[Rosemary]

I've been flattened once, trying to gather ram lambs for trip to slaughter/market (can't remember) - one blow per knee and one in the guts....advice given was to stay down so he didn't keep charging/butting. Luckily my guts are at least padded!

We shut our ram lambs in a wee pen made of hurdles and the open trailer the night before they went to the abattoir. Next morning, they were either standing on the ramp or inside, so we just shut the gates and Bob's your uncle.

I've clunked our tup on the nose a couple of times if he's pushy, but mostly he's a gent, even when out with the ewes at tupping time. I don't turn my back n him, mind, just in case.

[colliewoman]

I have 3 fused vertebrae thanks to a 'pet' ram castrated in adulthood by the rescue place I used to work for.
He was hideous and spoilt. 'oh he thinks he's a dog' was all you would hear if you mentioned his aggression.
he knocked me into the corner of the barn and kept coming. i swear he would have killed me if a co worker hadn't seen it happen and drove him out with the pitchfork.
I dont take the chance now, and never ever trust any ram, castrated or not.

[ellisr]

I must have the best rams and ram lambs ever no significant injuries just a bit pushing and barging from everyone at feed time. Even Cutlet has now calmed down and can be a perfect gent about 95% of the time when he isn't practicing for the gymkhana. My ryeland rams have never caused injury to anyone (except love them to death). My old boy let me handle him and walk him out of the field down the drive and into a trailer this week with no problems at  and he is now on his holidays visiting a few girls in dorset (and being spoilt with lots of cuddles).
So I think when you have the right breed and temperment rams can be a joy to own.

[bigchicken]

Oh ya bugger, as Steve Irwin use to say Danger Danger Danger. Yes Ryeland would be a good choose I had a few a year or so back they were the most layed back sheep Ive ever seen. But I could not take to them after having Shetlands.

[princesspiggy]

our hebridean ram shares a paddock with our ducks which means  we have to enter his paddock twice a day. he has charged before and its like a sledgehammer with his horns. hes not too bad with me as i tap his nose if he gets too close but he tries to climb up on my son - who has learnt to run fast!!  you do have to be very careful tho cos rams are dangerous if u dont watch them.

[Tilly]

.....being knocked down in the middle of a 10 acre field and challenged to a 1 to 1 fight  by a Lincoln longwool ram whom definately had the upper hand I know how dangerous Rams can be!

.......I stood my ground as the Ram repeatadly charged, I managed to get in some really good hard  kicks to his nose  but believe me I was well beat!

THANK GOODNESS FOR THE DOGS!...... they were sitting at the field gate  -I shouted them and they held the Ram off enough so I could make a hasty retreat!

Tilly

[SallyintNorth]

Good dogs, Tilly!

[humphreymctush]

I had a very tame and friendly ram.  One day in the autum I had just been handling a different ram.  Then I was in the paddock with the tame ram, he nuzzled me, smelled the other ram on my clothes and butted the side of my knee. I needed an operation to sort it out.

[andywalt]

all very interesting storyies and helpful to hear what everyone does in differant circumstances....my large romney ewe used to have a go at me especially if he was in with the girls, luckily i used to play alot of rugby and I used to practice my handoffs and move to one side... so when we got out herdwick ram with horns i thought  instead of put them in a close pen just put them together in the field and the herdwick sorted him out straight away after 5 mins he brought him down a peg or too and since then I havenot had a problem with him.

[andywalt]

all very interesting storyies and helpful to hear what everyone does in differant circumstances....my large romney ewe used to have a go at me especially if he was in with the girls, luckily i used to play alot of rugby and I used to practice my handoffs and move to one side... so when we got out herdwick ram with horns i thought  instead of put them in a close pen just put them together in the field and the herdwick sorted him out straight away after 5 mins he brought him down a peg or too and since then I havenot had a problem with him.


Epic Ram Battle!!

[SallyintNorth]

andywalt you were lucky.  Swaledale tups (horned) have been known to kill Blue-faced Leicesters (bigger, but polled) doing exactly that.