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DieselDennis

Posted 9/17/2016 07:45 (#5533513)
Subject: What is Around This Calves Neck? Horse Working Pic From Below

Brandon, MS

For the non-equine advanced users on this forum, I saw a picture in the horse working thread below that has me curious.

What is this thing around the calves head? I can kind of tell what it does, but what do you call it? Why do you use it? What makes it better than just a rope around the neck?

(working calves.jpg)

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working calves.jpg (139KB - 129 downloads)

daddycal

Posted 9/17/2016 07:56 (#5533527 - in reply to #5533513)
Subject: RE: What is Around This Calves Neck? Horse Working Pic From Below

Montana

That is called a Nordfork and some are using it because they cannot get wrestlers to sit on the calves at Branding. Everybody wants to rope and ride horses but not many want to sit on the head or hold the hind leg on calves.

We use a calf able because we think it is easier on the calves. Some say the Nordfork does not hurt but put one on and have someone put a rope around your legs and hold with a horse.

Some ropers are good and careful but some have less than good control of their horse. I would not want that or a roping system used on my calves but many are doing it.

cornlover

Posted 9/17/2016 07:57 (#5533530 - in reply to #5533513)
Subject: RE: What is Around This Calves Neck? Horse Working Pic From Below

That is called a Nord Fork. First made by Nord Hill in Idaho. It is hinged in the middle with a handle on top to help put it on the calf's head as he is dragged to the branding fire. As the roper pulls calf by ground crew someone slides fork on neck. The other end of fork is fastened to the ground by a stake driven in. It has a inner tube tied in between stake and fork to give cushion when pulling.

When done working calf, roper releases his rope, at the same time ground man pulls up on handle to release head catch and calf runs back to momma. Less stress, and fast way to work cattle.

buckmaster

Posted 9/17/2016 08:10 (#5533557 - in reply to #5533513)
Subject: RE: What is Around This Calves Neck? Horse Working Pic From Below

Nord Forks
I was not around em much but we had a stake in the ground then a inner tube rope and nord fork.
We had no experience with them, the horses got tired the ground crew was tired trying to get the fork on the head. wonder how some of the guys that do this often think about it.

Macttle

Posted 9/17/2016 09:14 (#5533670 - in reply to #5533557)
Subject: RE: What is Around This Calves Neck? Horse Working Pic From Below

Guy forking em shouldn't get tired... Don't move much - usually that guys doing something else besides forking

8670

Posted 9/18/2016 17:44 (#5536192 - in reply to #5533670)
Subject: RE: What is Around This Calves Neck? Horse Working Pic From Below

Worked a lot of calves with forks. If you have a ground crew that is good and doesn't want to rope it is a good way, but if everyone wants to rope all the time the ground crew starts getting pretty pissy. It should be mentioned it's only doubles or you don't drag them here.

Poverty acres

Posted 9/18/2016 17:54 (#5536207 - in reply to #5536192)
Subject: RE: What is Around This Calves Neck? Horse Working Pic From Below

Central SD

Well branding pen etiquette states that whoever owns the cattle desises who ropes, when, and for how long. Only the last one is a single acceptable.

8670

Posted 9/18/2016 18:02 (#5536225 - in reply to #5536207)
Subject: RE: What is Around This Calves Neck? Horse Working Pic From Below

I agree. To many around here just want their kids to do the roping. I quit helping those outfits. I enjoy working both. Just don't like working the ground all day when I've got a good horse tied up that I brought. I've seen grown men pout when asked to take turns.

Haystax

Posted 9/18/2016 18:05 (#5536231 - in reply to #5536207)
Subject: RE: What is Around This Calves Neck? Horse Working Pic From Below

DV, NV

Poverty acres - 9/18/2016 03:54

Well branding pen etiquette states that whoever owns the cattle desises who ropes, when, and for how long. Only the last one is a single acceptable.

Yep

Anyone who gets pissy gets to go home and won't be invited back. They can go push calves up a chute lol

8670

Posted 9/18/2016 18:13 (#5536252 - in reply to #5536231)
Subject: RE: What is Around This Calves Neck? Horse Working Pic From Below

Most of the crappy brandings are at places that have absentee owners and not to good of hands. They grab their beer and get on their horse and stay there all day.

Macttle

Posted 9/18/2016 22:38 (#5536962 - in reply to #5536207)
Subject: RE: What is Around This Calves Neck? Horse Working Pic From Below

Guy that owns the calves says who's roping and rotates according - have some one hammering em I won't tell em to rotate out - in the end it's just work - someone's on fire I'll leave them in - don't care if someone gets upset
Also guy who owns the cattle doesn't drag - he runs the crew from the ground - unless your pulling dries and some rip isn't cooperating - DONT mind if she gets roped and choked from the owner :)

KDK Herefords

Posted 9/20/2016 08:48 (#5539161 - in reply to #5536962)
Subject: RE: What is Around This Calves Neck? Horse Working Pic From Below

East Central, IA

+1

Never rope at your own branding.

cornlover

Posted 9/17/2016 11:19 (#5533836 - in reply to #5533557)
Subject: RE: What is Around This Calves Neck? Horse Working Pic From Below

There is a nack to getting to use a Nord fork. Some people just never can figure it out. Lot faster, easier on cattle and men when you know what you're doing. Lot less stress that sorting calves off and roping or running down a chute. Calf stands with momma until worked. Good crew can work calf less than a minute and calf is able to go back to sucking. The debate of Nord Fork vs. Calf table is like the one over hotshots vs. Electric fences.

sdnotill1983

Posted 9/17/2016 11:31 (#5533850 - in reply to #5533836)
Subject: RE: What is Around This Calves Neck? Horse Working Pic From Below

SE SD

Nord forks work great but the guy on the horse needs to know what he's doing and how much pressure to put on them.

cornlover

Posted 9/17/2016 11:47 (#5533877 - in reply to #5533850)
Subject: RE: What is Around This Calves Neck? Horse Working Pic From Below

Yup, your right.

povertypoint

Posted 9/17/2016 22:41 (#5534954 - in reply to #5533513)
Subject: RE: What is Around This Calves Neck? Horse Working Pic From Below

SE SD

My question, how do you guys get that burnt hair smell
out of ones nostrils. :)

cornlover

Posted 9/18/2016 05:52 (#5535065 - in reply to #5534954)
Subject: RE: What is Around This Calves Neck? Horse Working Pic From Below

Never bothered me, kind of like the smell of money. Just like the smell of manure on your clothes.

denice.r

Posted 9/18/2016 06:09 (#5535074 - in reply to #5533513)
Subject: RE: What is Around This Calves Neck? Horse Working Pic From Below

south east Indiana

The roping/dragging vs calf table debate can go either way and I have no problem working calves either way. As most things it depends on the crew which is less stressful for the cattle. I will say when I used a calf table everything was sorted so that cows here and calves there. They would not be paired back up for quite a while. With roping and dragging it takes a minute and two. The cows usually are waiting for their calf, most calves know where mom is. There is less frantic bawling from both mom and calf.
It can get to where you can not hardly think if you have a good sized group sorted for several hours. Hearing 600 pairs complain all at once is not fun.

bobbyg

Posted 9/18/2016 11:40 (#5535589 - in reply to #5533513)
Subject: ignorant question

EC IL

why the chaps? especially with the fringe. I know they keep your pants clean and probably protects from the iron. is there more? Seems they would be hot, etc.

Poverty acres

Posted 9/18/2016 13:53 (#5535828 - in reply to #5535589)
Subject: RE: ignorant question

Central SD

Everyone pretty much explained the forks. They are a lot cheaper then hiring 20 high school kids to mug calves. You can do 800 in an afternoon and no one is worn out. The chinks are for leg protection. If you drag 100 calves out you can get a pretty sore spot on your leg where the rope lays across. Calf tables take way to long and who wants to get kicked by calves all day pushing them up.

Haystax

Posted 9/18/2016 14:07 (#5535842 - in reply to #5533513)
Subject: RE: What is Around This Calves Neck? Horse Working Pic From Below

DV, NV

We have been using Nord forks for quite a while here. Wouldn't go back to mugging or dead man if you paid me. They are faster, safer, and cheaper than hiring a bunch of kids that think they're tough. 4 people can brand a lot of calves in a day with no stress involved on cattle or crew. We do this a lot when you're up against weather or need to get pairs out on grass and so are all the neighbors

Only work on small calves, if they are too big then we head and heal. Takes twice the crew to head/heal but that's fine when it's a social event. Everyone takes turns and works the ground. We don't have any team ropers or dudes, just good friends and neighbors who enjoy working together

Calf tables are the devil's invention. Ive pushed thousands of calves through one and will never do it again

cornlover

Posted 9/18/2016 16:27 (#5536075 - in reply to #5535842)
Subject: RE: What is Around This Calves Neck? Horse Working Pic From Below

Amen to running on a good crew that can heel and drag. As for the chinks, kind of a western states deal. Lot lighter, don't have to deal with cactus, and stuff, so really no need for full leggings. Nice if you still buck little bales in winter to feed as well.

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