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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 4:37 pm
by Kathy Millar
This latest topic about Harry's bull calf and a picture of Duncan in Rosemary Brown's book got me wondering. How do folks who train their bulls for shows not "make pets of them"? After all, they have to halter train them and handle them etc. There must be some real knack to this. Especially when I see a picture of Duncan and a Dexter bull in a pub!
Kathy
Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 7:42 pm
by Jo Kemp
When training a bull to halter etc....I have experience of only 2.
They have to know that you are in charge and use of the nose ring should therefore be at a minimum but during the training process, the ring comes in handy!
One is told not to pat them gently on the head for the normal reaction from the bull is to rub against your hand and so when they are free, I avoid standing directly in front of a bull. Rubbing his side and tail head is enjoyed but usually in the field, my lads stay with the girls as I wander around, leaving me to my own devices. I certainly wouldn't want them to follow me around, which they would do if expecting food etc.
I suppose one has just to be careful. The halter is a control which is accepted...the bull are not really 'tame'
What do others think?
Jo
Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 9:26 pm
by jeanthomas
I am not sure about this. Bulls need to be handled if not you are in touble. Jay Hunt is the person to ask. I have borrowed several bulls off her with impeccable manners. One I actually haltered in the field and led away from cows and loaded into the trailer in order to return him (Saltaire Sycaz, the nicest bull I have ever met!). Our latest chap, now 15months old has been very well handled since birth, is regularly haltered and tied up and yet again (i tried this a long time ago with a guernsey heifer- it failed miserably) I am trying to train him to pick his feet up like a horse - do not laugh, trying to get their feet trimmed in suffolk is a nightmare, plenty of farriers who fall around laughting, ( they do nicely in Newmarket and do not need dexters), a vet who claims to do foot trimming and bows out at the last minute and a cattle trimmer who promises to come, despite the small nature of my herd and never turns up!! My bull is well handled but not allowed to take over. What more can you do? Always treated kindly but with respect is my answer. Over to you! :D
Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 11:21 pm
by Duncan MacIntyre
I am sure there are many out there who have trained more bulls than I have, but I have come to the conculusion that the important thing is regular handling but purposeful, firm and gentle handling. There must be minimal petting or any other activity which will result in the calf thinking it has any sort of social relationship with you. The minute you are seen as part of the herd you are in trouble. This makes hand rearing almost a no go area for bull rearing in my opinion.
Get them used to being haltered and tied up from an early age, when they are very small you can control them fairly well, but do not get angry and do not abuse them in any way for not doing what you want - just be persistent. Then leave them alone for the first summer at grass and go back to training as yearlings. It is perfectly possible to begin training as yearlings just physically a bit more difficult. By that age they should have a ring in, but let it be in and healed before you use it, and use it Very very gently. When they know that the ring is there as a back up they are much more responsive to forward pressure on a halter.
At this point deja vue or deja ecris sets in but I can't remember the topic title - have a look back thru postings and you will find me drivelling on about bull training. (found one pice and brought it up the list whilst in the middle of writing this)
The main thing is DO NOT MAKE A PET OF HIM, but do not be the big bad master either - just be quietly persistent. Start at an age you can physically handle him. When I begin walking any cattle on halter I take them up and down our drive way which is tarmac, so I have a sure footing, and has a fence down each side so not too many options for the runaway moments. I do very short lessons about once a week for several weeks, far better than a long once only session where both parties end up exhausted and sickened. The other thing is that if they have learned a few manners when very young they never forget even if there is a year with no handling at all.
Lastly I would say that there are very very few bulls I would recommend taking to the pub. I always had several able cattle men in the background just in case.
Duncan
Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 11:54 pm
by Peter thornton
I have seen pictures of a farmer who used to ride his bull, and even used to hunt on it (to hounds). Not sure what breed it was but I don't think it was a Dexter!