My Jersey Holstein steer is a year and a half and his name is Avery. I have decided to keep him as a pet. Avery has not shown any signs of wanting to hurt me and I know he could change is mind in an instant. He follows me everywhere and is halter trained. I put saddle pad on his back, but I would like to buy a saddle for him. He is roughly 700 or 800 pounds. I am tired of using a fence to get on him. Would a English saddle or a bareback saddle pad work with stirrups? Which one would be better for him and how much could he possibly hold on his back?
Riding a Jersey Holstein steer
- Thread starter avery42
- Start date
I don't know much about riding steers, but ive seen it done with bulls at rodeos for show. I would think it shouldn't be much different then training a horse aside from genetics.
I noticed you said Avery could change his mind in an instant, without his reproductive parts I wouldn't worry about him becoming aggressive. I'm a vegan, and love hanging out with cattle, at the moment I part time work with a herd of angus (about 90 head depending on calving, not my primary job but I'm good at it and get called in when I get a break from the vineyard and winery). I've been hit hard by an angry angus mom (stay on your feet!), chased by bulls (jump the fence and prey!), not humped (yet), "playfully" butted, "playfully " chased and a hole bunch of other scary moments motivated by work (moving pasture) or rush (this calf is sick, mamma doesn't trust me, and it needs to be moved/worked on).
Cattle can be scary, the friendliest heifer can change 10 fold when her calf hits the ground, but if you have a good foundation with a steer I wouldn't fear him changing. Steers are by nature more docile and curious, and once tame are rare to turn (I've never seen it happen). Even the skittish one are more friendly then most heifers (though trust me I've fallen deeply for some awesome heifers). I especially wouldn't worry about a holstien/jersey steer, two pretty mild mannered easy keepers. I think you can ride Avery! And I would worry about him turning! I can sit on the "never going 'home'" steer big bird while he's laying down to send a text message, have a cup of coffee, relax from work tension, ect. And he's a big ol angus! If your boy is halter broke and friendly, he'll probably stay that way!
I noticed you said Avery could change his mind in an instant, without his reproductive parts I wouldn't worry about him becoming aggressive. I'm a vegan, and love hanging out with cattle, at the moment I part time work with a herd of angus (about 90 head depending on calving, not my primary job but I'm good at it and get called in when I get a break from the vineyard and winery). I've been hit hard by an angry angus mom (stay on your feet!), chased by bulls (jump the fence and prey!), not humped (yet), "playfully" butted, "playfully " chased and a hole bunch of other scary moments motivated by work (moving pasture) or rush (this calf is sick, mamma doesn't trust me, and it needs to be moved/worked on).
Cattle can be scary, the friendliest heifer can change 10 fold when her calf hits the ground, but if you have a good foundation with a steer I wouldn't fear him changing. Steers are by nature more docile and curious, and once tame are rare to turn (I've never seen it happen). Even the skittish one are more friendly then most heifers (though trust me I've fallen deeply for some awesome heifers). I especially wouldn't worry about a holstien/jersey steer, two pretty mild mannered easy keepers. I think you can ride Avery! And I would worry about him turning! I can sit on the "never going 'home'" steer big bird while he's laying down to send a text message, have a cup of coffee, relax from work tension, ect. And he's a big ol angus! If your boy is halter broke and friendly, he'll probably stay that way!
The comment to not "worry about a Holstein / Jersey steer, two pretty mild mannered easy keepers ". The cows may be as they are bred for milk production and have a need to be milked regularly , but many look quite thin even when fed the best quality of feeds. I guess someone hasn't been around a Holstein or Jersey bull. These guys are among the most ill tempered of bovines. Why do you think that these days just about every dairy does NOT keep a bull around ( many a dairyman has been injured, maimed and even killed by them) , but rely on AI . Steers may be docile for even years, but can and will turn in a blink of an eye. I wouldn't keep one as a pet, but I will invite one to dinner.Otis7 said:
CritterZone
Chillin' with the herd
If you are just looking for stirrups so you can get on easier, you should go with a bareback pad with stirrups. Horses and cattle are not built the same way, and a saddle for a horse is not likely to fit a steer and be comfortable for him.
BHOBCFarms
Exploring the pasture
I feel that you are unsure about your steer for some reason. Perhaps you got him when he was older, perhaps you haven't spent as much time with him as you wanted..... Whatever the reason, I sense your nervousness. I suggest you keep working on your communication and relationship with the steer. Teach him to wear the saddlepad and get him used to you being in close contact with him, don't rush into it.
I had a bottle fed Holstien heifer when I was a teen and I could hang on her, sleep on her, take her anywhere. that said, Holstiens are the "arabians" of the cow world, meaning they are spunky and spirited and you need to respect that. When my tame as a pony heifer got frisky, she could be dangerous! You need to learn how to handle your steer confidently, to understand him, his moods, his bad habits/dirty tricks, then when you have that foundation, try the riding. If you can't get him to obey you on the ground, you shouldn't try riding him yet.
I had a bottle fed Holstien heifer when I was a teen and I could hang on her, sleep on her, take her anywhere. that said, Holstiens are the "arabians" of the cow world, meaning they are spunky and spirited and you need to respect that. When my tame as a pony heifer got frisky, she could be dangerous! You need to learn how to handle your steer confidently, to understand him, his moods, his bad habits/dirty tricks, then when you have that foundation, try the riding. If you can't get him to obey you on the ground, you shouldn't try riding him yet.
