4 Wiley Farm
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Our Winners
  • For Sale
    • Cows
    • Semen
  • Why Minis?
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • In Motion
  • Shop Our Farm
    • Merchandise
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Our Winners
  • For Sale
    • Cows
    • Semen
  • Why Minis?
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • In Motion
  • Shop Our Farm
    • Merchandise

This is Us​ - our life, our story, our farm

Things We Love...Weaver Breaking Halters

10/8/2016

4 Comments

 
It's that time of year again.

The spring calves are being weaned and it is time to start getting them ready for the next show season.

Show season is just over a month away, so we have our work cut out for us.  

The first step in getting new calves ready for show season?

Halter breaking..  
Picture
This post contains affiliate links.
Our new favorite tool for breaking calves is the Weaver breaking halter.  ​

A Weaver breaking halter is identical to a regular rope halter except for one small feature.  
Picture
This little metal ring.

This ring allows the rope to slide easily as you release pressure.  
Picture
You can see the difference in this regular halter.  

When you pull on the rope halter it tightens up.  When you release that pressure the rope stays in the same position.  

So what is the big deal?
Picture
A calf needs to learn to give to the pressure of the halter.  When you pull, they learn that if they move into the pressure the pressure will stop.  

When first teaching the calf to walk, as soon as the calf takes a step, let up on the pressure.  This is the reward for doing what you have asked.  

The breaking halter adds to that immediate realease of pressure by allowing the rope to slide quickly and easily through the ring.

Another added benefit to the breaking halter is it helps to guard against abscesses that can form from the constant pressure of the halter.  

Not all cows are smart...at least at first.  

We have all had that one calf that thinks they can outlast the pressure from the halter.  They dig their feet in and just pull.  Their tongue is hanging out and they are panting, but still won't take that step to release the pressure on the halter.  

Those stubborn ones tend to be the ones that usually end up with a hard abscess under their chin a few days later.  The breaking halters help to prevent those abscesses and tender spots.  
Picture
We first learned about the Weaver breaking halters when we attended the Kirk Stierwalt clinic.  We bought one that day and haven't looked back.  

Just last night Daniel was looking all over the barn for one of the breaking halters (it almost jumped out and bit him) so that he could work on getting the new calves ready for Louisville.  

It is amazing how one simple change can make such a difference.
This post contains affiliate links, which means that at no cost to you, I may receive commissions from purchases made through links in the post.

You might also like...
Things We Love - Holland Grill
Things We Love - Fitting Pants
Things We Love - Vita Charge Stress Tubs
4 Comments
Sarah link
10/27/2016 06:22:01 pm

I love the last line of your post--because it IS truly amazing how one simple change can make a difference. While we don't have cows, I have gone through similar training and similar halters with horses. That pressure/release thing really works, huh?! Cute pictures, too!

Reply
Heather Wiley
10/27/2016 06:42:44 pm

Thanks

Reply
Ashley Bush
10/8/2017 11:59:20 am

I love your blog! Very well rounded, and informative. We are just starting out with Mini Herfs here in Louisiana and we love them! Keep up the good work!

Reply
4 Wiley Farm link
10/8/2017 02:16:27 pm

Glad you are enjoying your new herd. Miniature Herefords have certainly changed our lives!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Let's Connect

    Picture

    Author

    Hello!  I am Heather... the city girl turned mom to manure loving country boys. My husband and I both grew up in the city, but spent weekends visiting grandparents in the country.  We are first generation farmers who learn best by almost always doing things the hard way.  I hope you enjoy following along with our adventures down on the farm.

    Shop Our Farm

    Archives

    November 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    Categories

    All
    10 On The 10th
    Books
    Calving
    Character
    Everything Else
    Food
    Hay
    How To
    Photography
    Showing
    Things We Love

    RSS Feed

    Popular Posts

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

The Cows

​Why Minis?
Our Winners
For Sale

The Family

Home
About Us
Contact Us
Disclosure

Follow Us

Blog - Down on the Farm
Instagram
You Tube
Facebook

Associations

​Miniature Hereford Breeders Association
American Hereford Association
Ohio Cattlemen's Association