What would you do if you encounter a bull on the bridleway?

Ravenwood

Ravenwood

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Daughter and I went for a lovely long ride today. When we got to the gate of a field that the bridleway runs through, we see there is a bull, cows and youngsters in the field, milling around the fence line where the bridleway goes. We stopped at the gate for some time thinking what to do.

Eventually we decided to go into the next field beside it and pick up the bridleway further along, however, I know that this particular farmer is extremely unhappy about riders/walkers going where they shouldn't (and quite rightly too!), Infact the last gate, back onto the bridleway, had a screw lock, which I had to unscrew to let us through.

What would you have done in that situation? Ride through the field of stock, go off the bridleway and hope you don't get caught or turn back?
 
If I was on my own I would probably just turn and make my escape lol. Depending on how far it was to home in comparison to that bridleway.
If I was with others I would just sit on the fence and see what they thought!
 
I've ridden thru a field with a bull a few times, but he has always looked exhausted
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so I don't think I was in much danger. If it was a bit agitated I don't think I would have gone thru.
 
I would have turned back.

When I got home I would have phoned the local council and spoken to the person in charge of Bridleways, who would speak to the farmer in question and ask him to kindly remove his bull or erect fencing to allow riders and walkers access through the field safely.
 
Yes I will ride through the cows and bulls of my neighbours farm because I know them - they are fine. My horses are not scared of cattle at all - but this herd is unknown to me.
 
I guess you have to take each situation as it comes Ravenwood but I used to ride on a public right of way that went through farmland where there was often a mixed herd of heifers, cows and a bull. TBH my heart was in my mouth the first few times but cattle seem to see horses-with-people-on differently from people on the ground. Me and a couple of pals have actually ridden straight through a wall of young cattle coming towards us! They parted like Moses at the Red Sea! But the horse will need your confidence if he's not used to cattle. You might be surprised and find that your horse is much more laid back about cattle than you think! You should also be able to have confidence in the fact that a public bridleway should NOT have dangerous stock on it. I'm not a cattle expert but I think that bulls kept with cows are safer than a bull on its own. Please check that one out!!! I also understand that if there are young calves in the herd you do need to take extra care as cows with calves can be very protective. As a failsafe Plan B, I always thought me and ned could outrun cattle if the going got tough but that may not be true either! Why not contact the farmer for a friendly chat and just check with him if his cattle are ok with horses and riders?
 
I see your point, but what a lot of effort for the farmer, I suspect the stock will be moved from that field in a few days anyway.

If he had caught us in his field which doesn't have any access (he is know to be particularly agressive in these circumstances) would I be in my right to explain that I used the alternative route because of the bull?
 
Not sure, probably what you did but I would be ringing the bridleways officer tomorrow morning and reporting the bull in field as I'm sure their not supposed to. Bridleways officer round here knows me I think I've had two of them out walking on foot while I ride through mud and all. Hehe. Stopped council putting up metal poles (supposed to stop bikers and joy riders but I wouldn't have been able to get through. The other was trees that needed cutting back as they would have garotted me if I'd been cantering on a 17.1 hh branches too low (farmer not a happy boy). Another area I lived they also new my name I think they made another farmer put a proper bridle gate on an another had to reinstate a path as he'd ploughed up in the winter horses wouldn't go through it as they sank. Heho the things we do for love of a good ride. (horses that is)
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Depends if it was a dairy bull or a beef one...............Dairy ones tend to be more aggressive. If beef herd I would probably have gone on through, doing a few cowboy type hollers to move them on and being sure I didn't get between a cow and its calf. When Sparks was kept on the Isle of Wight, we often had to ride through herds of Highland cattle (big shaggy long horned beasts). Sparks is O.K.'ish with cattle as long as I con her that I'm not scared really!!!!
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We do actually ride through cattle regularly - our neighbour has a huge herd of beef cattle - lots roam free on the moor including the bull. However, I know these cattle and they are very laid back and barely bother to look up from grazing at us! Both my horses have no fear of cattle. But if there is a herd of young steers - I won't go through!

The cattle I encountered today are unknown to me - I don't even know what breed they were - they were tri coloured with horns, the bull had downturned horns and its a very long field to get through!!
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I would have probably retraced my steps, as I am too much of a scaredy cat to risk getting caught and being yelled at.
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I will avoid cattle at all costs. I hate the darn things, although I suspect my present mare would think it great fun as she is trained to work them.

Incidentally, I had to cross fields in Wales to my land (public footpath) and there was always a bull out there during the summer. Great Charolais type chap, he always looked knackered too!
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I phoned the NFU to ask, because at the time Evie was only toddling and I always had my eye on an escape route (like which hedge to leap into!)..I was told that BEEF bulls are permtted to run with cows on a public right of way, dairy bulls not.
So, I asked what happens if the bull caused trouble? I was told, "Well, wait until it does and if you are still alive, report it to us"
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Helpful eh?
 
Also, I always carry a hunting whip so if cattle do chase us to the gate, a couple of cracks of the whip usually sends them scattering !
 
Lol!
TBH I probably would have ridden through. But that is just me. Boo isn't keen on cattle at all but takes confidence from the fact that I am not at all bothered by them.
Saying that, to my memory I 've never ridden through a field with a dairy Bull in it so i couldn't comment on that.

TBH, if it was on a bridlepath/footpath i'd assume it was safe to pass and would do so, though i'd probably have "my foot on the accelerator" so to speak... just in case!
 
The farmer was doing nothing wrong if it was a beef breed bull, erecting a fence causes a lot of problems and expense, what gets me is by-ways open to all traffic which 4x4 folk use and make impassable to horses and crossing of main roads where highways won/t help warn drivers with under/over passs pelican style lights, until somebody is killed.
 
I would not have ridden through as I am frightened of cattle having been chased by an extremely angry cow
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Beef bulls with heifers are allowed to be in fields that have rights of way through them. However a local lady was recently killed when walking along a footpath through a field of cattle - the cattle stampeded and sadly she was later found dead in the field. As has been posted earlier, dairy bulls are far more dangerous than beef bulls and are kept in pens.
 
I keep my horse in the New Forest and where I hack there are regularly herds of ponies, donkeys cows and the odd bull. I've found if you just carry on and give them a decent amount of room, they don't seem to mind. Obviously, if there is a narrow path, you can't do this so I would probably turn back if this was the case.
 
I would have gone through the other field.
I have been in this situation, I went into the field as I know my horse happens to like cows and they came galloping towards us, surrounded us and started licking my horse and my legs. Before it got out of hand and whilst we could still get to the gate, we turned and walked away, out through the gate. Its not worth taking any chances and the farmer, by law needs to put a sign up warning others that there is a bull in the field.
 
I think certain bridleways/footpaths are restricted. Whereby the farmer has the right to place stock onto the land and therefore restricting access for as long as needed, or I guess it is up to walkers/riders as to whether they are prepared to take the chance. I believe these rights of way are signed and colour coded.

In this situation I would have turned around as my current mare HATES cattle. However, on a cattle-proof horse I would continue, unless as mentioned, it was a dairy bull. TBH I would be far more worried about the heiffers with calves
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honestly, well after I'd soiled myself I'd have found an alternative route, but I have an extreme fear/hate of cows, even though am well aware you've more to worry about from a cow with a calf at foot than a bull in the middle of serving who's too shattered to do much anyway! lol!
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I'd have explained to the farmer that as an unknown quandry (and if the bull was looking at you with 'that' look in the eye) that I didn't want to risk upsetting them and their covering, that way it says you're more worried about his stock than your own rear end and maybe placate him a little more as shows awareness of his stock (which he should know if knows you anyway)
 
The farmer is fully entitled to keep a beef bull with cows and youngstock within a field with a bridleway. Whilst with a herd they are not dangerous, and as previous post, beef animal is fair safer than a dairy bull.

I would have quietly ridden around the main herd, not seperating the bull from the other cows and then given enough space between us before picking up my pace. Therefore not jazzing them up! It would be unrealistic for the farmer to fence the bridleway off, what happens if the route is through the middle of the field, how does he graze both sides? The cattle wouldn't respect electric fencing and permenant fencing is expensive, time-consuming and ruins the landscape IMO!
 
I probably would have turned back depending on how far away from home we were. Blue is not keen on cows and bulls either!
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Had a rather scary experience with cows and bulls only a few months back, was walking the dog with OH through a field full of cows and bull to try find the river and they were all running away from us to begin with, got halfway through and they all turned and started heading towards us with the bull at the front, we legged it over a half broken barbed wire fence and hastily made our way back to the stile and safety!!
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I fell off in a field of cows and my pony decided to trot off and graze with the cows - they were sniffing him all over and he didn't bat an eyelid. I didn't notice the bull in the field until I went to get back on my pony but bull wasn't bothered, perhaps cos my pony is a gelding
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With regards to original question, I think you did the right thing if you were not sure, if you have any come back make out that you didn't want to upset the cows..
 
I would have ridden through. The farmer has every right to keep a bull on a bridleway. Majority of the time if you ignore cattle they'll ignore you, if they come at you while on a horse, turn your horse facing the cattle, head on.........they won't come near!
 
Having been chased by a herd of young beef cattle (bullocks? sorry I don't know the correct terms!) I would have turned back or taken a safe alternative route. My horse is well socialised with cattle and we were quietly minding our own business making our way up the opposite end of the field when something spooked them and the whole bloody lot, about sixty or so, charged straight for us. I jumped off and let B go, whereupon she galloped back to the gate at the other end of the field and waited there, whilst I climbed through the hedge and waited for the buggers to clear off.
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I've also been chased by a herd of bullocks and it was s**t scary, so never again! We were on a bridleway and initially they were all very far away from us, but half way across they charged us and would not back off! They were exactly like young horses, tossing their heads and egging each other on, with no respect for us waving sticks at them.

I would probably have turned back as I don't like confrontations
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I would have gone through. My horse lives in a field of dexter cows and we have a visiting bull every so often and they still all live together when he's around. I wouldn't under any circumstances have gone through another field, no wonder the farmer gets cross if people just randomly ride or walk across his farm and don't stick to the bridle paths. I be really cross if people started walking through my garden because they didn't want to stick to the footpath. He's allowed to have a bull in a field with a bridle path as long as it's not a dairy bull, so you shouldn't ever encounter a dairy bull that you have to go in a field with.
 
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