Etiquette for riding through cow fields

[Widgeon]

Really interesting replies! I think if they'd have shown more fear of my horse I may have carried on (rightly or wrongly)

I think this is the critical thing really, you have to read the situation because every horse, every group of cows, the layout of every field is going to be different. If you're not confident, for any reason, best to do what you did and stay safe.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

We have some Highlands on the yard where I keep my horse. They are really placid most of the time. We don’t through their field but the horses aren’t bothered by them. I have ridden through other fields of cows as long as they are not too near the path. There is a herd of black cattle which I wouldn’t ride through as they are quite feisty. One charged at the fence when I was riding past. Another time I came across one that had got out onto the bridleway I was on and I doubled back quick. In my 20s I rode a big Irish draft mare and she boldly strode through cattle even if they were crowding a gate. She was awesome mare.

 

[Gloi]

Ñ

It's unnerving that they're all looking at you, Gloi - but i'm guessing this bunch are well-behaved if you brave them regularly?

Looks like a beautiful place that you're riding in.

They've always backed down as we get close.

 

[AntiPuck]

We have some Highlands on the yard where I keep my horse. They are really placid most of the time. We don’t through their field but the horses aren’t bothered by them. I have ridden through other fields of cows as long as they are not too near the path. There is a herd of black cattle which I wouldn’t ride through as they are quite feisty. One charged at the fence when I was riding past. Another time I came across one that had got out onto the bridleway I was on and I doubled back quick. In my 20s I rode a big Irish draft mare and she boldly strode through cattle even if they were crowding a gate. She was awesome mare.

Mine is also a big ID so this was part of the reason I still went into the field despite the approaching cattle, as I honestly thought they'd be a bit intimidated by her once the height difference became apparent, but nope not these guys!

Don't like the sound of that loose cow on the bridleway, eek.

 

[holeymoley]

We have the same ones that go out yearly so they’re all pretty good, usually cows with calfs. I do try and avoid them and ride the other side of the field. I have noticed the herds of bullocks these days seem to be coming a bit wilder than they used to be! No idea what’s changed, generally all inquisitive idiots that leap about. I do make sure i’m fairly close to a gate though if I have to go in with them.

 

[Sossigpoker]

My cob is virtually bomb proof and has actually lived with cows so should be well used to them so as long as I didn't panic, he would be fine. But cows are too unpredictable for my.liking. years ago I had to ride my ID across a cow field but as those cows were used to horses , they followed us in in orderly queue lol.

Last summer I had a terrifying experience with cows though with my cob. I had got off to open a tricky gate and decided walk across the field to the next gate (as the difficult gate wasn't very sturdy ) and get back on from the next metal gate.
Half way through I saw the cattle. And they were running towards us ! I had nowhere to go and wouldn't be able to out run them to the next gate and couldn't get back on.
So I put my horse between me and the cattle and prayed to every possible deity that he'd remain calm. Which he thankfully did. And we carried on walking with this cattle crowding us. Got to the next gate only to find that the bastard of a farmer had locked it! (It's a bridleway!). My horse and I were being literally pushed against this gate by the cattle , I couldn't even make enough room to get back on.
I had no choice but start walking back towards the first gate, I was basically in a hedge , my horse on my right being pushed against by the cattle. I kept thinking that if my horse freaks out and I fall over,.I will be trampled! I was absolutely terrified!
My absolute legend of a horse stayed so calm , just kept walking despite literally being pushed by the cattle.
At the original gate I had real trouble opening it as couldn't push the cattle back enough (the gate opened into the field).
I took a risk and went to the cattle side of my horse and started waving my stick at them ,.thankfully they retreated enough for me to open the gate and somehow we managed to get through it.
On the other side I just burst into tears. I can really describe how terrifying it was - knowing that only my horse is stopping me from being trampled.

Never again if I can help it!

 

[Sossigpoker]

We have some Highlands on the yard where I keep my horse. They are really placid most of the time. We don’t through their field but the horses aren’t bothered by them. I have ridden through other fields of cows as long as they are not too near the path. There is a herd of black cattle which I wouldn’t ride through as they are quite feisty. One charged at the fence when I was riding past. Another time I came across one that had got out onto the bridleway I was on and I doubled back quick. In my 20s I rode a big Irish draft mare and she boldly strode through cattle even if they were crowding a gate. She was awesome mare.

I've had a cow run at the fence as I was riding next to it. I've never had to assess the strength of the fence on the fly like that before lol !

 

[Jenko109]

My horse will pass cattle okay generally, but he is wary and if one gives a sharp move as we are passing then he will react.

I wouldnt have entered the field I dont think. My horse would not try and deck me but I'm sure he would be very frightened if they all started chasing and pratting about around him. I could get him through it but I dont think it would be fair to make him do that.

 

[SEL]

I came across a herd of those big white cows with calves at foot when the Appy was a baby. She was fine until one of the calves starting mock charging her and then the mums got agitated. I was ******* myself!

She turned and faced them. Let out a noise like a dinosaur, charged at mummy cow, gave her best evil look at the rest of them then turned and walked quietly to the bridlepath gate. I was holding onto the saddle thinking Don't Fall Off. The horse was a superstar, the human a mess.

Avoided that route for a while.

 

[Tiddlypom]

People are wise to be so cautious. If you do get decked in a field of excitable cattle you are then at real risk of being trampled by them as they gad about.

 

[scats]

Millie is wary of cows so no chance I’d go through it. We do a farm ride where the cows are on the other side of electric tape and she finds that horrifying.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

When I kept my horses in Epping years ago they have long horn cattle loose in the forest and you often saw them but they never paid much attention to us riding, they did get into our yard once that was interesting trying to get them out they made a right mess.

I wouldn't ride through a field of them especially if they looked interested in us.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

My mare knows about cattle (has licked their faces over fences that sort of thing) but I don’t like disturbing other peoples livestock if I don’t have to. At my new yard I’ve only ridden out with yo once as she showed me a route through a field of cattle and sheep and cantered across it. I was appalled.

 

[Goldenstar]

There’s cows you know and cows you don’t know.
Those cows where unused to horses and they may be recently put in that field .
Cows are potentially very dangerous as a young adult I and my horse was very lucky to survive a run in with a field of bullocks.
It would depend in what the cows vibe was ,my horse all mine are cow savvy which helps they are also large solid horses I might have kept going but once you have experienced it going wrong it makes you cautious .
I am more cautious with walking with the dogs than riding .

 

[sport horse]

I uspect that the cows have only jut been turned out from barns and are a bit 'fresh'. We have a field of cows we ride through but we avoid it when the cows first go out after winter. In a week or two they will have settled down and will probably take no notice of you.

 

[Burnerbee]

There are cows and then there are cows….well even that is underplaying it - there are cows, heifers, steers - lumping them together as ‘cows’ might suggest they’re all the same, they’re not. As others have said, breed and age makes a big difference. Dairy bulls are generally dangerous, beef bulls generally less so - you need to be 100% on which are which before taking your chances. If its mums with calves at foot, game over - don’t even think about entering (that applies to walkers, cyclists, anyone).

 

[Barton Bounty]

Really interesting replies! I think if they'd have shown more fear of my horse I may have carried on (rightly or wrongly), as I would have assumed that cows wouldn't be brave enough to come right up or that I could shoo them away, but after seeing how bold they were once they'd reached the gate I was glad not to be in there with them potentially surrounded

I too worked on a cattle station in Oz (albeit only for 6 months), TPO, so you'd think i'd have known what to do, but i'm so used to seeing fields of very sleepy and uninterested cows in this country, unlike the nutters I worked with over there, so the initial caution didn't kick-in at all!

I dont think there is a right reply, everyone is different, personally I wouldn’t have a problem riding in a field of cows if I had a horse that wouldn’t go YEE HAAA
@Gloi your horse looks fine and calm, and the cows are just kinda looking , what is it, well its kinda the same ish colour but not shape

 

[Hackback]

My horse is fine with cows luckily as we have had some close encounters. I actually was a bit worried in this video. It had been an eventful ride anyway - we'd already come across a sheep stranded on its back and I had to leave horse in unattended while I struggled to right it (with no prior experience I might add). Carried on riding down this glorious valley and right at the end came across this group of cows.

The video quality is awful as I was filming on my phone and nervously chattering to the horse as I looked for the way out. I think my horse would make a good wrangler's horse though

 

[eggs]

Years ago I regularly had to ride through fields with cows in as most of the bridleways in the area went through these fields. My very spooky TB was not worried by them and they tended not to be worried by us. One ride however I was out with a friend and it did get rather hairy and we did genuinely consider cantering to the gate and jumping it.

Nowadays I wouldn't ride in a field with cattle.

 

[AntiPuck]

My horse is fine with cows luckily as we have had some close encounters. I actually was a bit worried in this video. It had been an eventful ride anyway - we'd already come across a sheep stranded on its back and I had to leave horse in unattended while I struggled to right it (with no prior experience I might add). Carried on riding down this glorious valley and right at the end came across this group of cows.

The video quality is awful as I was filming on my phone and nervously chattering to the horse as I looked for the way out. I think my horse would make a good wrangler's horse though

Oh god, Hackback you dealt with that so calmly, I think I'd have been pony club kicking into a canter to get the hell out of there the moment they started running towards you! There were so many of them as well!

 

[SEL]

My horse is fine with cows luckily as we have had some close encounters. I actually was a bit worried in this video. It had been an eventful ride anyway - we'd already come across a sheep stranded on its back and I had to leave horse in unattended while I struggled to right it (with no prior experience I might add). Carried on riding down this glorious valley and right at the end came across this group of cows.

The video quality is awful as I was filming on my phone and nervously chattering to the horse as I looked for the way out. I think my horse would make a good wrangler's horse though

Well done!! It was that situation that had my Appy in her 'get out of my face now' mode. I was purely in self preservation mode.

 

[J&S]

I hate cows and will avoid them at all costs! I have ridden through them in the past but not happily. I agree that they seem more feisty now than in the past, the young bullocks seem positively loopy!

 

[Hackback]

Oh god, Hackback you dealt with that so calmly, I think I'd have been pony club kicking into a canter to get the hell out of there the moment they started running towards you! There were so many of them as well!

Well done!! It was that situation that had my Appy in her 'get out of my face now' mode. I was purely in self preservation mode.

Haha well I was panicking internally a little bit. I'd have been in a pickle if my horse hadn't been such a star. Luckily the first time we got up close and personal with cattle was in a hunt ride. We literally had to push through them. He was a little alarmed at first but took his cue from the hunt horses who were all perfectly relaxed about it and he's been confident with them ever since. In that particular situation I was trying to figure out how the hunt people would have dealt with it. I think running away might have made the young cattle even more excited. I was very, very relieved to find the exit though!

 

[paddy555]

These are the ones we have to go through most.View attachment 108441

I wouldn't see a problem with those. Just ride round the LH side and they will walk in towards the feeder. One if the calves on the R looks interested and may run towards the horse but probably not. If it does just turn and face it. It will soon run off.
We ride through cattle daily. Sometimes to get up the road, especially in winter when they are hoping for feed, we ride through 10/15 of them congregated on the road and the horse is touching the cattle as we wind our way through them
What would be the important point for me is if the horse can control the cows and like everything else they have to learn cattle. We are lucky as we have cattle everywhere, on the roads, on the common. They are our playthings. It doesn't take long for most horses to learn to play with them. Once they are cattle proof with the easier ones you can move onto riding in fields.
I think in England there are just not enough opportunities for horses to learn. Many horses' experience of cows is probably riding on a busy road with a herd of newly turned out cattle going crazy in a field next to it and spooking the horse, a totally dangerous situation.

I think it is also relevant as to how the horse has grown up. I have one reared on a beef farm until 3, lived with them and adores cattle. Often our rides are "no we cannot bring that highland cow home"
Another who had a bad start and lived for a year in a field of cattle. They were his only companions and he learnt to control them. They were his playthings. He was a bit of a rough horse and very keen on control.
I used to lead him road the lanes as a 3yo and he could clear the cattle just by looking at them. His authority was so strong.

Just a case of you can train your horse with cows then do so as it is really worthwhile training. Often it is the rider who is worried not the horse. Most of all if you are not happy don't do it.
It's what the horses are used to. Mine would deal with the cows without a second thought but some of the things that others do with their horses without thinking both me and the horse would be seriously wondering about.

More worrying was riding through a bridlepath in a very large field that I had no idea had a pony stallion in it. The stallion came at my quite nervous haflinger gelding. OH's arab stallion who had no intention of anyone going near his property had a go at the pony stallion. Stood up and really meant it. a magnificent site to watch as he protected us.
The pony stallion got the message and retreated.

 

[Gloi]

One of those mother cows was glaring at us so we gave it a wide berth and she was okay then. Sometime we go through the young cattle that bounce about and crowd the gateway. I find them a lot less intimidating as the pony just shoves through them and they back off.
There is a bridlepath I won't use as there is a big grey cob loose on it that attacks horses. Have to lead through the field because of bad gates and it was awful. I was fighting it off with my dressage whip to get out of the field. It attacked a friend's pony too. It has been reported several times but is still there.

 

[Caol Ila]

About a million years ago (well, 2001), I took Gypsum to a cattle working clinic in CO, run by a well-known Western/NH style trainer in the area. Not Mark Rashid, unfortunately, though he doesn't live far from my parents. Anyway, I spent most of the clinic practicing a high speed canter half-pass and various airs above the ground. The trainer didn't seem to have any useful insights on how to get her to not panic whenever a cow looked at her. We were with other horses from our barn, and they were all fine. The clinic was four days, and I knew we had a dressage show the following weekend. All the spooking and dramatics were exhausting for both of us, and I wanted some gas in the tank for the dressage. At the time, I still owned my little QH so I took her to the last day or two of the clinic. She loved it! Thought she should have a career change to ranch horse. The trainer said I should have persisted with Gypsum, but she was in such a state that she wasn't learning anything, and no one was having a good time.

Both Hermosa and Fin know cows. They've hacked past herds in fields many times. Hermosa was turned out with them during her brief time at the yard in Kilmarnock, and I have seen videos of the feral ponies on the Dallas estate, happily grazing with cattle. I probably could ride them into a field with them, in theory, but I would be so freaked out that they would freak out.

It would be nice to do a cattle working clinic with Hermosa in the future. Being a PRE, she must have some "cow" in her.

 

[paddy555]

There is a bridlepath I won't use as there is a big grey cob loose on it that attacks horses. Have to lead through the field because of bad gates and it was awful. I was fighting it off with my dressage whip to get out of the field. It attacked a friend's pony too. It has been reported several times but is still there.

cows no problem but no way would I go through a field of horses. Cows the horse can control,, horses no way.
We had a Shetland herd lived loose on the common. That large area of common effectively became a no go area for riding for many years. I remember a couple of riders, one I think on a competitive ride, they didn't know. They got attacked. That Shetland stallion was a nightmare and how he could know there was a rider 3/4 mile away over the horizon I have no idea but he did and he was very fast.

The feral ponies are no problem but I am very scared of deer of which we are getting rather a lot.

 

[Red-1]

I would go through a field of steady dairy cows but not any with calves or rumbunctious boys!

 

[Annagain]

We have a field near us that has two bridlepaths running through it and three entrance / exit points. There are sometimes cows in it. We do go into that one because we know lots of horses go through it so the cows aren't bothered and because we can choose our way out so if they're blocking one path we can go to the other. It's also a very up and down field so more often than not we can sneak round the bottom while they're over the top of the tump and they can't even see us.

Last time though there was a sign saying bull in field and we weren't sure if it was wise. But we could see our route to the nearest other gate was clear and we couldn't actually see the cows at all so we thought it would be ok. It was, but as we reached the other gate we could see a different part of the field and the herd. The bull was MASSIVE. I've never seen such a huge bull before. He was a fair distance away and didn't even look up but I'm not sure I'd have done it had I seen him first!

 

[palo1]

There are indeed cows, and cows...Potentially, cattle are one of the most dangerous things you could encounter walking or riding so you need to be really sure that if you are riding you have a horse that is very steady with their antics. We have cattle here - they are very well handled and familiar with people but honestly I would not ride through a field with young cattle, cows and calves or where there is a bull. Dairy cows...possibly! I will ride where there are feral cattle IF there is plenty of space as cattle give up the chase pretty quickly though it is not always possible to get out of their way quickly in a field of standard UK size. Ideally you need to get out of eyesight! The real issue is that is your horse is spooked or surrounded you may fall off and you are then extremely vulnerable to trampling. It is very easy for cattle to kill a person (and it happens every year). If you are dismounted you have the additional risk that your horse might kick out/knock you over etc if they become scared. Cattle are wonderful in many ways and are very social and intelligent but they are also extremely curious, fast and strong. I absolutely avoid cattle unless I know what they are, how to get out of their way and am preferably with one other person at least.

Farmers have problems with walkers/riders and their cattle because they think their cattle are quiet so no need to fence them off a bridlepath/footpath but then when strangers arrive in the field, things can be very different. We try to fence our bridleway so that riders are not in contact with cattle but even then, bullocks on the gad can cause a horse some disquiet and could cause an issue.