Riding Steers

[Horns Bach]

Is anyone else here fascinated by riding steers?
I have been ever since I saw a big Brahma Bull (he was intact) at a rodeo doing tricks and being ridden.
Does anyone know how to go about training a riding steer - I've not had much luck on the internet. I know a bit about training horses. My feeling though with cattle is that they would train better by treats.

Also, I have an old National Geographic book about "Mountain People", in which an intact bull (looked like a jersey, believe it or not!) was pulling a "ground sled" in the Appalachians.

How do you do such things? I have a young bull I was thinking about training for a ground sled, pretty crazy eh? I don't know why it fascinates me, maybe the challenge I guess.

[jerzeygurl]

we are raising a steer to be an ox, riding included, he has been handled since birth took off the momma (got colostrum)

started with halter and used 2 lead ropes as harness at early age( from the one article I found traditionally start at birth with gee and haw) have used saddle bags increasing the weight, he is as gentle as a lamb. he responds to verbal commands, even with out harness on.

btw is a jersey long horn cross. yes they like treats, and chin scratched.

imo much easier than training a horse. I would recomend making it a steer tho.

[Horns Bach]

Thanks for your reply Jerseygurl. It's nice to know they are easier to train than horses. We've got a bull calf I'm working with but yeah I'm sure a steer is better, but we are keeping this guy for breeding at least once with our cows. I can at least practice on him while he's nice and see how far I get. This morning I caught him grooming our cat and then trying to mount the cat!!!

And actually I just found a wealth of info on the web at the International Riding Steer Association website. Right there on the front homepage is a kid riding a hereford bull. So it's also nice to know I'm not nuts for being interested in such a thing, since there is an entire association devoted to riding cattle!

[montysky]

IMHO only use a steer, sure on monday a bull could let you ride him but what day will the old bull turn and try to kill you?

[Horns Bach]

I really don't plan on riding the bull we have when he's old but I was fascinated by the fact that mountain people used a jersey bull to pull a ground sled. Although we plan on butchering him probably soon after he breeds our cows there is always the possibility he will be kept on the ranch, i.e. in case of World War III, massive economic collapse, etc.

In that case AI may not be possible and we are isolated without alot of bulls available in such a catastrophe (most cattlemen/hobbyists around me rent bulls). In that case a trained and fairly controllable bull may be highly valued in my small community. Only reason I am thinking this way is that I don't think we will make it through this year without some serious economic and energy issues hitting our country. I'll be happy to stick my foot in my mouth next year if I'm wrong (I hope I'm wrong).

[jerzeygurl]

how bout using a cow instead?

[translplant]

Promise us you'll take pictures or at least keep us posted on your progress. I'm serious. This sounds like a hoot.

[Horns Bach]

Jerseygurl I don't want to train a grown Highland cow, I'd rather start with a calf, maybe one of the new calves. My Highlands are tame and pettable but also rambunctious and quite a buck and kick on them when they get excited. I've had a professional bullrider out to my place that thought they'd be a "hoot" to ride when he saw them get excited. Would be a nice soft bareback ride though if possible. Not sure I want to train them to pull a ground sled either.

Transplant I will try to take pictures and keep you updated, if I make some interesting progress with this little bull. I've got to learn how to upload photos here.

I would still love to hear from anybody here that's got a riding steer or has tried it.

[translplant]

Figuring out how to ride the steer may be easier than figuring out how to post photos....I finally did the Photobucket thing.