Low Stress Halter Breaking for Lambs and Goats

In the following article, Wahl Animal E.L.I.T.E. Educator, Sam Silvers, offers some tips and tricks to help ease the stress of halter breaking lambs and goats. 

1. Early Bird Gets the Worm!

I think it is important to start the initial process of halter breaking your projects when they are still young. It’s easier on the showman and the animal if they get adjusted to the process as soon as possible. The bigger the animal the bigger the fight!

2. Slow and Steady Wins the Race!

Be patient. Go slow and take your time. We start the introduction of the halter by simply putting it on them and loosely tying them to the fence. Never taking our eyes off them! Be consistent and tie them for 10-15 minutes everyday for 5-6 days. This will help them adjust to having a halter on them and learning that its not going to hurt them.

Wahl Tip: This is a great technique to apply when introducing them to clipping or shearing as well!

It’s highly important select the correct halter for the task. We only use the nylon buckle style halters that offer the chain lead on the underside. Two things make this style of halter obsolete in my mind. First, is its inability to slide down the nose of the animal and restrict its breathing. When halter breaking young sheep they are going to pull back and fight the halter at first. With rope style halters they tend to slip down over the nose and cut the air supply off. This can be dangerous. Second, the chain under the jaw helps reduce the fight. It encourages the animal to give you his head and not fight. One final thought on halter selection is that sheep and goats love to chew and they tend to shred the rope style halters while tied to the fence!

4. Walk, Walk, Walk

After the 5-6 day introductory period its time to start walking with the halter. Get ready! It’s usually a rodeo! Flopping, laying down, and sudden bursts of speed are normal and entertaining at times. Relax, it doesn’t hurt them. Take your time and use slow pulls a nudges with the halter to encourage them to walk with you. Sometimes a hand to the trailhead area will help them move along. I DO NOT encourage you to use any mechanical forms of persuasion. This only makes the animal not trust you! Take your time and they will have the hang of it in no time! Good Luck!