wench
Well-Known Member
dairy cattle tend to be the skinny black and white ones....
What would you do if you encounter a bull on the bridleway?
- Thread starter Ravenwood
- Start date
duckling
Well-Known Member
I would definitely have done what you did, or turned back...
When I was out walking with the OH the footpath went through a field of bullocks - they were grazing quite a way away from the footpath, so we wandered through, then noticed one was walking towards us... Stood still and he stopped but as soon as we moved so did he... Luckily we were near the stile to get out as he then just charged, we legged it and I chucked myself over the stile while OH ended up over the hedge. Bull slid to a stop and started snorting and puffing at us - can honestly say it was one of the worst experiences of my life, terrifying!!
When I was out walking with the OH the footpath went through a field of bullocks - they were grazing quite a way away from the footpath, so we wandered through, then noticed one was walking towards us... Stood still and he stopped but as soon as we moved so did he... Luckily we were near the stile to get out as he then just charged, we legged it and I chucked myself over the stile while OH ended up over the hedge. Bull slid to a stop and started snorting and puffing at us - can honestly say it was one of the worst experiences of my life, terrifying!!
Flame_
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
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.
[/ QUOTE ]
I despise this attitude. Anyone who has a problem with a horse rider/walker dodging down the edge of a field to avoid a potentially dangerous situation needs their head testing. Yes, randomly going off paths is out of order but if its to avoid an accident, farmers should understand. The damage done to a field by walking along the edge of it does not compare to the damage to a person a panicing horse or an angry bull can do.
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.
[/ QUOTE ]
I despise this attitude. Anyone who has a problem with a horse rider/walker dodging down the edge of a field to avoid a potentially dangerous situation needs their head testing. Yes, randomly going off paths is out of order but if its to avoid an accident, farmers should understand. The damage done to a field by walking along the edge of it does not compare to the damage to a person a panicing horse or an angry bull can do.
jumpthemoon
Well-Known Member
Response from the Ramblers Association when asked if a farmer can keep a bull on a public ROW...
"A bull of up to ten months old, yes. Bulls over ten months of a recognised dairy breed (Ayrshire, British Friesian, British Holstein, Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey, Jersey and Kerry) are banned from fields crossed by public paths under all circumstances. All other bulls over ten months are banned unless accompanied by cows or heifers. If any bulls act in a way which endangers the public, an offence may be committed under health and safety legislation."
"A bull of up to ten months old, yes. Bulls over ten months of a recognised dairy breed (Ayrshire, British Friesian, British Holstein, Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey, Jersey and Kerry) are banned from fields crossed by public paths under all circumstances. All other bulls over ten months are banned unless accompanied by cows or heifers. If any bulls act in a way which endangers the public, an offence may be committed under health and safety legislation."
Tiggy1
Well-Known Member
Bullocks or steers in fields are generally just curious when they come towards you.
Bulls or at least our bull is so placid he wouldn't bother you any way but on the one occaision I have ridden through a field with him in it you just walk calmy past keeping to the edge and out of his way.
Most farmers generally with bulls out in paddocks with bridle paths through them wouldn't have turned out a really agressive bull anyway
Bulls or at least our bull is so placid he wouldn't bother you any way but on the one occaision I have ridden through a field with him in it you just walk calmy past keeping to the edge and out of his way.
Most farmers generally with bulls out in paddocks with bridle paths through them wouldn't have turned out a really agressive bull anyway
Daphnelia
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't have risked my mare's safety and would have gone through the other field as you did. How do you know that the farmer is adhering to the rules and it isn't a dairy bull? Not worth the risk IMO
Boater
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Response from the Ramblers Association when asked if a farmer can keep a bull on a public ROW...
"A bull of up to ten months old, yes. Bulls over ten months of a recognised dairy breed (Ayrshire, British Friesian, British Holstein, Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey, Jersey and Kerry) are banned from fields crossed by public paths under all circumstances. All other bulls over ten months are banned unless accompanied by cows or heifers. If any bulls act in a way which endangers the public, an offence may be committed under health and safety legislation."
[/ QUOTE ]
So not just black and white skinny ones then....!
Response from the Ramblers Association when asked if a farmer can keep a bull on a public ROW...
"A bull of up to ten months old, yes. Bulls over ten months of a recognised dairy breed (Ayrshire, British Friesian, British Holstein, Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey, Jersey and Kerry) are banned from fields crossed by public paths under all circumstances. All other bulls over ten months are banned unless accompanied by cows or heifers. If any bulls act in a way which endangers the public, an offence may be committed under health and safety legislation."
[/ QUOTE ]
So not just black and white skinny ones then....!
chillidragon
Well-Known Member
For years, one of my school shortcuts was a footpath over a cow field; that is, until a young bull took exception one morning. He was quite close before I noticed, and when I stopped to watch him, he stopped too. I carried on, and he picked up a frisky trot, so I stopped again, shouted and waved my school bag. Cue an impressive, half-rearing, head-tossing war-dance. I turned to carry on, heard a snort, and ran for my bloody life to throw myself over the nearest wall. Meanwhile, he was careening around like something out of Zorro. I will never cut through a cowherd ever again. Whilst some have said 'dairy bad, beef good' I can't tell the breeds apart, nor would I hang around to inspect, and familiarity wouldn't make me more comfortable either, considering the above. I'd rather take my chances with an angry farmer. You could possibly reason with him, but you can't reason with fifty ton of angry bovine.
Ravenwood
Well-Known Member
So can anyone tell what breed of cows they were?
They were tri coloured mostly with a white back and solid coloured sides, the cows had horns and the bull had down turned horns (although I realise this may not be particular to the breed). I have never seen this breed of cow before.
They were tri coloured mostly with a white back and solid coloured sides, the cows had horns and the bull had down turned horns (although I realise this may not be particular to the breed). I have never seen this breed of cow before.
Ravenwood
Well-Known Member
I have just Googled breeds of cow and they were Gloucesters (I knew he had rare breeds)
http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/
So - do these qualify as a dairy breed?
http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/
So - do these qualify as a dairy breed?
Fransurrey
Well-Known Member
Can't think of any cattle breeds that are tri-coloured!
In this circumstance, I'd have dismounted and tried to move the cows away from the gate and then gone through. If they weren't playing ball, then I'd go round, as you did. It's one thing to go through a field with cows and a bull, but quite another when they are milling around one or more riders at very close quarters. If nothing else I'd be concerned with a horse kicking out at a cow or the other horse.
In this circumstance, I'd have dismounted and tried to move the cows away from the gate and then gone through. If they weren't playing ball, then I'd go round, as you did. It's one thing to go through a field with cows and a bull, but quite another when they are milling around one or more riders at very close quarters. If nothing else I'd be concerned with a horse kicking out at a cow or the other horse.
Natch
Well-Known Member
Reminds me of the time me and F followed a bridleway as far as it went - thought the gates were getting a bit more tricky to do as we went on, but no signs saying bridleway wasn't still in use... so on we go, carrying on our business... only to find a chained up gate at the other end of one particular field. I got off and faffed for a bit trying to see if we could get through (as the other side was "free access" forest that I knew, either that or an hours hack back the way we came), realised we couldn't so turned around to get back on... only to be greeted by a wall of interested cows!!!
I don't know who was more suprised, me or F!!
Anyway no bull in sight, so decided best policy was to get on and leg it in a "calm but fast" way and hope that the cows were more scared of us than F was of them (he has a thing about cows, he will jump a fence to be in with them but more often than not sh*ts himself when they come to say hello out hacking, and that's with a barrier in between us!)
so there I was, riding back through the 100+ cows, makign as much noise as I could and waving my whip to make whippy noises to try to scare them away! Needless to say they followed us with interest, not bothered by weird noises and F was more wound up by my whippy noises than by the cows!
Escaped unscathed, luckily!
Anyway no bull in sight, so decided best policy was to get on and leg it in a "calm but fast" way and hope that the cows were more scared of us than F was of them (he has a thing about cows, he will jump a fence to be in with them but more often than not sh*ts himself when they come to say hello out hacking, and that's with a barrier in between us!)
so there I was, riding back through the 100+ cows, makign as much noise as I could and waving my whip to make whippy noises to try to scare them away! Needless to say they followed us with interest, not bothered by weird noises and F was more wound up by my whippy noises than by the cows!
Ravenwood
Well-Known Member
They were Gloucesters I have discovered
http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/
Still don't know if they are dairy or beef though
http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/
Still don't know if they are dairy or beef though
SpruceRI
Well-Known Member
I've been chased by cattle both on horse and on foot and it was terrifying both times.
The 'on horse' time was riding my friend's New Forest gelding along a toll ride that went through a long field of cattle, the gates being padlocked at either end. I guess they were dairy cows as black and white....lots of ladies and a bull.
I got half way across this field and all the cattle started walking towards us. The pony wasn't bothered as he'd lived on the New Forest, but I was, especially when they all started running helter skelter towards me including the bull !!
I knew I couldn't get out of either gate quickly so galloped back the way we'd come, stopped at the gate, jumped off said pony, clambered over the gate and ran for my life into the wood!!!
All went quiet, so I snuck back, to find the pony standing there with his head over the gate, wondering where I'd gone and 20 head of cattle standing next to him doing the same!!!!
With relief I went back, shooed the now quiet cows out of the way and squeezed the pony back through the gate.
He was an angel. I was very shaken and never went through that field again!
The 'on horse' time was riding my friend's New Forest gelding along a toll ride that went through a long field of cattle, the gates being padlocked at either end. I guess they were dairy cows as black and white....lots of ladies and a bull.
I got half way across this field and all the cattle started walking towards us. The pony wasn't bothered as he'd lived on the New Forest, but I was, especially when they all started running helter skelter towards me including the bull !!
I knew I couldn't get out of either gate quickly so galloped back the way we'd come, stopped at the gate, jumped off said pony, clambered over the gate and ran for my life into the wood!!!
All went quiet, so I snuck back, to find the pony standing there with his head over the gate, wondering where I'd gone and 20 head of cattle standing next to him doing the same!!!!
With relief I went back, shooed the now quiet cows out of the way and squeezed the pony back through the gate.
He was an angel. I was very shaken and never went through that field again!
chillidragon
Well-Known Member
Ravenwood
Well-Known Member
Oh - thanks for looking CD
I don't want to ring the farmer and ask him because he's not very nice
but would like to use that bridleway again.
I don't want to ring the farmer and ask him because he's not very nice
OWLIE185
Well-Known Member
It is in most cases illegal to keep a bull in a field with is crossed by a public right of way.
I hope that this additional information helps you:
In the period 1990-1998 the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) reported 18 cases in which members of the public were attacked by cattle in fields. It is of the utmost concern that almost half of these incidents were fatal.
Although there are specific legislative restrictions on the keeping of bulls, these do not apply to cows and bullocks, which can also be very aggressive. This section gives advice on minimising the risk of an attack by all types of cattle, as well as summarising relevant aspects of the law.
Section 59 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 bans the keeping of bulls in fields crossed by a right of way, except if they are:
under the age of 10 months; or
not of a recognised dairy breed, provided that they are accompanied by cows or heifers.
Recognised dairy breeds are defined as the following: Ayrshire, British Friesian, British Holstein, Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey, Jersey and Kerry (see page 78 of Navigation & Leadership (4) for an identification chart showing these breeds).
. Under section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, both employers and self-employed persons have an obligation to ensure that people outside their employment, or work activities, are not exposed to unnecessary health and safety risks. They must make an assessment of potential risks in order to comply with the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 (Statutory Instrument 1992 No 2051), and identify measures that can be taken in order to minimise them. The Agricultural Inspectorate of the HSE issues advice and information on controlling the hazards associated with keeping cattle in areas with public access (3), and should be notified of any problems, along with the police and highway authority.
If you require any additional assistance then don't hesitate to contact me.
Peter Natt BHS Volunteer Bridleway Officer
I hope that this additional information helps you:
In the period 1990-1998 the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) reported 18 cases in which members of the public were attacked by cattle in fields. It is of the utmost concern that almost half of these incidents were fatal.
Although there are specific legislative restrictions on the keeping of bulls, these do not apply to cows and bullocks, which can also be very aggressive. This section gives advice on minimising the risk of an attack by all types of cattle, as well as summarising relevant aspects of the law.
Section 59 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 bans the keeping of bulls in fields crossed by a right of way, except if they are:
under the age of 10 months; or
not of a recognised dairy breed, provided that they are accompanied by cows or heifers.
Recognised dairy breeds are defined as the following: Ayrshire, British Friesian, British Holstein, Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey, Jersey and Kerry (see page 78 of Navigation & Leadership (4) for an identification chart showing these breeds).
. Under section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, both employers and self-employed persons have an obligation to ensure that people outside their employment, or work activities, are not exposed to unnecessary health and safety risks. They must make an assessment of potential risks in order to comply with the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 (Statutory Instrument 1992 No 2051), and identify measures that can be taken in order to minimise them. The Agricultural Inspectorate of the HSE issues advice and information on controlling the hazards associated with keeping cattle in areas with public access (3), and should be notified of any problems, along with the police and highway authority.
If you require any additional assistance then don't hesitate to contact me.
Peter Natt BHS Volunteer Bridleway Officer
JC1
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
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.
[/ QUOTE ]
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[ QUOTE ]
I despise this attitude. Anyone who has a problem with a horse rider/walker dodging down the edge of a field to avoid a potentially dangerous situation needs their head testing. Yes, randomly going off paths is out of order but if its to avoid an accident, farmers should understand. The damage done to a field by walking along the edge of it does not compare to the damage to a person a panicing horse or an angry bull can do.
[/ QUOTE ]
Why not turn around and go back the safe way you've come to avoid an accident. The farmer would have to be really stupid to put a dangerous bull in a field with a bridlepath in it. If he has followed the law and put a bull that he is allowed to put in the field then you can't just pick another field to ride/ walk through because you or your horse doesn't like cows.
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.
[/ QUOTE ]
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[ QUOTE ]
I despise this attitude. Anyone who has a problem with a horse rider/walker dodging down the edge of a field to avoid a potentially dangerous situation needs their head testing. Yes, randomly going off paths is out of order but if its to avoid an accident, farmers should understand. The damage done to a field by walking along the edge of it does not compare to the damage to a person a panicing horse or an angry bull can do.
[/ QUOTE ]
Why not turn around and go back the safe way you've come to avoid an accident. The farmer would have to be really stupid to put a dangerous bull in a field with a bridlepath in it. If he has followed the law and put a bull that he is allowed to put in the field then you can't just pick another field to ride/ walk through because you or your horse doesn't like cows.
chillidragon
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Why not turn around and go back the safe way you've come to avoid an accident. The farmer would have to be really stupid to put a dangerous bull in a field with a bridlepath in it. If he has followed the law and put a bull that he is allowed to put in the field then you can't just pick another field to ride/ walk through because you or your horse doesn't like cows.
[/ QUOTE ]You're missing the point. It's not so much 'does my horse (or its rider) like cows?' It's 'is this apparently docile herd going to trample me and my daughter?' And added to that, the question is, has the farmer followed the law? Is this a stray herd that's broken down a fence and wandered in there? And what if the farmer is stupid enough? Having the moral high-ground isn't going to be much comfort when the cavalry is charging at you horns first.
Why not turn around and go back the safe way you've come to avoid an accident. The farmer would have to be really stupid to put a dangerous bull in a field with a bridlepath in it. If he has followed the law and put a bull that he is allowed to put in the field then you can't just pick another field to ride/ walk through because you or your horse doesn't like cows.
[/ QUOTE ]You're missing the point. It's not so much 'does my horse (or its rider) like cows?' It's 'is this apparently docile herd going to trample me and my daughter?' And added to that, the question is, has the farmer followed the law? Is this a stray herd that's broken down a fence and wandered in there? And what if the farmer is stupid enough? Having the moral high-ground isn't going to be much comfort when the cavalry is charging at you horns first.
Tharg
Well-Known Member
Thats the risk of our dangerous sport CD, same as 'will pony kick daughter' which could happen at any time.
Serenity087
Well-Known Member
Glouster doesn't fit your origional description... they have upturned horns. I was thinking they were british longhorns, can appear tricolours and have very obviously downturned horns.
I'd not have entered the field anyway, I used to work with longhorns and even though that meant walking around the field with the bull and his ladies, when he jumped out in search of another lady, he was downright dangerous.
I'd not have entered the field anyway, I used to work with longhorns and even though that meant walking around the field with the bull and his ladies, when he jumped out in search of another lady, he was downright dangerous.
JC1
Well-Known Member
If I didn't want to go through the field with the herd in I would have turned around and gone back the way I had come along the bridlepath. What if by venturing off the bridle path you came across something else that was more dangerous which the farmer had put in a field that wasn't on a bridle path for that reason. My point was that I wouldn't have ridden through another field.
mon
Well-Known Member
we once had to have a pony pts because it was dangerous to people on a public footpath, once informed we were liable if it hurt anyone.
LizzieJ
Well-Known Member
If it was a black and white I wouldn't go near it - they are normally horrid! If it was an angus or limmy, I would probably, especially if it was in a group of heifers and the gate was easily opened/shut.
Ravenwood
Well-Known Member
QR: Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to reply. I have read every reply.
Country Girl - they are definitely Gloucesters - it was only the bull who had downturned horns and apparently this is a reasonably common conformation fault.
On reflection, and with the benefit of hindsight, I think that the most safest option would have been to turn back and choose a different ride that day - as has been pointed out I was wrong to go through a field with no access and there could quite easily have been other dangers in that field anyway.
Tharg - I don't think this situation does equate to your statement because if I had ridden through the field and something awful had happened - I would have put my daughter at risk unnecessarily, unlike the dangers you knowingly risk by having horses anyway.
Country Girl - they are definitely Gloucesters - it was only the bull who had downturned horns and apparently this is a reasonably common conformation fault.
On reflection, and with the benefit of hindsight, I think that the most safest option would have been to turn back and choose a different ride that day - as has been pointed out I was wrong to go through a field with no access and there could quite easily have been other dangers in that field anyway.
Tharg - I don't think this situation does equate to your statement because if I had ridden through the field and something awful had happened - I would have put my daughter at risk unnecessarily, unlike the dangers you knowingly risk by having horses anyway.
Haniki
Well-Known Member
If the cows were in a field with their calves ie as suckler cows they would be classified as beef. If dairy the calves would be taken off as otherwise they would drink all the milk.
Kat
Well-Known Member
Apparently if a bull chases you the best thing to do is run down hill, they have short front legs and a poor centre of gravity as a result which makes it difficult to go down hill. I doubted this when I first heard it but then saw a big highland bull trying to make its way down a fairly steep hill and it was making really heavy weather of it taking baby steps, so worth remembering!
Ravenwood
Well-Known Member
LOL - I'll keep that in mind!!