What is it with cows!? Train to get by them how?

[QueenT]

Every horse I've ridden, has hated cows, and I don't get it. My new mare I have walked by dogs, sheep, and cats which don't really count - and trampolines, lawn mowers, caravans, construction work. But she doesn't like cows! Both species are herbivore and prey animals - so is that they smell bad?

And how do I train her to pass them, without creating a huge conflict with her - I don't think coercing her will teach her anything. We don't have any other horses nearby who can set a good example for her. Hand held seems a little dangerous. Any experience, anyone?

 

[BethH]

Yes - mine is fine with black cows but hates black & white cows with a vengence - don't ask me why, it was not helped by meeting a bull who reared up by the hedge as he was walking past, having met a cow he thought was a candidate to have his babies a few years back. It made him feel a bit anxious and he reversed at quite some speed having not been allowed to turn around and leg it!!!

I found continually allowing him to see them from a distance and just standing and watching helped. We agreed he could stand still and gradually move closer when he was happy to take a step forward but he wasn't allowed to run away - sort of familiarity breeds contempt type of thing. We just worked on it at every hack, lots of patience and understanding as it was genuine concern on his part. When we went past, we made sure the herd were well away from the fence so he didn't feel crowded and he was allowed to walk forward purposefully or jog but no faster. The compromise deal was that he got to get away from them, but at my speed in a controlled fashion, he used to physically shake with nerves.

My horse can be quite nappy so also when he doesn't like something we walk backwards past it and then turn around and move on. I have to stress if you have a horse that will go up in the air when you try to reverse don't do this, mine is just happy he is moving and tries to be polite.

By the end of our efforts he did actually walk up to a cow and touch noses which was amazing but he has never been asked to since and isn't 100% but he will go past much more calmly.

 

[Cortez]

Turn them out with cattle? Or have in a field next to them? I've never had a horse worried by cattle, but then we are surrounded by them.

 

[FfionWinnie]

They do smell significantly different to me so I expect to a horse they reek. Also my own cows are grass fed so smell much less pungent than silage or roots fed cattle so that is why my horses still look twice at some.

Consistent exposure is best. Don't look at them yourself, pretend they aren't there.

 

[BethH]

Mine was in a field next to cows and still couldn't cope with ones he'd never met before - but he is a bit special!!!!!

 

[SuperH]

Turn them out with cattle? Or have in a field next to them? I've never had a horse worried by cattle, but then we are surrounded by them.

This. Mine are kept on a dairy farm, one loves cows and wants to be one, the other doesn't care about them at all unless they try to eat her food. I also fetch the cows in for milking on horseback occasionally and I've brought calves in with her too. She loves calves and will happily pinch one to mother. I was told she didn't like cows when I bought her but I've never had a problem with her, I think the previous owner was scared of them and was passing her nerves onto the horse.

 

[SEL]

We have big scary white cows with calves in a field that the bridlepath goes through. My mare always stops to check where they are when we go into the field. Coming back last week they'd moved position and were right across our path and one of the calves chased us! Once I'd got a vague resemblance of control I rode the mare back at the calf and it ran off. It has not helped her confidence though and we have a fair amount of snorting in that field now. She's got a meat herd in the field next to her paddock, but they are brown & white and obviously not scary.

I was actually really worried about coming off in front of them - they don't seem to be too bothered by the horses but I've noticed they all stop grazing if they hear human voices and it makes me nervous!

 

[LA&Murph]

Oh, this is a topic very close to my heart. I didn't know my boy hated cows until the day I tried to pass them and he dragged me bodily through a hedge to escape them.

I was fortunate to have my old pony still in work, so my mum would come with me on Murphy while I followed. He got to watch Murphy going back and forward past cows while he had to stand and watch it from a distance. We gradually got closer, and he did get to eat the grass at the side of their field as a reward/distraction.

He will pass eventually when with other horses, but still doesn't like it. Recently, I've got past on my own more than once by letting him stop and look, but not for too long, always try to keep his feet moving and going forward, even a step at a time. We must pass them twice on each hack, going and returning. Much like Beth does, he is allowed to jog, but no faster. His shaking has decreased dramatically, but it helps that this field is always used for older cows that don't come and rush you when they see you coming along. That would be a death sentence for us!

Good luck. Take it slowly, and gradually take baby steps until one day you can pass. Don't make a big deal of them, either, pretend they're not there and stay calm and quiet.

 

[NZJenny]

Mine lives with cows, but if we meet cows out hacking - that's different.

 

[Chiffy]

Exposure to them is the answer. I believe any horse can get used to them. Ours are on a dairy farm and each new horse that arrives just has to accept that there are cows everywhere. All have been fine in a very short time.

 

[Crugeran Celt]

My welshie was bred on a farm in north Wales and was kept with the cow herd until he was 5 years old when I bought him. When he came to me he had cows in the next field but still when I rode him he would snort and prance past cows in a field. Mad.

 

[Bojingles]

The first time my cob saw cows she stood rooted to the spot shaking. I let her look and then got off and led her up and down past them until she calmed down, then I got back on and we were fine. However, only with those cows. When they appeared in another field we had to do the same procedure but eventually (as we're in a dairy farming area) the popped up in so many fields that she just got used to them. Patient exposure is the key I think.

 

[Tyssandi]

Every horse I've ridden, has hated cows, and I don't get it. My new mare I have walked by dogs, sheep, and cats which don't really count - and trampolines, lawn mowers, caravans, construction work. But she doesn't like cows! Both species are herbivore and prey animals - so is that they smell bad?

And how do I train her to pass them, without creating a huge conflict with her - I don't think coercing her will teach her anything. We don't have any other horses nearby who can set a good example for her. Hand held seems a little dangerous. Any experience, anyone?

Rent a cow and put it in the field problem solved when they get used to it.

 

[kinnygirl1]

We have 2 just arrived at our farm. they are in a separate field but we pass them on most of our hacks. My friends mare had a little stare at them on the first day they arrived but now just ignores them. My gelding stops and stares at them EVERY day. He needs a good 60 second stare before going past but will then just amble on past them. He doesn't freak or anything, just stares at them like he can't believe what he's seeing lol.

 

[Caol Ila]

Rent a cow and put it in the field problem solved when they get used to it.

If you're on livery, I don't think this is feasable as most yard owners might have a view. "Do you mind me putting this cow into your field?" The answer is probably yes, they mind. Similarly, putting your horse in a field next to cattle isn't really an option, either, if you're at a yard and don't have much control over where fields are and who or what is in them.

My horse was spooked by cows and I got her to the point where she will tolerate cows that ignore her, but God help us when riding past a field of young cattle that run over to the fence.

 

[SuperH]

Remember that cattle are curious, they will come over and look at new things and that includes you and your horse. Always walk through fields with cattle in. If you canter off they will follow you. My ponies when turned out with the cattle will always lead the whole herd round in a gallop, they are just playing and having fun. If you walk through they will usually just stand and stare at you, sometimes they will wander over for a sniff. Youngsters are more likely to run up to you, I've never had any come right up though. When we had a new bull he followed us round the field the first couple of times, then the novelty wore off and now he just ignores us like the rest. Some of our neighbours have youngstock that will run along the fence line as we ride past, they only usually do it the first few days they see us then they don't bother after that.