Stubborn steer! Hhheeelllppp!!!!

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Annieboon

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Apr 2, 2015
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53
Hi all! I have the stubbornest steer every!! Just won't walk, tied him to the ute and pulled across the paddock using pressure and release, works fine and he had grwat with that but as soon as I go to walk him he just plants his feet, if he dies walk he bolts, he is perfect tied up really quite steer, have blown him done heaps of hair work and he doesn't even flinch. Not sure what else to do!!
Thanks in advance
 

knabe

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Longer rope, smaller pen.


Keep pushing calmly till he stops. Then stop. The more he wants to be away from you, slightly more annoying it should be. He should want to face up.
 

GoWyo

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Nov 29, 2008
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Did you get the right video link knabe?  That one is a man eater -- no quick release necessary since she comes right up the rope.
 

looking4champions

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Jun 8, 2015
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Basically your steer won't lead.... How old is the steer?

You want the steer to respect the tension applied to the halter as well as whomever is at the end of it.  Its all the steer respecting that control. 

1st, lead the steer in a straight line.  Whenever he stops or plants his feet, position yourself to pull the halter in the opposite direction causing the steer to turn his head toward his tail.  Apply tension.  This will force him to unplant his feet and turn.  He has no weight advantage that way.  Do that everytime he wants to stop or sit back on the halter. Look at it as if you are leading him in a tight circle around himself. It will take some work and time to "break" him out of it.  The key is to be smart and use the halter to gain an advantage. Plus tying a steer for an hour or two per day helps in the long run as well.  Be safe and good luck.
 

knabe

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looking4champions said:
Basically your steer won't lead.... How old is the steer?

You want the steer to respect the tension applied to the halter as well as whomever is at the end of it.  Its all the steer respecting that control. 

1st, lead the steer in a straight line.  Whenever he stops or plants his feet, position yourself to pull the halter in the opposite direction causing the steer to turn his head toward his tail.  Apply tension.  This will force him to unplant his feet and turn.  He has no weight advantage that way.  Do that everytime he wants to stop or sit back on the halter. Look at it as if you are leading him in a tight circle around himself. It will take some work and time to "break" him out of it.  The key is to be smart and use the halter to gain an advantage. Plus tying a steer for an hour or two per day helps in the long run as well.  Be safe and good luck.


this is good.  i call this disengaging or putting neutral.
 

knabe

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Feb 7, 2007
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GoWyo said:
Did you get the right video link knabe?  That one is a man eater -- no quick release necessary since she comes right up the rope.


wilder animals help illustrate how early one can detect the wrong thing easier.  too often we let things escalate without knowing de-escalating earlier.
 

looking4champions

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Jun 8, 2015
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I've seen that video before, but I have never seen or heard of anyone breaking a show steer using that technique....... The main tools you need to halter break a steer is time, a tie-up post, rice root brush, wisdom or a donkey. You need to break a steer while they are at their smallest size and weight. No one in their right mind would be trying to halter break a calf at that size with a barrel and a showstick.
 

knabe

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looking4champions said:
I've seen that video before, but I have never seen or heard of anyone breaking a show steer using that technique....... The main tools you need to halter break a steer is time, a tie-up post, rice root brush, wisdom or a donkey. You need to break a steer while they are at their smallest size and weight. No one in their right mind would be trying to halter break a calf at that size with a barrel and a showstick.


in college, that was about the average size of steers/heifers we started.  went through 4-500 of them. only had one that was bonkers.
 

simba

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Aug 18, 2011
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Saskatchewan, Canada
I watched the video and all I saw was a really good way to get hurt. Unless that guy plans to show his heifer with a barrel in between her and him I don't see how he's made any progress at all considering that the heifer is still trying to eat him at the end of the video.

Looking4champions gave you good advice. You can also try tying your steer to a quiet, halterbroke animal that is larger than him. You lead the broke one and it'll act as extra strength to both pull your steer ahead and stop him from bolting. Having another animal right there may also help to calm him down until he feels comfortable with you. If he still wants to be stubborn you can tie him away from water for a few hours and then lead him to water so he feels rewarded when he behaves. Good luck.
 

Annieboon

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Apr 2, 2015
Messages
53
Awesome thanks for all the advice!!! My steer is 14 mths old and I do admit I have been lazy he should have been broke after weaning with the rest of my show stock! Will give Your suggestions a try!
 
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