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Tips on Halter Breaking your
Highland Calf
(Special thanks to Frank Silva and Carol Klassens of the Mt.
States Highland Assoc. for this article.)
1. Make sure the halter you are using is the right size for your
calf. Using a breaking halter that has a chain under the chin of the
animal.
2. Put halter on calf in head gate or squeeze with panel in corner, do
not chase or run the calf.
3. Have patience and talk to the calf in a calming voice, this
is real important, talking to your calf. Later in the show ring
this is a great tool to use to calm your calf when it's nervous in the show
ring.
4. Start in a small pen so calf does not get away and will feel safer.
5. To hold lead rope, keep hand in at least six inches from the calf's
head. Remember calf's body will follow head.
6. When leading calf out of pen, pull steadily on lead rope.
Coaxing, after few steps, give calf a break and touch calf, tell how well it's
doing. (you may need a person to push calf)
7. You can tie the calf to a wall with another calf or with it's
mother, for about 24 to 48 hours checking frequently and providing feed and
water.
8. Animal should be tied, with lead rope, NO LONGER than 15 inches long
and 12 inches from the ground. Animals tied too long, or too high, can get
themselves into a lot of trouble. (such as lead rope wrapped around the
legs)
9. If you don't tie them, let them drag a lead rope that is about five
or six feet long for a few days in an open pen.
10. Spend some time talking to the animal and do lot's of touching to
the calf and combing.
11. Bathing your calf can be pleasant and get it use to you combing,
touching and rubbing it's body.
12. When making friends, you need to kneel or just sit on a bucket
in pen, so not to intimidate the calf. Slowly work your way to it, or bull
the calf slowly into your with lead rope, while talking to the calf. (use
your best judgment to decide if your calf is to wild for this)
13. Leading two calves together if one is already broke works well also
or with it's halter broke mother.
14. When leading the animal for the first time, start short distance to
water or feed.
15. When calf starts walking, walk across the calf to treats, hay,
grain etc.
16. Try your best to not let the animal get away from you, otherwise it
will know it can escape and will continue doing so.
17. Lear how to read your calf, you'll know when it's nervous or calm.
18. When calf is leading good, you need to teach to stand with a show
stick. Rub under belly after placing feed in position and rub animals back
so it is not afraid of stick. (let calf smell show stick)
19. To prepare calf for show, you can play radio or just get it used to
noises.
20. Make halter breaking a pleasant experience and don't overwork
yourself or the calf.
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