Cows with calves on a bridleway

spotty_pony2

spotty_pony2

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Is it legal? There is a herd of cows with their calves and also a bull on one of the bridleways near me. I rode through there the other day and they came bombing across the field at me. Luckily my boy was very good but had he decided to bolt they would definitely have followed me and it could have been nasty.

Farmer has obviously had some complaints because there was a message on the local village facebook group this morning saying that the cows are ‘inquisitive’ and there is a temporary route for dog walkers to avoid the field and still use the right of way. There is no alternative for horses and riders but it is very possible they could allow us to ride on the temporary route too. The farmers are all for it and happy to help but they do not own the field and the landowner is a funny woman and a bully and is adamant the cows are fine..! I have reported to council. Am I right in thinking this is something that needs addressing? Her other option is to fence the bridleway but that will be a more expensive solution option but it’s her call!
 
I’ve been told they are as long as not a recognised dairy breed. Which I think he will be, and also they are in they aren’t with calves but I think the whole thing spells disaster if they decide to charge!
 
Beef bulls, which these probably are, if they are out with cows and calves, are usually even-tempered. There is no obligation to fence cattle off footpaths but users should make their own risk assessment and if they don't feel it is safe use another route.
I personally wouldn't risk riding through the cows and calves.
 
Good question. We have several bridleways with cows in now. I just assumed farmers could put them there but would love to know they can’t. Do they just have to put up a Beware of the Bull sign
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Beef bulls, which these probably are, if they are out with cows and calves, are usually even-tempered. There is no obligation to fence cattle off footpaths but users should make their own risk assessment and if they don't feel it is safe use another route.
I personally wouldn't risk riding through the cows and calves.
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No exactly this I wouldn’t risk it again but didn’t know they were in there until I got there. I think they do have a legal obligation to make the right of way safe for use though as otherwise it’s an obstruction.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Beef bulls, which these probably are, if they are out with cows and calves, are usually even-tempered. There is no obligation to fence cattle off footpaths but users should make their own risk assessment and if they don't feel it is safe use another route.
I personally wouldn't risk riding through the cows and calves.
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Thanks for the clarification.
 
I ride on moors with cows and calves, but they're all fairly docile (beef breeds), I'd be a bit wary about dairy cows/overly bouncy young stock.
You may find that as they get used to horses the novelty wears off and they stop coming over to you- although in your shoes I'd probably carry a stick, if you don't already.
 
SpeedyPony said:
I ride on moors with cows and calves, but they're all fairly docile (beef breeds), I'd be a bit wary about dairy cows/overly bouncy young stock.
You may find that as they get used to horses the novelty wears off and they stop coming over to you- although in your shoes I'd probably carry a stick, if you don't already.
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oh yes I was waving my stick at them and they stopped. I used to keep my horses on a dairy far
so luckily I’m a bit more aware on their behaviour and the signs they give off. The field is a big field but it’s hard to avoid them - I did the other day but they came over anyway!
 
SpeedyPony said:
I ride on moors with cows and calves, but they're all fairly docile (beef breeds), I'd be a bit wary about dairy cows/overly bouncy young stock.
You may find that as they get used to horses the novelty wears off and they stop coming over to you- although in your shoes I'd probably carry a stick, if you don't already.
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If the calves are with the cows it is unlikely that they are a dairy breed, dairy calves are usually removed from the cow very young, except on a few farms that make a feature of leaving calves on the cows and often publicise the fact.
 
Have ridden through them before but not too comfortable about it and, yes, gateways are a nightmare. Once had a really nasty incident on foot with my two GSDs who were firmly on leads as we walked the footpath through the field. However, the calves are so inquisitive that they charged over closely followed by protective mums. We were soon surrounded. Fortunately one of the dogs had the wit to drag herself out of her collar and run off and magically, somewhere out of the ether, the farmer appeared and helped us through the gate. I would never chance that again and other people in the area were not so lucky.
 
spotty_pony2 said:
I’ve ridden through loads over the years including dairy before it was made law they are separate and never had issues. it’s more the fact it’s one rule for the walkers and us as riders are being disregarded that has got my back up tbh…
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Then that should be taken up with the landowner who has kindly allowed walkers to use her land as an alternative. Just don't hold your breath.
 
I've ridden through many a beef herd and can appreciate that it can get 'interesting', especially when they congregate around your exit! I'd still rather ride through cows rather than a herd of horses, though. The last time I did that I had the foresight to get off, as I literally had to fence my way through nosey dancing equines.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Beef bulls, which these probably are, if they are out with cows and calves, are usually even-tempered. There is no obligation to fence cattle off footpaths but users should make their own risk assessment and if they don't feel it is safe use another route.
I personally wouldn't risk riding through the cows and calves.
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I agree. If there are other options I would just avoid riding through there for the time-being.
 
I wouldn't ride through a herd of cows and calves with a bull. I would ride round them though.

It is perfectly legal to turn cattle out into fields whether or not it has a footpath or bridlepath. I agree that it can be a bit nerve wracking at this time of year as the cattle are newly turned out from their winter yards and can get very excited. They will settle down though, in time.

They are usually curious rather than aggressive, although it is foolish to take a dog anywhere near cows with calves. The dog is seen as a potential killer in the eyes of the mother cow. And you never quite know how a cow will react when it has a calf.
 
Landowners have a duty of care for anyone on their land. If there is a Public Right of Way across a field, then the landowner is responsible for anyone traveling across it. Landowners should have third-party indemnity insurance cover in place for their land. In the case of cattle in a field, the landowner should have written a documented Health and Safety document to cover this and explain what measures they have put in place to avoid an accidents from occurring. In the event of an accident occurring, then the Health and Safety Executive are responsible for investigating it, and the cost of their report will be charged to the landowner. In the event of the landowner being found to be responsible for the accident, they may receive a financial penalty. In this instance, I would ask your local BHS access officer to investigate and write to the land owner concerned to ask them what measures they have put in place to avoid any accidents from occurring to horse riders using the bridleway. The contact details of your local BHS Access officer can be found on the following link: https://www.bhs.org.uk/bhs-in-your-area/
 
In Scotland we have right to roam and therefore if you are entering fields with any type of livestock then it is on your own decision.

I have ridden through fields with both cows and sheep, most of the time nothing happens, occasionally the young ones come for a look and then follow. Faran doesn’t care so he just keeps on his merry way and ignores them.

Last night I was trotting along the road and all the cows and new calves came running up to the fence to have a look. Once I get the footage off my camera I’ll post it. Whether the fence had been there or not wouldn’t have made a difference, they were just having a jolly and a nosey 🤣.

Farmers can’t not be using their land just because people want to ride or walk through it, right of way or not IMO. These people keep us fed and supply us with feed and bedding for our horses at the end of the day. It’s a bit ungrateful to them to have a moan that you can’t ride in a certain field for a few weeks whilst cows are in it IMO.
 
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Roasted Chestnuts said:
In Scotland we have right to roam and therefore if you are entering fields with any type of livestock then it is on your own decision.

I have ridden through fields with both cows and sheep, most of the time nothing happens, occasionally the young ones come for a look and then follow. Faran doesn’t care so he just keeps on his merry way and ignores them.

Last night I was trotting along the road and all the cows and new calves came running up to the fence to have a look. Once I get the footage off my camera I’ll post it. Whether the fence had been there or not wouldn’t have made a difference, they were just having a jolly and a nosey 🤣.

Farmers can’t not be using their land just because people want to ride or walk through it, right of way or not IMO. These people keep us fed and supply us with feed and bedding for our horses at the end of the day. It’s a bit ungrateful to them have a moan that you can’t ride in a certain field for a few weeks whilst cows are in it IMO.
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PeterNatt said:
Landowners have a duty of care for anyone on their land. If there is a Public Right of Way across a field, then the landowner is responsible for anyone traveling across it. Landowners should have third-party indemnity insurance cover in place for their land. In the case of cattle in a field, the landowner should have written a documented Health and Safety document to cover this and explain what measures they have put in place to avoid an accidents from occurring. In the event of an accident occurring, then the Health and Safety Executive are responsible for investigating it, and the cost of their report will be charged to the landowner. In the event of the landowner being found to be responsible for the accident, they may receive a financial penalty. In this instance, I would ask your local BHS access officer to investigate and write to the land owner concerned to ask them what measures they have put in place to avoid any accidents from occurring to horse riders using the bridleway. The contact details of your local BHS Access officer can be found on the following link: https://www.bhs.org.uk/bhs-in-your-area/
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This maybe totally correct, but surely as horse owners our hearts and minds should be on the side of farmers, who are having one hell of a difficult time with the government, rules and regulations as it is….
Please please work with them, not against them….or one day that field you wish to ride across will be a housing site or an industrial development, and guess what, the right of way will have disappeared…..
 
Trouper said:
Have ridden through them before but not too comfortable about it and, yes, gateways are a nightmare. Once had a really nasty incident on foot with my two GSDs who were firmly on leads as we walked the footpath through the field. However, the calves are so inquisitive that they charged over closely followed by protective mums. We were soon surrounded. Fortunately one of the dogs had the wit to drag herself out of her collar and run off and magically, somewhere out of the ether, the farmer appeared and helped us through the gate. I would never chance that again and other people in the area were not so lucky.
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Same but I let mine off thinking they could at least out run them, and the youngest held them back barking and facing them off while we went down a bank and back up nearer the way out. Means my stock broken dog now has an issue with cows and wants to always keep them back away from me which really annoys me as I understand why he thinks that, but he was rock steady before we got mobbed and I hate he was put in that situation. But we did make it out safely so could have been a lot worse!
 
Hmm I used to have my old horse on a farm with a mixed herd of .dairy and beef cattle. The beef cattle never stopped unnerving me but the dairies were fine. The farmer specifically picked a placid bull as we had to go through cows to get to our fields. Would I ride through a field. Not on your nelly. I'd find somewhere else to ride whilst they were in there. I find them too curious. Walking through ones I know was fine after a couple of weeks of us both bricking it 😂
 
When I was a teen there was a field we always used to canter across that often had cows in that were never a bother unless they were lying down around the gate. Another field of cows adjacent to the road on the same route however caused no end of bother galloping up to the fence and up and down the fence line 😅
Roasted Chestnuts said:
In Scotland we have right to roam and therefore if you are entering fields with any type of livestock then it is on your own decision.

I have ridden through fields with both cows and sheep, most of the time nothing happens, occasionally the young ones come for a look and then follow. Faran doesn’t care so he just keeps on his merry way and ignores them.

Last night I was trotting along the road and all the cows and new calves came running up to the fence to have a look. Once I get the footage off my camera I’ll post it. Whether the fence had been there or not wouldn’t have made a difference, they were just having a jolly and a nosey 🤣.

Farmers can’t not be using their land just because people want to ride or walk through it, right of way or not IMO. These people keep us fed and supply us with feed and bedding for our horses at the end of the day. It’s a bit ungrateful to them to have a moan that you can’t ride in a certain field for a few weeks whilst cows are in it IMO.
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As a walker I've walked through many a field to find the beware bull sign on the stile after I've left the field.

I have been chased by cows on horseback but the cows in their defence were running away from several labs off the lead that had riled them up we just got caught in the melee due to bad timing.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Then that should be taken up with the landowner who has kindly allowed walkers to use her land as an alternative. Just don't hold your breath.
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I’ve tried and she was very rude and told me the cows will be fine and ‘there’s plenty of other bridleways to choose from’. So council are now taking it into their own hands. She is well known around the village and nobody has a nice word to say about her.
 
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