Tips on Halter Breaking your Highland Calf…Frank Silva & Carol Klassens

1. Make sure the halter you are using is the right size for your calf. Use a breaking halter that has a chain under the chin of the animal.

2. Put the halter on the calf while in a head gate or squeeze chute with a panel in the corner. Do not chase or run the calf.
3. Have patience and talk to the calf in a calming voice. This is real important. Later in the show ring this is a great tool to use to calm your calf when it is nervous.

4. Start in a small pen so the calf does not get away and will feel safer.

5.To hold lead rope, keep hand at least 6 inches from the calf’s head. Remember the calf’s body will follow its head.

6. When leading a calf out of a pen, pull steadily on the lead rope, coaxing. After a few steps, give the calf a break and touch the calf. Tell it how well it is doing. (You may need a person to push the calf).

7. You can tie the calf to a wall with another calf or with its mother, for about 24 to 48 hours, checking frequently and providing feed and water.

8. Tied animals should have a lead rope no longer than 15 inches long and 12 inches from the ground. Animals tied too long or too high can get themselves in a lot of trouble (such as lead rope wrapped around legs).

9. If you don’t tie them, let them drag a lead rope that is about 5-6 feet long for a few days in the pen.

10. Spend some time talking to the animal and do lots of touching & combing.

11. Bathing your calf can be pleasant and get it use to you combing, touching and rubbing its body.

12. When making friends, you need to kneel or just sit on a bucket in the pen, so not to intimidate the calf. Slowly work your way to it, or pull the calf slowly into you with lead rope, while talking to it (use your best judgment to decide if your calf is too wild for this).

13. Leading two calves together if one is already broke, or leading the calf with its mother works well.

14. When leading the animal for the first time, start short distances, perhaps heading to water or feed.

15. When a calf starts leading, walk the calf to treats, hay, grain, etc.

16.Try your best to not let the animal get away from you, otherwise it will know it can escape and will continue doing so.

17. Learn how to read your calf, you will know when it is nervous or calm.

18. When a calf is leading well, you need to teach it to stand with a show stick. Rub the underbelly after placing the feet in position and rub its back so it is not afraid of the stick (let calf smell show stick).

19. To prepare a calf for show you can play a radio or just get it use to noises.

20. Make halter breaking a pleasant experience and don’t overwork yourself or the calf.