[Jacob-list] halter training

[Shannon Phifer]

This is how we do our halter breaking as well.  The other thing I do, which I find extremely helpful, is to have a very well broke older sheep to use as the leader when you are walking the lambs for the first couple of times.  It acts as a calming effect for the lambs and they learn to walk forward a lot faster.  Every year is different and sometimes it is more difficult than others.  My experience is that some lambs don't take much work at all and others never become very halter broke.  

We don't show with halters on, but it is very nice for moving them from the trailer into the barn and from their pens to the show ring.  
 
Shannon Phifer
Kenleigh Acres Farm
www.kenleigh-acres.com
That'll Do Photography
www.thatlldo.photoreflect.com
 




________________________________
From: Robin Lynde <rlynde at onramp113.org>
To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
Sent: Tue, November 17, 2009 2:38:15 PM
Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] halter training


The first lesson is getting used to the halter and being tied. I like to use a web halter instead of the rope ones because the rope tightens when the lamb pulls back and stays tight. That doesn't happen with a halter made of nylon webbing. I tie the lamb to a fencewith the tie at about the height of the lamb's head. I don't make the rope very long because I don't want the lamb to be able to thrash about and get tangled up or fall over. It will pull back, but that should be all it can do. I also stay near by because I don't want the rope getting tangled in the horns. That is Day 1--only about 10 minutes. Repeat that for Day 2.
 
The next step is to halter the lamb and walk around a small pen. You won't actually walk much because the lamb will still try to pull back and jump. I think that the key is to know when to keep the rope taut and when to allow slack. With experience you can feel the lamb pull and know that if you keep the rope taut the lamb will fall over, but if you release the tension at the right moment and just the right amount the lamb will get it's legs under it and remain standing. That would be your goal. You don't want to be dragging the lamb around. You want the lamb to learn that:
1. it can't get away from the halter
2. if it gives to the pressure of the halter it won't fall over and the halter won't be so tight on its head.
 
I usually take a week or two to work with my lambs before the fair. I try to find time to halter them each day--keep them tied while I'm doing chores and then take each one around a pen a time or two. I won't say that they all become well halter-broke, but after the first couple of days at least they aren't in a panic over it.
 
I also have a relatively calm flock and I think that makes a difference. Not all my sheep are pets by any means or even willing to be handled, but if all 65+ are lying down and I walk into the barn at night, they don't get up. They are used to being handled in a calm manner and not chased around a pen. If you have to catch the lambs by chasing them for 10 minutes then they are not going to be able to understand a halter breaking lesson. The key is to have fences and panels available to move them calmly into smaller spaces so that you can grab a lamb without it having the first lesson that "people chase me".

Robin Lynde
Meridian Jacobs
Vacaville, CA 
www.meridianjacobs.com 
----- Original Message ----- 

>From: Katherine Williamson 

>To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com 

>Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 9:09 AM

>Subject: [Jacob-list] halter training

>

>I have been asked to provide sheep for a live nativity.  I've done this in the past with a ram and a ewe (both on halters), but this year I think I'll take lambs.  I have about 3 weeks to halter break the lambs.

>

>I've never been very confident in my halter breaking techniques, which seem to involve a lot of jumping (the sheep), cursing (my husband), and fear (me).  I usually hold them to attach the halter, then tie them to a post and let them pull and flail until they're worn out.  Or my husband and kids will pull and prod and attempt to walk them around the backyard.  I'm so afraid that someone is going to get hurt.  

>

>Would you share your halter breaking techniques with me?  

>

>Thanks!

>

>Kathey

>

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