Post by Tamara on Nov 21, 2013 22:47:14 GMT -5
Hello everyone
So you have probably seen me post about my recently bought highland steer, MacLeod, born January '13. He came here on the 11th of October, so about 6 weeks ago now. When he arrived he was terrified and untouchable, completely unhandled. For weeks it seemed he would never improve, fleeing if I so much as twitched, refusing even the temptation of yummy food if I was nearby. It took a lot of patience and a lot of time, but finally he came around!
Most of the progress has been made only in the last couple of weeks. I guess when he finally realised I wasn't going to eat him, he improved in leaps and bounds. Now I can approach him, touch him, brush him almost all over, and cut the matted hair off him. He will eagerly come right up to me to check if I have any treats. I no longer have to move in slow motion around him.
I can halter him and I just started on his lead training. Yesterday he went into the big paddock with Ginger - his first day out of the little paddock they have been confined to because I now trust that I will be able to bring him back. Today they are out again and very happy indeed!
He is still a little timid, and will run away if I walk at him from behind, but unlike before, he now stops and turns to look at me. He only showed aggression once, and I'm not really sure if it was aggression or just him being scared or maybe even playful. The other day I approached him with an outstretched hand - because he is so small, my hand tends to be around head height on him. He took a couple of steps forward, sniffed my hand but then lowered his head, gave a little bump to the air in my direction and shook his head. I yelled at him to tell him off, although I can tell he didn't really have any heart in the headbutt.
He is such a shy and quiet little fellow - he doesn't even play butting games with the boisterous Ginger, despite the fact that I bought him as a playmate for her! Although everyone accuses steers of being dumb goofs, Ginger is the one who jumps fences, pushes through gates, knocks water buckets over, and shoves her way through anything for a lick of grain, while MacLeod watches patiently and quietly
And now some photos, because no post is complete without photos of his adorableness!
As you can see he is a little rough looking. During the time I was taming him, he got very matted and messy as his long coat shed and he has some pretty nasty knots. I have recently started slowly cutting off the tangles as he gets comfortable with me touching and brushing him.
He and Ginger out in the big paddock for the second time. In the last couple of weeks we have finally had some rain, and the paddocks have greened up a lot. Still has a long way to go with more rain on the way, but it's so much better than before. Not that Ginger needs more grass... she has been on hay and milk and almost no grass, yet she is still a 'Fatty McFat Face'! Isn't she so sleek and beautiful though?
Running off into the paddock together <3
So you have probably seen me post about my recently bought highland steer, MacLeod, born January '13. He came here on the 11th of October, so about 6 weeks ago now. When he arrived he was terrified and untouchable, completely unhandled. For weeks it seemed he would never improve, fleeing if I so much as twitched, refusing even the temptation of yummy food if I was nearby. It took a lot of patience and a lot of time, but finally he came around!
Most of the progress has been made only in the last couple of weeks. I guess when he finally realised I wasn't going to eat him, he improved in leaps and bounds. Now I can approach him, touch him, brush him almost all over, and cut the matted hair off him. He will eagerly come right up to me to check if I have any treats. I no longer have to move in slow motion around him.
I can halter him and I just started on his lead training. Yesterday he went into the big paddock with Ginger - his first day out of the little paddock they have been confined to because I now trust that I will be able to bring him back. Today they are out again and very happy indeed!
He is still a little timid, and will run away if I walk at him from behind, but unlike before, he now stops and turns to look at me. He only showed aggression once, and I'm not really sure if it was aggression or just him being scared or maybe even playful. The other day I approached him with an outstretched hand - because he is so small, my hand tends to be around head height on him. He took a couple of steps forward, sniffed my hand but then lowered his head, gave a little bump to the air in my direction and shook his head. I yelled at him to tell him off, although I can tell he didn't really have any heart in the headbutt.
He is such a shy and quiet little fellow - he doesn't even play butting games with the boisterous Ginger, despite the fact that I bought him as a playmate for her! Although everyone accuses steers of being dumb goofs, Ginger is the one who jumps fences, pushes through gates, knocks water buckets over, and shoves her way through anything for a lick of grain, while MacLeod watches patiently and quietly
And now some photos, because no post is complete without photos of his adorableness!
As you can see he is a little rough looking. During the time I was taming him, he got very matted and messy as his long coat shed and he has some pretty nasty knots. I have recently started slowly cutting off the tangles as he gets comfortable with me touching and brushing him.
He and Ginger out in the big paddock for the second time. In the last couple of weeks we have finally had some rain, and the paddocks have greened up a lot. Still has a long way to go with more rain on the way, but it's so much better than before. Not that Ginger needs more grass... she has been on hay and milk and almost no grass, yet she is still a 'Fatty McFat Face'! Isn't she so sleek and beautiful though?
Running off into the paddock together <3