High Plains
Well-known member
Made it look very business-like. Good job flyingS. That didn't look very fast-paced to me. I thought it was all very collected and low stress.
Doctoring a few
- Thread starter flyingS
- Start date
burnt
Well-known member
:agree:George said:
But then I'm just an eastern boy with western dreams...
flyingS
Well-known member
The grass doesn't make any difference. It's easier to lie one down than to heal them, especially calves. I have someore to doctor, I may post more video. My wife likes to video. By the she picks her horse and I take what's left. We don't own a horse that I haven't started or taken on except a mare my wife raised and a pony we bought for kids. My wife's sorrel made might be the best in the band.
Enjoyed your video and have a couple of questions now. Did you roll the cow over so she wasn't laying on your rope, binding it up? Also did we miss a certain amount of her wearing herself out on the end of your rope before the video started? It seems that when I rope a cow or yearling there is quite a bit of buckin' and bellerin' before I can wrap her up. Big fat, stong cattle seem kind of tough to lay down but you made it look pretty easy.
flyingS
Well-known member
At the beginning of the video you could see her struggle some, that was about all the fight she had. I do get some that throw a fit but I never stop a cow hard that I have ran to rope and one that has been roped standing I just hold. When I am holding them I want them to learn to stand, not fight. Once they are giving a little and paying attention I will go ahead and lie her down. I don't very often lie one down if they want to take off. It is to hard on horses and is a good way to lose a finger. I did roll her over so that it was easier to slide my rope. I always position my horse over the cows back. There is no way for her to get up unless I let my horse role her clear over.
LCP
Well-known member
That looked pretty slick. Sure appreciate you posting that video. If your wife doesn't mind, I'd definitely watch more, just to see it done on different animals that may handle differently.
I'd always assumed that roping them to doctor them is harder on the animal than putting them in a head gate, but I don't think that way anymore, as I learn about these types of techniques. Besides, trailing them to the nearest headgate might be a lot more stress if they are in tough shape. Our cows are fairly quiet, so hopefully there isn't a whole lot of running them down in order to get a rope on them.
Got myself a 50' rope, so I might give it a whirl one of these days. Bought a dart gun too, so I guess I have options.
I'd always assumed that roping them to doctor them is harder on the animal than putting them in a head gate, but I don't think that way anymore, as I learn about these types of techniques. Besides, trailing them to the nearest headgate might be a lot more stress if they are in tough shape. Our cows are fairly quiet, so hopefully there isn't a whole lot of running them down in order to get a rope on them.
Got myself a 50' rope, so I might give it a whirl one of these days. Bought a dart gun too, so I guess I have options.
I think the biggest thing is to kinda sneak up on them. I am not a very good roper, but I can catch when they are just standing there. Most of these cattle, will just stand there as you ride through them. Its not a real big challenge to get a rope on most any of them. The next thing is don't get excited yourself, once you do have them caught. Take your time, and be safe.
In all honesty, my horsemanship and livestock handling skill really improved when I got rid of all my BIG horses. Now I have to use brains instead of brawn. I know, very few brain cells left.
In all honesty, my horsemanship and livestock handling skill really improved when I got rid of all my BIG horses. Now I have to use brains instead of brawn. I know, very few brain cells left.