Building Confidence Building Confidence

By: Ted Howard, Production Animal Consultation (pictured above)

By: Ted Howard, Production Animal Consultation (pictured above)

By: Ted Howard, Production Animal Consultation (pictured above)

Confidence is essential in successfully handling livestock. We as stockmen and stockwomen can build it in our horses, they in turn build it in the cattle we handle, and at the end of a productive day the confidence we have in ourselves increases.

Confidence is essential in successfully handling livestock. We as stockmen and stockwomen can build it in our horses, they in turn build it in the cattle we handle, and at the end of a productive day the confidence we have in ourselves increases.

Confidence is essential in successfully handling livestock. We as stockmen and stockwomen can build it in our horses, they in turn build it in the cattle we handle, and at the end of a productive day the confidence we have in ourselves increases.

The partnership we have with our horse starts first thing in the morning when we catch them for the day’s work. How they accept us sets the tone for the day. If we are too aggressive their confidence in us will become very low.

The partnership we have with our horse starts first thing in the morning when we catch them for the day’s work. How they accept us sets the tone for the day. If we are too aggressive their confidence in us will become very low.

sensitive cattle easier. The easier it is to pull cattle the more confident we become in our job.

help. Confident horses make pulling new or highly sensitive cattle easier. The easier it is to pull cattle the more confident we become in our job.

sensitive cattle easier. The easier it is to pull cattle the more confident we become in our job.

When emptying pens a confident horse will be approachable to cattle. This is important for setting up a good experience for the cattle as they leave their pen or “home” to be exercised, weighed, re-vacced and/or loaded. A quiet confident horse can move amongst cattle and flow out of the pen with them while keeping motion in drafts of cattle as they head up the alley.

The partnership we have with our horse starts first thing in the morning when we catch them for the day’s work. How they accept us sets the tone for the day. If we are too aggressive their confidence in us will become very low.

When emptying pens a confident horse will be approachable to cattle. This is important for setting up a good experience for the cattle as they leave their pen or “home” to be exercised, weighed, re-vacced and/or loaded. A quiet confident horse can move amongst cattle and flow out of the pen with them while keeping motion in drafts of cattle as they head up the alley.

When emptying pens a confident horse will be approachable to cattle. This is important for setting up a good experience for the cattle as they leave their pen or “home” to be exercised, weighed, re-vacced and/or loaded. A quiet confident horse can move amongst cattle and flow out of the pen with them while keeping motion in drafts cattle as they head up the alley.

When our horses are confident leaving the barn and entering the pens the cattle become reassured or confident in our presence. A confident horse will have a low head set that is relaxed and an easy walk.

When our horses are confident leaving the barn and entering the pens the cattle become reassured or confident in our presence. A confident horse will have a low head set that is relaxed and an easy walk.

When our horses are confident leaving the barn and entering the pens the cattle become reassured or confident in our presence. A confident horse will have a low head set that is relaxed and an easy walk.

When we work with fat cattle we can ask our horses to step up and create more energy to keep the fat cattle moving. Cattle read off of the quickness of our horse’s feet. In a controlled manner this can help create energy to motivate fat cattle to move steadily.

When we work with fat cattle we can ask our horses to step up and create more energy to keep the fat cattle moving. Cattle read off of the quickness of our horse’s feet. In a controlled manner this can help create energy to motivate fat cattle to move steadily.

When we work with fat cattle we can ask our horses to step up and create more energy to keep the fat cattle moving. Cattle read off of the quickness of our horse’s feet. In a controlled manner this can help create energy to motivate fat cattle to move steadily.

Cattle are prey animals. They sense nervousness in a horse as something to fear. When a horse has fast feet and a high head set, it can frighten cattle and cause them to be distrustful and difficult to handle.

Cattle are prey animals. They sense nervousness in a horse as something to fear. When a horse has fast feet and a high head set, it can frighten cattle and cause them to be distrustful and difficult to handle.

Cattle are prey animals. They sense nervousness in a horse as something to fear. When a horse has fast feet and a high head set, it can frighten cattle and cause them to be distrustful and difficult to handle.

Confident cattle will move easier, they will flow through a processing environment calmer and they can be weighed and loaded in a smoother manner. This is all established by the confidence and demeanor of us and our horses. Confident horses instill confidence in their riders and essentially create more productive team members. **

Confident cattle will move easier, they will flow through a processing environment calmer and they can be weighed and loaded in a smoother manner. This is all established by the confidence and demeanor of us and our horses. Confident horses instill confidence in their riders and essentially create more productive team members. **

Confident cattle will move easier, they will flow through processing environment calmer and they can be weighed and loaded in a smoother manner. This is all established by the confidence and demeanor of us and our horses. Confident horses instill confidence in their riders and essentially create more productive team members. **

Cattle that are unsure or frightened will hide any illness or morbidity that we need to identify. This causes late pulls and poor results when we do realize they need

Cattle that are unsure or frightened will hide any illness or morbidity that we need to identify. This causes late pulls and poor results when we do realize they need help. Confident horses make pulling new or highly

Cattle that are unsure or frightened will hide any illness or morbidity that we need to identify. This causes late pulls and poor results when we do realize they need help. Confident horses make pulling new or highly