# why do rams like to, uh, ram things? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 5, 2014, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-rams-like-to-uh-ram-things/680590 "2014-02-05T18:33:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-rams-like-to-uh-ram-things/680590/21 "2014-02-08T05:35:24Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > What are the consequences of getting rammed? That is, how severely are they likely to injure you? Are we talking about a bruise, or broken bones, or fatal injuries, or what? And what do they do once they’ve hit you – do they continue to attack in some other way, or do they back up to ram you again, or do they leave you alone? Depending on the size, broken bones _are_ in the mix. Bruises most likely (wife raises small breeds). I’ve been hit once, by a horned sheep, while loading him in a truck and got a small bruise. Thankfully he didn’t have much room to get up momentum! (really more of a “butt”, not “ram”) My wife has got more, and larger bruises, and her friend with the bigger sheep operation always looks like an abuse victim when I see her! Lady, ditch the shorts! If you were to get knocked down, they might take another shot at you, but a sustained “attack” is unlikely, I think. They lose interest pretty fast. But I’m certainly no expert. Like I say, I just drive the truck! ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-rams-like-to-uh-ram-things/680590/22 "2014-02-08T15:10:17Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > What are the consequences of getting rammed? That is, how severely are they likely to injure you? Are we talking about a bruise, or broken bones, or fatal injuries, or what? And what do they do once they’ve hit you – do they continue to attack in some other way, or do they back up to ram you again, or do they leave you alone? Check out the first hit in [the video I linked to in my OP, at 0:25](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jgjk3DsN7c&feature=player_detailpage#t=24). The rider and bike get knocked back pretty good, and the ram actually breaks some parts on the guy’s bike. Try to imagine taking that hit on your knee, to the front or side. I’m envisioning major knee damage, torn ligaments and such. **Chronos’** story suggests that once you’re laid out on the ground, you don’t present much of a challenge, and so they leave you alone. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-rams-like-to-uh-ram-things/680590/23 "2014-02-08T16:50:01Z")
Or at least, that you’re of less interest than a person who’s still standing. I don’t know how well dropping to the ground would work if there’s not someone else to distract them. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-rams-like-to-uh-ram-things/680590/24 "2014-02-08T17:46:15Z")
This thread is reminding me of the song “Sir Psycho Sexy”… _Like a ram gettin’ ready to jam the lamb…_ ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-rams-like-to-uh-ram-things/680590/25 "2014-02-08T18:18:48Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > " … Ah! When they charge, they tend to lower their head and then can’t see you very well. This is why they are pretty easy to dodge. Step to one side or the other … " This kind of dodging is actually done for sport, in Spain and with bulls. It is called Recortes and performed by [Recortadores](https://www.google.com/search?q=recortadores&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=73L2UsyoNsnYqgHy_IG4Ag&sqi=2&ved=0CCwQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=917) who are very adept at throwing a fake (or deke, juke) and then moving to the other side. The faked out bull will pass by harmlessly. [Youtube video (appx 10 mins).](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFIHeatkdCM) ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-rams-like-to-uh-ram-things/680590/26 "2014-02-10T18:35:54Z")
A video game alpha release, courtesy of SerenDipity, seemingly custom-made for some in this thread: [Goat-rammer.](http://youtu.be/WgTQglGvNUs) (YouTube clip) ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-rams-like-to-uh-ram-things/680590/27 "2014-02-10T20:26:25Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > A video game alpha release, courtesy of SerenDipity, seemingly custom-made for some in this thread: > > [Goat-rammer.](http://youtu.be/WgTQglGvNUs) (YouTube clip) Holy crap, I could not stop laughing. My stomach hurts. Thanks for that! ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-rams-like-to-uh-ram-things/680590/28 "2014-02-11T03:31:11Z")
> [@](#): > > why do rams like to, uh, ram things? Ewe should know that they don’t know the ramifications. Because they are Baaaaaad. ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-rams-like-to-uh-ram-things/680590/29 "2014-02-11T07:35:16Z")
What I want to know is, how/why have these people staged this video? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-rams-like-to-uh-ram-things/680590/30 "2014-02-11T13:07:15Z")
> [@bldysabba](#): > > What I want to know is, how/why have these people staged this video? It appears there was [an initial unstaged encounter,](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrhfClIcfYM) after which the rider and his friends went back to have some staged fun - including the video in my OP, in which they actually strapped a camera to the back of the ram. ---
**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-rams-like-to-uh-ram-things/680590/31 "2014-02-11T13:38:25Z")
I think you guys and gals are being a bit harsh. Rams can be intelligent and friendly chaps, just don’t bother them when its rutting time. Dad used to raise [Border Leicesters](http://www.google.co.nz/search?q=border+leicester&nord=1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=2yP6UsrLHInMlAW-3YDYDg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=506#nord=1&q=border+leicester+ram&tbm=isch&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=4KromKZXcZne_M%253A%3Bj-eBkrKazP9xEM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.borderleicesters.co.uk%252Fimages%252Feditor%252F0f8dd7d7e6c5bfa9a593692de5dc908b.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.borderleicesters.co.uk%252Fborder-leicester-sheep.php%3B340%3B285) and as you can see, the rams are substantial animals. I’ll admit to a secret nervousness about the massive forehead and you could hear the crack of head butts from paddocks away. But mostly they were placid. Rams are males. They need to dominate their pasture and their ewes. Even sheep dogs are wary of rams - sheep run but rams attack. If you turn your back there is a chance you could be seriously hurt. A broken pelvis is odds-on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-rams-like-to-uh-ram-things/680590.md?page=1)