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Training a steer to lead

One of the old Foxfire books had a good story on training oxen, told and demonstrated by an old timer who used them for farming and I think for logging. I remember that he started them when they were young.

Paul
 
Find a place and tie his head up as high as you dare and leave him for a day or two..might have to do it a couple of times but he will lead.. I saw donkeys tied to bulls one time, being young I asked why, they were being taught to lead...But if you are looking to show one I might not try that, the donkeys kick out with both feet till they get their way.

MAY GOD BLESS THE USA
 
I agree with the tieing them up. Several days, make sure they have water, check on them as often as possible, and make sure they cant somehow hang or chock themselves. I always gave mine enough rope to lay down.

We then led them as much as we could. If you have the time and it's not too hot, we would fix it to where their food and water was on the far side of the lot and lead them to eat and drink.

We also would tie them to a small tractor. Long lead rope and our son would be up by the animal, leading, then if the animal balked the tractor would take up the slack and put and end to his stubornness. After about 15 or 20 times of getting about pulled off his feet, the seem to get less stubborn.

Bottom line, there is no "easy" way that will substitute for spending a lot of time with them.

Good luck, Gene
 
It would be easy if you start leading them when they're calves. We always trained our calves to lead. That job usually fell on my brother and me. Hal
 
Yes I have used a donkey to halter break steers. Not all donkeys are good at it though so you have to find the right one. The one I used was a "rental unit"and he was good. We had a rope halter on the steer(950-1000lbs)and tied it to a neck strap on the donkey(400 lbs including20lbs of ears)if the steer balked the donkey would square up to him and two hoof him in the ribs if that didn't work the donkey would bite the steer. This particular steer of mine was a fast learner and a half day was all the training he needed I know of others that take longer, Bob
 
We usually break 15 head a year without too much trouble. The first thing we do is put them in a squeeze chute and put rope halters on them and turn them loose for a couple of days and let them drag the lead ropes. It seems like this will stop them fighting the rope so much when you tie them up. Then we do kind of like GeneMO said tie them up in the shed. We lead them out for water and feed in the shed, and keep putting the water farther away from the shed as they start to lead better. They soon figure out that they will get feed and water if they lead. We always do it when the kids have Christmas vacation from school, but we have had pretty good luck with the odd big steer that doesn"t get done when he"s small.
 
Way back when I lived in Leigh NE and had a 4H calf. We taught it to lead by borrowing a tractor from the local IH dealer. He was a member of the church my dad preached at. I think it was a farmall H or maybe an M. Any how we had a halter on the calf and then took a heavy rope and tied that to the tractor and I then walked between the tractor and the calf and my brother drove it around for a bit. As first the calf would just lock up its legs and get dragged but not for long and then it started to lead and after that I could lead it any where with not trouble
 
I showed a lot of calves when I was in 4-H. To teach them to lead, I used to run a rope under their tail and just give a little tug to keep them moving. It didn't take long before they were easy to lead.
 
Its true, local breeder I buy replacement stock from keeps a donkey just for that. Sorry I havnt stayed around to see it but I gather you cinch them up and let the steer get used to the halter. This was a pretty big donkey, guess thats what they need for the big Simentals they breed now. We used to do most of the things mentioned here but they are more trouble than letting the donkey earn his keep.
 
(quoted from post at 10:54:28 01/30/10) I showed a lot of calves when I was in 4-H. To teach them to lead, I used to run a rope under their tail and just give a little tug to keep them moving. It didn't take long before they were easy to lead.
Click to expand...

Exactly.... Amazing all the genious' that have all these wild ideas because they are too lazy to spend a little time. I've cut plenty of reins and ropes when would be trainers would bend a horses head around until the nose almost touched the stirrup and tied it there to "soften" the neck and make them bend better.

Dave
 

That is right I do it all the time and the longer you leave the two together the better that calf will lead. It works great, but do it in lot where they can not get tied up: After a while you can lead that calf
with all most a real small rope: It will take some time.OK: GOOD LUCK . Got ta go
JR.Frye
 
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