First ride

[Nat(wasIxy)]

Now I have moved in with my partner who is a cattle man I have someone to lead whilst I sit on top – this has been my big problem so far, as I dont have a saddle and havent ridden for a loooong time I didnt trust to just untie him once I was on a ‘see what happens’.

Angus went through a bit of a bratty stage at about a year old but in the last 2months has really chilled out – so i was on and then my OH untied him and led him out into the field…..he was fine! I could tell by his earsthat he wasnt quite sure about moving and me following like that but he didnt react – I only got a little jump forwards when I squeezed very very gently to get him to walk on and then he settled down.

very pleased with that – we’ve come a long way since he was a 2wk old calf and we first met….

[Vicki]

Sounds like you’re off to a good start.

The three adults I know who ride their oxen regularly, constructed or modified “saddles” for them.

I had dreams of riding the tall shorthorns I had bought. But I’m not a horse riding gal. So I got up on the hay wagon, had hubby (against his better judgment) bring up the big sweet shorthorn. I slid a leg over and somehow got on the ox’s back just behind the withers. Wow, it looks a long way down from up there! Hubby led the ox and I was trying to keep my balance up there, so full of myself, but boy the fur is slippery. The ox was relaxed as could be, in fact so relaxed he put his head down for a bite of grass. It was like a water slide, with horns at the bottom! Happily I didn’t slide down his neck, rather made a quick and not-so-graceful exit off the side. But I never tried again.

[Nat(wasIxy)]

yes it would be very difficult without having ridden anything before! I had 5years of lessons and although you get a bit rusty, the instinct doesn’t really leave you, it’s different but I’m glad of my seat and balance!!

[Paul T. Ferrari]

I really want to ride my steers. I started leaning over them at an early age and place my weight on them a bit. I’m a guy whose over 6ft tall and I’m not lightly built. My steers are each 1300 lbs. I’m not sure if I should ride them for any distance. I’ve had my wife who’s very petite- 120 lbs, lay acrossed their backs. My one steer just stood their wondering why this thing was lying over his back. It didn’t seem to bother him too much.

I’m wondering if the weight makes a difference. I just don’t want to give them a sore back and sour them to riding. I can give my wife a piggy back ride for a some distance and she’s 3/5 my weight. My 200 lbs. shouldn’t be too much for my steer, or is it? What do you all think.

I like to be cautious when trying new things.

[Nat(wasIxy)]

How old are they? 1300lbs sounds a lot so maybe quite mature…tend to measure beasts in Kgs over here in the UK.

I’d give it a try and see if they seem comfortable – doing mathematical formulas doesn’t always work out in real life. I know that if Angus was a horse I would be too big and him too young, but steers are different. I still don’t want to ride him a lot until he’s at least 2 but he can take my weight – many people have remarked at how relaxed he looks with me on him. After a handful of rides he now stands quietly and doesn’t attempt to move away when I mount which is excellent and all good signs. ‘zeburider’ on the rural heritage forum says that if they can’t take your weight, they’ll fall over/lie down and protest rather than attempt to carry you so you should be able to tell easily…

[Jim Garvin]

I took this picture during this month’s Calgary Stampede Parade. He rode that beast for at least the two and one half hour duration of the parade!!!

[Anne]

Hallo!
I dont know if someone has done a research, about how many wight cattle can carry. If so, I would be verry interested to read it. My vet supposes, that cattle should be able to carry about 10% of their body wight comfortably.

[Nat(wasIxy)]

I rode Angus without being led for the first time today – he was excellent. I decided to walk him to the far end of the farmyard and then ride him back to his friends in the fields. The steering wasn’t too accurate, so he waded straight through a big area of mud I was trying to avoid….he was in up to his knees and I knew he wasn’t used to my weight so I thought I was going to have to dismount in the mud! But he just waded through and pulled us out the far side. He almost trotted to the field then but to be honest it’s so smooth staying on wasn’t a problem, despite my being out of practise. I am soooo proud of that little calf i took on!

[Author]

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