Horses with cows??

[SillySausage]

Just wondering if anybody has had any experiences, postive or otherwise, of keeping horses in the same field as cows?

The YO has received 3 cows today, who will be kept in a pen opposite our 3 horses stables for a week. He has asked me how I feel about them going in the same field as the horses.

My horse is very sensible, although the other 2 have been known to kick out at each other. I am not sure of the cows temperaments (do they have the own individual temperaments? I don't know...)

Anyway, I said I would go away and do some reasearch as I have no idea if this is a good/bad idea! And if it is good how the best way of going about it is?

Thanks guys!

 

[Cliqmo]

Are they old or young? (you can normally tell by how frisky they are- frisky = young

) They wont hurt your horses at all, if anything there is a risk of the horses making the cattle miserable, the only thing youngstock *might* do is suck on the tails of the horses, which is gross and can make the tail frizzy/thin. Doesn't always happen but thought it best to warn you that it can

 

[jillygem]

Usually isnt a problem to mix horses with cows but beware many love to eat tails!! The cows will keep themselves to themselves unless they are young ones that may try to chase you when you go in the field to catch your horses as they are so intrested in what goes on!

 

[LouiseL88]

Cows have tempraments same as any other animal - it would just be a case of having them in adjacent fields for a while to see how they react. Ours have cows in the next field and once they are used to them its fine - when my horse arrived with me his field mates were a donkey (never seen one of them before) and a big ram. The horse and ram were inseperable until the ram dictated when i was able to get close to the horse!! its just a matter of time getting them introduced!!

 

[abracadabra]

ive had some problems with the neighbours cattle coming into my field, and tbh the horses dont really seem to care
(i do though, the younger ones have got horns)

cue me chasing after them to get them out, flapping a sack and jumping up and down like a loony

 

[RLF]

I cow 'jumped' (according to the owner) into my field two weeks ago, my ned didn't seem to mind the cow following her around the field. Although I did get rather annoyed when it demolished my water bucket.

 

[blossom01]

my boy lives with a jersey cow and 3 sheep. (all pets). he is best mates with the the cow they eat from the same pile of hay in the winter.
some people thinks its odd, the animals are happy, so i don't care what people think about it.

 

[Donkeymad]

I have never had any problems and neither have four livery yards nearby. Also a bonus when it comes to worm control in the horses.

 

[abracadabra]

cows can jump, yes,ive only seen young ones do it though.

my neighbours lot came in through the river, under the fence across it, on their knees and crawling through the water...really...quite impressive, like commando cows, wish id have had a camera

 

[suzyseymour]

I kept mine with cows for a while, the only bad bit is when they sleep or roll in cow poo

 

[Cliqmo]

[ QUOTE ]
cows can jump, yes,ive only seen young ones do it though.

my neighbours lot came in through the river, under the fence across it, on their knees and crawling through the water...really...quite impressive, like commando cows, wish id have had a camera

[/ QUOTE ]

PMSL! I wish you had been carrying a camera too

 

[daretodream]

horses can catch sarcoids from cows so be careful x

 

[Divasmum]

Young horses have been known to get muzzle warts after grazing with cows.

 

[jacaranda]

I keep my fellow with two jersey cows who absolutely adore him.

 

[jrp204]

We put my very sensible mare out with some 'dry' cows, all the cows climbed over the hedge out of the field and were on the road! I think she had a bit of fun with them.

 

[SillySausage]

Ok soundsa fantastic! Not sure how old the cows are as my sharer did the horses yesterday, but all of the horses are 12+ and fairly sensible types.

Will let you know how it goes!

 

[Ashgrove]

I've just stopped mine sharing a field with cattle, as the cattle were threatening me when I went to bring the horses in.