westparc
Well-Known Member
is there anything about farms not putting young calfs cows bullocks and a massive bull on a bridle path
bridle paths
- Thread starter westparc
- Start date
lachlanandmarcus
Well-Known Member
THE LAW
"Section 59 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 bans bulls of recognised dairy breeds (eg Ayrshire, Friesian, Holstein, Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey, Jersey and Kerry) in all circumstancesfrom being at large in fields crossed by public rights of way.
Bulls of all other breeds are also banned from such fields unless accompanied by cows or heifers, but there are no specific prohibitions on other cattle. Fields in this legislation do not include areas such as open fell or moorland."
So unless the bull is a dairy bull then the farmer is allowed to keep them in the field, if he does they have to have female cows with them.
Guidelines (not law) suggest trying to avoid having calves in there too, but it isnt obligatory. Our neighbouring farmer has cows and calves too.
Always make sure you give them a wide berth, take a stout stick, never get between cows and calves, never take a dog with you, and be prepared to shout! I have to get off both ends to do gates and there isnt time to get on before the herd comes to investigate so I lead my horse through and shout and swear at them a lot (must sound weird).
"Section 59 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 bans bulls of recognised dairy breeds (eg Ayrshire, Friesian, Holstein, Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey, Jersey and Kerry) in all circumstancesfrom being at large in fields crossed by public rights of way.
Bulls of all other breeds are also banned from such fields unless accompanied by cows or heifers, but there are no specific prohibitions on other cattle. Fields in this legislation do not include areas such as open fell or moorland."
So unless the bull is a dairy bull then the farmer is allowed to keep them in the field, if he does they have to have female cows with them.
Guidelines (not law) suggest trying to avoid having calves in there too, but it isnt obligatory. Our neighbouring farmer has cows and calves too.
Always make sure you give them a wide berth, take a stout stick, never get between cows and calves, never take a dog with you, and be prepared to shout! I have to get off both ends to do gates and there isnt time to get on before the herd comes to investigate so I lead my horse through and shout and swear at them a lot (must sound weird).
Firehorse
Well-Known Member
ooh, ur brave. i'm terrified of cows and would never in a million yrs walk thru a field with them in. many a dog walk has seen me going home the way i came. i'm not so bad if i'm on a horse, but then, only if i'm with someone else. they're such big bulky scarey creatures!
Orangehorse
Well-Known Member
I was leading a group of 6 riders and we came to a field which often has cattle. Standing right by the track was a huge bull, and there were lots of cows and calves. I decided that since I was the leader I must go first so we just rode up the track at a walk, right past the bull who just stood there, and went on to the gate at the other end. None of the cattle took the slightest notice of us. I would go round a group of cows and calves if I had to, but I think on a horse you are safer with cows and calves rather than a group of young heifers or steers who sometimes come galloping over to see what is happening.
lachlanandmarcus
Well-Known Member
Id rather they werent there and it does worry me a wee bit.
But at the same time, I can see it from the farmers side, his field, he's a cattle farmer, so theres cattle in it. And he did shut them in another field when we did an endurance ride through it a couple of weeks back, which meant the wicket gates each side of the field next to the cattle grids could be propped open, which was decent of him.
But at the same time, I can see it from the farmers side, his field, he's a cattle farmer, so theres cattle in it. And he did shut them in another field when we did an endurance ride through it a couple of weeks back, which meant the wicket gates each side of the field next to the cattle grids could be propped open, which was decent of him.
HollyB66
Well-Known Member
I believe the advice for dogwalking through such fields is to have the dog on the lead but get ready to drop it. This is so that when you are chased by the cows/bull it can run fast enough and they aren't interested in you - it is the dog they take exception to.
Last summer there were a couple of deaths of dogwalkers crushed by cows. I only found this out after my dog and I had been chased several times by herds of cows - it is terrifying. I don't think I would take a horse through a field if there were cows.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8164434.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8114529.stm
Last summer there were a couple of deaths of dogwalkers crushed by cows. I only found this out after my dog and I had been chased several times by herds of cows - it is terrifying. I don't think I would take a horse through a field if there were cows.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8164434.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8114529.stm
lachlanandmarcus
Well-Known Member
Id far rather take my horse through than a dog, the cattle dont see the horse as a threat, more a curiosity, which you can repel by voice and waving, wheras a cow with a calf can see the dog as a direct threat and be positively aggressive.
I would never take a dog through a cow field on lead or off lead, and farmers wouldnt get very far with moaning if a dogwalker takes a sensible and minimal as poss diversion off the path, since altho they can have the cows in there, in many cases if anything happens they could be liable for civil damages.
I would never take a dog through a cow field on lead or off lead, and farmers wouldnt get very far with moaning if a dogwalker takes a sensible and minimal as poss diversion off the path, since altho they can have the cows in there, in many cases if anything happens they could be liable for civil damages.