training a steer for riding

[Victoria Reck Barlow]

Could people with experience with this tell me how they went about it? How big/old was the steer when you began?
Thank you!
–Victoria

[Neil Dimmock]

we just start to ride when there just calfs say 5 mounths old, while there still easy to handle. we take our time and not over load them or stay on to long, in a short while they take to it like a duck to water!
Neil

[Victoria Reck Barlow]

Thanks, Neil —
My boys are about 600 lbs each, and almost 11 months old. They are as tame as puppies, so that part should be easy! At 120 pounds, am I too heavy for them? How will I know if I am? Should I recruit a neighborhood child? Start with a gunny sack full of beans? Truly, we also do other, more legitimate activities — but this one is too funny to pass by.

Victoria

[Anne]

Hallo Victoria!
I usually start to ride/sit on my animals, when they are about 1,5-2 years old.
My vet says, that it should be ok for cattle to carry about 10% of their own bodywight.
This is how I start:
I brush them a lot, to make sure that we are both in a relaxed mood. A good time for the first sit is during their chewing break at midday, when they lay dow to chew their cut. I brush them, while they are laying down, lean against them, continue brushing, sit on them, continue brushing, lay on them, continue brushing… They love it, and it is easy and relaxed for everyone. This can be done at an early age.
Then I do the same, while they are grasing at the pasture.
Brushing, untill both of us are calm and relaxed. I lean over them and continue brushing. Then I jump a little, so that my feet dont touch the ground and continue brushing. Sometimes they walk a few steps, so that I slide back on my feet. That doesn´t matter. I just continue brushing and repeat it. If I recognize, that the animal is getting to nervous, I stop my attempts, brush them a little more and try it again the next day.
It´s worth to wait for a relaxed day-mood. If you want to train a heifer, it´s the easiest to start while they are in heat!

Summary of my first steps:
1. Brushing
2. lean, sit and lay on them, while they lay down (brushing)
3. lean over them, while they are grasing (brushing)
4. sit and lay on them while they are grasing (brushing)
5. repeat to jump on and of, from all sides and possible positions
6. if the animal is still small, lead a kid
7. If the animal is big enough try to ride a well known way.
For example: From the pasture back home to the stable!
Most times it is easy to make them accept a rider, but difficult to make
them move with a rider! So choose a way, they realy want to walk.
And then just sit there and let them walk.
8. Get them used to reins. Lead/Drive them as usually, while a kid is riding.
Reduce your commands, if you recognize that they start to response to
the rider.

It´s easier to start in autum than in spring.

I wouldn´t try things with a dead load! It will only make the animal nervous and afrain; and may cause an accident. Forget the sack with beans!
Cattle are so relaxed animals. Try to be slow and relaxed yourself and there is no reason to be afraid.

[Neil Dimmock]

@Victoria Reck Barlow 2630 wrote:

Thanks, Neil —
My boys are about 600 lbs each, and almost 11 months old. They are as tame as puppies, so that part should be easy! At 120 pounds, am I too heavy for them? How will I know if I am? Should I recruit a neighborhood child? Start with a gunny sack full of beans? Truly, we also do other, more legitimate activities — but this one is too funny to pass by.

Victoria

May be a littlle lighter one for the first ride or two then you should be ok to start riding them
Neil

[Victoria Reck Barlow]

Thanks so much, Anne, for the clear picture and specific steps. Now I know what to do until the steers are big enough to bear my weight as a rider. For starters, more time with the hackamore! And lots more brushing. Too much fun.

all best,
Victoria

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