Impossible show barrow

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showpigs1991
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Impossible show barrow

Post by showpigs1991 » Tue Jul 02, 2019 10:10 pm

Ok guys and gals, I have a son who is 18 years old and is really good at getting his pigs trained. He has done this all his life. Hes got a couple top fives at state fair and numerous county fair titles. This year his best Barrow is untrainable. He can get in the pen and scratch his belly and he will lay down. When we let him out he will give 5 steps good then take off. This can go on for a hour. Tried 2 whips, tried giving him a good whip on the nose and he runs faster,tried slowing him with a panel and we even loaded him on the trailer and went to a strange place and walk or should I say ran there. This is his best Barrow too. Oh ya tried melatonin. Need some advice from the big boys on getting this one broke. Thanks

showpigs1991
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Re: Impossible show barrow

Post by showpigs1991 » Sun Jul 07, 2019 9:26 am

Nothing

mjw1980
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Re: Impossible show barrow

Post by mjw1980 » Mon Jul 08, 2019 7:55 am

Try giving him a beer or half a beer to see if that will calm him down.

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Phoenix-Rising
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Re: Impossible show barrow

Post by Phoenix-Rising » Tue Aug 11, 2020 10:40 pm

showpigs1991 wrote:
Tue Jul 02, 2019 10:10 pm
Ok guys and gals, I have a son who is 18 years old and is really good at getting his pigs trained. He has done this all his life. Hes got a couple top fives at state fair and numerous county fair titles. This year his best Barrow is untrainable. He can get in the pen and scratch his belly and he will lay down. When we let him out he will give 5 steps good then take off. This can go on for a hour. Tried 2 whips, tried giving him a good whip on the nose and he runs faster,tried slowing him with a panel and we even loaded him on the trailer and went to a strange place and walk or should I say ran there. This is his best Barrow too. Oh ya tried melatonin. Need some advice from the big boys on getting this one broke. Thanks
OOOOF! Man that is the worst(well, almost. :lol: )! I'm not a big guy, but... I'm training one exactly like that right now. Here is what worked for me:
1. Literally lunging him like a horse. I'm a cowgirl to so I figured it was worth a try to do what I do with my rialed up horses. (I was about to put a bullet in a valueable show barrow, so better that then a dead hog) Took a long lunge whip out and made him move his lil trotters until he was panting like crazy (it was 100 out so that helped me) then gave him the choice to walk calmly around the ring to the wash. He broke and started running so I just started hauling arse after him with the lunge whip (my other show pigs, especially my breeders, were VERY confused about my new training method :lol: ) Anyway after a bit he figured out that once he stoped running and paid attention to me and then walked calmly he wouldn't have me running after him with the longest whip he had ever seen whooping like a crazed cowpoke... and he would get a shower and dinner to boot!
He was perfect for about a week, then after one more go around he has been a dream. Just don't let it become a game... or a punishment... it's a tool to get them to think and realize that good things come from being chill at your keeper's side.
2. The other thing that has worked for me in the past was just tiny things... changing feed for example, (Fat-N-Fluffy made one of my hogs literally insane) whips are a big thing, their all different so some have a big opinion. I'm often suprised by the people with that ONE whip... I have dozens... depending on the temperment. Anyway, hope this helps some... if only to offer that you are 100% NOT alone! :lol:
Phoenix__rising :D :mrgreen:

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Re: Impossible show barrow

Post by JenC5 » Sat Sep 04, 2021 4:45 am

This is our first year showing pigs (I did when I was younger but now it’s my sons turn) I e have a barrow and a gilt that are both like this. We can go in their own and sit and pet them. But as soon as we get them out the take off. We’ve tried working them MANY times. We’ve had help from another girl that’s been showing for a while. We go to the fair in a week and I don’t know what to do. They are getting melatonin (for almost a week) I read to give them 5 hype and Valerium root so we started that 3 days ago and it is not helping. We tried pig calm paste and it does nothing for them. I wanted his first time showing to be enjoyable but this has been anything but fun. Any suggestions???

Jacegordon56
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Re: Impossible show barrow

Post by Jacegordon56 » Mon Sep 06, 2021 10:46 am

Hi my name is Jace and I’m 14. I’m great at breaking and showing pigs, I’m a cowboy. I have to show pigs that are great at showing in our barn but once they get to our show arena they are back to just not knowing how to walk and are just stubborn

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