[Jacob-list] Catching Rams

[ARTHUR PARTRIDGE]

We also put them in a small pen to catch them.  Food always gets them in
there.  Then I grab a horn when I can which leads me to the following
question:

I do have a question about using horns as handles when moving the rams.  A
friend of mine raises Icelandics and never touches the horns.  One time I
was helping her at the local fair and I was holding two rams back while she
put out their feed.  I had each by their horns, one ram on each side of me.
She didn't like that.  I guess I was suppose to wrap my arms around their
neck or something.  Then I would've been hit in the face by the horn curl
or hit in the knees.  Ouch!  I think the belief is that if you grab the
horns or lead them around by the horns then that makes the rams aggressive.
Could be true because I haven't seen an aggressive ram at my friend's
place.  I would rather risk some aggression rather than having my knees hit
when the ram swings his head.  When I grab the horns, they are under
control.  I also use a halter and lead, but I have that in one hand and a
horn in the other hand.  Works for me.  I would like opinions from others
about using the horns to control a ram.  My friend uses just a halter and
heavy lead.

Cathy
Moscow, Idaho