Samson’s Next Chapter

Susan Schmidlin April 26, 2015 broke to lead, fairs, geed, grass, halter, herd sire, Samson

This is the fourth in a series of articles about Samson

Samson taught by example by being first. Into the barn, into the stanchions, eating, walking on a halter, and laying down. He stood still while we brushed his hair, and the other bulls realized that we would not hurt them. His smooth, comfortable moves calmed the other three bull that had no idea what was going on. With Samson’s help it took less than a week to get them ‘broke to lead’, that is the term to be able to walk an animal with a halter on.

First time for black angus bull to be walked with a halter. — First time walking with halter

Walking bull on halter to water tubs in barn. — First time walking to water

Mike walking black angus bull on halter in barn. — First time walking to gate post

After every training session, the bulls were treated to something a little special. Sometimes it would be fresh mowed grass, or chopped up cabbage along with all the sweet grass hay they wanted.

They are not ready to walk around a show ring at the fair, but they are ready to move on.

All the three bulls that Samson helped train are scheduled to show at the Fairs with us in July and August. The bull # 62 (Banjo) has been spoken for already, but will stay here on the farm until early next year. In January he will be moved to the southern Oregon Coast to a large cow/calf operation. After the Fairs, bull # 57 (Bryce) , will be used as our rental sire, servicing the local farms in the area, he stays at each farm about 63 days before moving on to the next batch of females. Bull # 63 (Cooper) is still too young to sell, he was born in June last year. He will be available for sale after the Fair circuit in complete.

Samson did a superb job getting these bulls halter broke before he starts his new life as herd sire. It has been a year of many memories.