How to Tame a Beast

Okay so I learned something new today. In theory at least, I learned it. How to harness and tame a "wild" steer.

Apparently you throw a lasso around the bovine's neck, like you're a cowboy on the range. Then, after digging a hole and putting a pole deep into the ground, you tie the poor sucker to the post. Then you struggle for a few minutes or maybe hours, putting the unwanted harness (unwanted to the animal) on his head. This may result in the steer getting a bloody nose from banging its head against the pole or maybe you'll get the bloody nose. Once the harness is on, then you attach the lead rope. Tie the lead rope to the post and let the animal sit there. Until it's time for him to eat or drink. Then drag his sorry hairy self back to the post and tie him to it again. Sounds cruel, but this way he learns that when he jerks with all his might, he gets nowhere. Pretty soon he'll stop jerking away whenever he feels something pulling on that darn harness permanently enveloped around his large, bovine head. Voila! A tame beast.

This I learned this morning from another 4H Mom. Incredible, huh?

Check back and I'll let you know if it really works, in practice! (And who ended up with the bloody nose - ew!)