[Jacob-list] Nice rams

[Dan Kennedy]

Hercules is extremely quiet, he doesn't even challenge the DH rams but
certainly doesn't back down from them when they challenge him.       The
worst injuries that  I've had from rams were both from my big DH ram who is
normally extremely gentle and just hangs around with the donkey  trying to
cadge treats (which he doesn't get) but when I was bringing him home from
Ontario, I reached into the back of the truck to move a water bucket and he
slammed my arm into the side of the truck.     A definite ouch, although
forgivable given the circumstances!         One evening I was slow with the
grain and he hit the outside of my knee.     I wasn't able to walk for at
least 1/2 hour afterwards but finally managed to get back on my feet and
limp out of the barn.      I believe that rams can be gentle, playful,
devoted but they have their own ways of communicating with us and sometimes
that way hurts, perhaps a lot.       If we make pets of these powerful
animals, we must do so realizing the potential risks and not blame the
animal if something bad happens.
Dan Kennedy
Killorglin Farm
Prince Edward Island
Jacob & Dorset Horn Sheep
www.attcanada.net/~dankennedy
----- Original Message -----
From: Thomas Simmons <creagchild at monad.net>
To: Chovhani <melanie.boxall at sympatico.ca>; <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2000 3:13 PM
Subject: Re: Re: [Jacob-list] Nice rams


> Melanie -
>
> Having already been involved in this discussion once, and having been duly
> beat up upon, I will not join in again . . . . but it's nice to know that
I
> am not the only one to have have found a way to be frienndly with my
ram(s)
> . . .  :-)
>
> thom (now ducking, once again)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Chovhani <melanie.boxall at sympatico.ca>
> To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
> Date: Wednesday, April 19, 2000 1:20 PM
> Subject: Re: Re: [Jacob-list] Nice rams
>
>
> >I think the message here is "know your own". I trimmed Arthur's hooves
this
> >morning, and he didn't even flinch. I guess like people they differ, and
> >that's all there is to it.
> >Melanie
> >
> >http://earthhome.tripod.com - Family & Home - NEW UPDATES!
> >http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/4838 - My Spiritual Website,
updated
> >and re-organized, but not QUITE finished!
> >
> >"I'm not having a mid-life crisis, I've always been this messed up."
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: Susan J Martin <stonecroft235 at juno.com>
> >To: <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
> >Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2000 11:10 AM
> >Subject: Fw: Re: [Jacob-list] Nice rams
> >
> >
> >Each shepherd must take the time to get to know his/her sheep - our ram
> >also like yours, Melanie, is a teddy bear.  However, I never forget he is
> >a ram - when I am in with him I make sure I know where he is at all times
> >and I watch his body language, just in case he has a change of heart.  He
> >seems to adore me, but when I was training my daughter to care for the
> >sheep on one of our "away" weekends, he did charge her and fortunately
> >she had a sheep cane with her and faced him off.  It appears he considers
> >me part of his "family" and anyone else is an intruder.  He is five years
> >old - is extremely gentle with the lambs, and loves to be scratched and
> >petted, nibbling on my collar and nuzzling my face - however, keep in
> >mind as he is nuzzling and nibbling I am keeping an eye on things,  as I
> >know if his face is turned upward he can't effectively butt me.   I know
> >it is not advisable to make a pet of a male breeding animal - Samuel is a
> >pet to me, but I simply don't take chances --  if he seems to be in a
> >flighty, "full of it" sort of mood, we don't engage in any nibbling and
> >nuzzling!!!  Also, I do know the breeder I bought him from breeds for
> >gentle and mellow animals - in addition for nice fleece - and Sammy has
> >both!    It will be a sad day here when we replace him, as it appears a
> >kind and gentle ram is not the norm, and I certainly wouldn't encourage
> >others to relate to their rams based on my situation, as it could be
> >deadly.
> >
> >Sue Martin
> >Stonecroft Manor
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
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> >Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
> >http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/jacob-list
> >
>
>
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