using an ox for riding and packing

[Nat(wasIxy)]

saddle don’t look too comfy!

I’m riding Angus regularly now – it’s fantastic!

[bivol]

well, it’s a packsaddle.

are cattle more comfy as they fill up?

[Nat(wasIxy)]

Yes! very much so. As the shoulders develop it seems to make a little enclave for your legs too (on steers anyway, maybe not in cows)

[bivol]

nice to know, thanks!

[Victoria Reck Barlow]

Ixy, what are you using for control? Reins or goad? For a steer trained to a goad, do you think reins are necessary?

thanks!

[Nat(wasIxy)]

I use reins or a goad(riding crop) and leg pressure really, whichever I have handy! I doubt we could do dressage yet but we go where I want to go and that’s good enough for me at this stage 😀 He is getting very good at ‘stop’ and ‘go’.

[Victoria Reck Barlow]

Ixy: More details, please! What are you attaching the reins to — halter, bridle, something else? Do you use a bit? Also, are you using a saddle? How did you arrive at the equipment you have decided to use? Did you try some things and reject them? Also, how do you get up there?

Does the belly band need to be ultra tight? Do you use the goad/crop in addition to reins? How did you train to the reins?

Please tell more!

[Nat(wasIxy)]

Ok here goes:

The reins are attached to a horse halter with the throat latch cut off (otherwise it cuts into his dewlap and looks untidy, if not uncomfortable for him) so it’s just a band around his snout and round the back of his ears – very simple.

No bit, not needed, and I don’t think they would work in a bovine mouth too well. Although I think even if I had a horse I’d go bitless! 😀 No nosebits, because I don’t like the idea of piercing his nose and haven’t had a problem with control without one.

No saddle – I really worried about how on earth I’d find a saddle to fit. I thought I’d definately need one as apparently the hide slips and I’m very out of practise for riding. However, I started riding him without one and have no problems with hide slippage, he is very comfortable now he has filled out and the ride is so incredibly smooth compared to a horse it’s easy peasy to stay on! I think if I was going to do a LOT of riding I would need to look into either having a saddle made (unlikely on my budget) or making my own nice thick bareback sad – purely to save his back and my behind 😀

Sometimes I ride purely with reins – turning his head and using leg pressure is enough to turn direction. But I use extra long reins and knot them so I have a long spare bit to give him a whack with to get him going – squeezing he just ignores. Sometimes I have a riding crop with me and he is a bit more eager to move when I have it – NOT that I ever have to really hit him, it’s only taps, but he responds very well to that so if I want to get going a bit I take one. I can use it to change direction by tapping his neck with it. Tapping the brisket for stop is a bit difficult when you’re on top but to be honest I think he responds to my voice and bodily cues and just saying ‘stand’ and “willing” him to stop works!

How did i train for the reins? He’s ALWAYS been working with a halter, because he’s a single and could easily have run off, and I’ve used the rope to turn him so I suppose he ‘gets’ the rein idea due to that.

[Victoria Reck Barlow]

Thanks so much! I really appreciate your taking the time to spell it all out, and give me a verbal picture.

It sounds like you have a wonderfully trusting, willing steer — a testimony to a lot of care, and thoughtful work. I wonder what you’ll be up to next!

[Nat(wasIxy)]

Angus really has turned out better thanI ever hoped for my first try – I think I was just lucky to pick the one with the ideal temperament. he’s not exactly friendly and affectionate – he acts as if he doesn’t want anything to do with me most of the time, but that means he isn’t bossy or playful with me and whenever he feels insecure he shows his true colours and becomes a big soppy mummy’s boy! So, he does listen to what I say really…

Next I’m going to finally finish his harness and go gathering firewood with him, but I also want to start training him to round up the sheep – he loves to chase them so I figured I could channel it into more useful behaviour! I also have a brand new Ayrshire calf – he’s 5wks and I’ve stroked all down his legs and things and my next step is haltering him and beginning the process all over again! My brown swiss was a failure so I juts hope this one turns out a bit more like Angus!

[mother katherine]

Ixy,
How old was your steer when you first got on to ride? I’d like to try it with my guys, nearly 9 months old, but don’t want to injure them by trying too early.
oxnun

[Nat(wasIxy)]

I think it depends how big they are and how big you are! I’m quite heavy, so I waited until Angus was 11 months or so as he takes after his dairy parent and is fairly fine boned. His half brother was much chunkier and I sat on him at 8 months!

[CharlyBonifaz]

different oppinion: 😉
have taught mine a lot of things and drive him since he’s a year but won’t ride him until he will be 4 years old (and still will not be grown completely)
I agree wholeheartedly with this though:

I think it depends how big they are and how big you are!

[mother katherine]

My guys are dairy crosses, about 9 months old and about 500 lbs.
Last night I sat astride bRod for about 5 minutes and he stood there chewing his cud. I got off for a bit and got on again for a few more minutes. He was tied to the four wheeler and we had just finished a strenuous workout with the forecart and hauling pallets. His brother Bright was watching very carefully as bRod and I executed this very different behavior of my sitting on bRod’s back.
I’ve known these guys since they were born and took them home at about a week old. They began halter training that evening. I never taught them to drink out of a bucket – they were on the bottle until I weaned them. It was an easy way to establish a bond of trust and my dominance.
I don’t intend to to ride him/them regularly until they’re older/more mature structurally, but I wanted to introduce the activity to them gradually so that it’s just another thing we do, with no fuss or anxiety.

[Nat(wasIxy)]

I can see where you’re coming from leaving them til they’re 4, but I think it’s really important to expose oxen to everything you intend to do with them when they are older, at a very young age. Mine has not done any heavy work or riding yet at all, and he’s 2 – but he knows I tack him up/ride him/he pulls things and picks his feet up etc. NOW that’s done, I can leave it til I think he’s ready for more to do the heavy stuff. If you leave it until he’s 4, and rather set in his ways, before you even SIT on him, that’s a huge and sudden jump in your behaviour (all along in his life you’ve been guiding from the ground, now all of a sudden you’re on top of him!), a totally alien concept for him and I’m not sure they will adapt as easily if left that late. I definately think it’s important to get them used to the idea that sometimes you might be on top when they are babies. You also have further to fall!

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