in less than two months and I'm worried. Any tips as to how to calm him down so I can handle him? Thanks in advance.

 

[dimebag]

Melatonin and valerian root , both available @ wal-mart .

 

[Cattle Crazy]

Can they test for them at shows?

 

[dimebag]

I should be fine , myself and many others have used it for years with no issues .

 

[knabe]

Longer rope, smaller pen. Let him run, see how fruitless and uncomfortable it is. When he wants to stop running, keep driving him, then when he shortens up to stop, you stop, repeat to reinforce behavior.


probably the most effective thing to not do is not do anything after you catch him. just let him go. introduce scratching, moving a foot, a food treat, something so he looks forward to meeting you rather than what he is telling you now, which is to get away from you.  he's really screaming it loudly because softly didn't work.

 

[Tallcool1]

Thiamine

Straight Thiamine given orally.  Heavy dose.  It smells horrible, but it will settle one down in a hurry.

Thiamine is what is in a lot of the calming pastes that are sold.

 

[faycopa]

Thiamine

Straight Thiamine given orally.  Heavy dose.  It smells horrible, but it will settle one down in a hurry.

Thiamine is what is in a lot of the calming pastes that are sold.

How would you give the thiamine - mix with something or just place it in the mouth ?

 

[Tallcool1]

Thiamine

Straight Thiamine given orally.  Heavy dose.  It smells horrible, but it will settle one down in a hurry.

Thiamine is what is in a lot of the calming pastes that are sold.

How would you give the thiamine - mix with something or just place it in the mouth ?

Just squirt it in their mouth.  Be sure to get it all over your hands so that you get to smell that nasty stuff for the rest of the day!! 

Seriously, don't need to mix it with anything.

 

[SlickTxMaine]

Thiamine

Straight Thiamine given orally.  Heavy dose.  It smells horrible, but it will settle one down in a hurry.

Thiamine is what is in a lot of the calming pastes that are sold.

Where do you get thiamine and is it safe for heifers?

 

[Tallcool1]

Thiamine

Straight Thiamine given orally.  Heavy dose.  It smells horrible, but it will settle one down in a hurry.

Thiamine is what is in a lot of the calming pastes that are sold.

Where do you get thiamine and is it safe for heifers?

You can buy it online or from a Vet Supply place.  It is a naturally occurring chemical the the body already produces.  I don't see why it wouldn't be heifer safe, but I really don't know because we don't show heifers.