Today is the Day

I found a helpful document put out by Idaho State University about "Halter Training and Gentling Calves" that felt really illuminating to me, because for once, YouTube failed me and when you search for training calves you get workout videos. Thanks, but no thanks. According to the gentling calves, the first step is to attach the lead hope to the halter and let the calve drag it around for a few days. This teaches them that the rope is strong enough to stop them if they step on it. We accidentally did this correctly, we did let them drag around their halters for a few days. 

The next step is to tie the lead ropes to a post and let them stand there while you pet and brush them daily. Over time they will learn that you don't want to hurt them. Occasionally pull the lead rope to see if they fallow your tug, this will give you insight as to when they are ready to start walking around on the rope. A this point they should let you touch them pretty easily with out avoiding it. The next steps are to lead them around the pen with the rope, and when they give you no trouble with that, lead them around the property. Then when they have no problem with that, you've succeeded in halter training and gentling your cow. 

We have brushed the yaks several times, but it came a time where we must loosen their halters. They were growing so much from when we got them that their halters were digging into their faces, especially Dusty's. We tied a rope around their horns and then tried to loosen the buckles but they were so stiff we couldn't do it. We had to run back to the house to get pliers and all kinds of stuff. Finally after much effort we loosened them and I think the relief was immediate for the fuzzies. 

Dusty after brushing and loosening her halter.

I felt like I was getting more and more cowardly, first refraining from entering the coral, now avoiding entering the entire field when they were in it since they excitedly clamor for the treats from me and it's scary. I felt myself retreating farther and farther, but I know the yaks are only getting bigger and bigger. My problem is not going away, and in fact it's growing the longer I ignore it. So I had to face my fears and put the yaks into the coral. If I could just get in the gate before they realize I'm coming then I can handle it from there, I walk toward the coral, they follow, and it's all good. The problem happens when they are in front of me where I want to go, then I get scared that if I walk right toward them they will charge me. 

So I went into the garage and poured a bucket of treats and then got my boots on and I opened the side door to the garage just a crack and peeked as quietly as a I could—the yaks were running to the gate anyway! They somehow knew I was coming already, wow. There they were at the gate again, exactly what I'm afraid of. But what else can I do? I have to face my fears. So I stomped my foot at the gate and said "Hey hey! Backup!" and they got scared and backed up about seven feet, enough for me to get in, then I just walked toward them and toward the coral, they moved around followed me, eventually trotting past me and when I got the coral gate I said "in" and pointed and they did. I did it! I was brave. I learned from this that when you want something, you have to speak loudly and firmly, something I'm really not used to doing. Life Lessons from the practice of Yak Whispering. Of course Ganesh does this same thing, successfully directing excited yaks into the coral, very easily and is not afraid at all, so my heroic act of bravery impressed exactly no one. But I know that it's progress for me. They say, when treating phobias, gradual and persistent exposure to the trigger doesn't decrease one's fear, but increases courage.