http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...red-super-cows
I wouldn't want to be in a field with these lads!
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http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...red-super-cows
I wouldn't want to be in a field with these lads!
I took a wrong turn in to a field of angry sheep (with horns) - it was the single most frightening encounter of my running career. I managed to get this photo after jumping over a wall to safety.
http://tinypic.com/r/25ic0u8/8
Seriously, look at them all. They were running from all corners. FEAR OF SHEEP.
Evil incarnate
Ha! When I was putting flags out for last year's Kinder Downfall race (PM, LK) a similar thing happened. Sheep came running at me from all directions. Mind you, they soon stopped when they realised I wasn't putting food down for them.
New to FRA and quite relieved in a way to find this thread. I grew up in rural County Durham and even as young kids we knew certain breeds (the Highland Cattle always were a bit lairy) could be a bit 'funny', especially where dogs or calves were concerned. A few years ago I was out on the Yorskshire Wolds, picking a careful path through a big herd of Highlands (who had very young calves with them) with my then five year old son and a whole pelaton of plummy-voiced holidaying cyclists pulled up to marvel at my apparent ignorance regarding cattle. They sat and watched for our whole descent down the valley. 'They won't hurt you!' one mocked as we approached. As my son was with me I replied politely that the cattle's behaviour changed when they had young. Rather than the '**** off' I had in mind. The guy snorted derisively and the pelaton moved off. If I was of more of an arsy persuasion I would have suggested he test his hypothesis with his own grandkids.
More recently, and more locally, I've come across some really spooked herds around York. I don't know if the locals are doing something untoward of a night or it's the breeds involved, but in the summer I was running through fields and the cows were going ****ing crazy, attacking each other and stampeding around the field as though under attack. I'd understand if I was a speed demon but I was only plodding through. Was relieved when autumn came and they were shifted to their byres.
Sheep are just spooky, and only at night, when you suddenly catch a whole herd's silently staring eyes in your torchlight....
At this time of year ewes are mostly pregnant and farmers are daily feeding them rich additional foods - sheep nuts etc. which they hunger for. What happens is that they soon learn how 'that person' is coming and then charge on mass to be first there to grab the food. It can be intimiaidating having 100 plus ewes bleating and heading in your direction at speed, and I know one of my farming neighbours who watches out carefully that he's not trampled in the hungry stampede after an similar experience some years ago. Even my border collie used to get spooked too! But as soon as the get up close and realise you're not a nut (:rolleyes: ahem!) they loose interest.Quote:
Originally Posted by FUTUREMatt
Cows can be a real pain if they're 'that way out' but horses, now they do scare me, never know what to do when they charge, sprinting always seems to be the only option :-)
Sorry, I'll get my coat . . .Attachment 7953
My collie has been head butted a few times by sheep; which shocked him as they normally scarper. But some youngsters can be belligerent sods and refuse to move off the path!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mossdog
Head butting sheep, reminds me of the joke,
What's pink and hard...
a pig with a flick knife :-)
Now pigs are the nasty ones! Farmers joke about there being nothing left but your wellies in the morning if you fell unconscious is a pig pen. They definitely will have a bite!Quote:
Originally Posted by Daletownrunner
the thing is certain animals don't back down to nothing
In which case ....Quote:
Originally Posted by vespa
.... they must back down to something.
:p
apart from grubby idea which is extreme
Oh dear! They are at it again.
http://www.cumbriacrack.com/2015/08/...in-cow-attack/
Maybe this thread should be renamed "dogs bloody dogs"?
Could anyone tell me when the cows are due to come out of their burrows or where ever they go during hibernation? I'm really looking forward to running through fields
of young bullocks again, they are so playful at this time of year. Literally.
In the North Pennines it's roughly around May/June, depending on the weather forecast. Similar times in the Lakes. I think it's a bit earlier down south and in lower altitude areas. Of course, some native breeds stay out most, if not all, the year!Quote:
Originally Posted by William Clough
The NT have taken to grazing native breeds on couple of local running routes. Seem to be there for most of the year though thankfully don't seem too bothered by runners or dogs so far which is a good thing as they have very big horns!
They graze both British Longhorns and Highland cattle on Beacon Hill from about April; I think the idea is to prevent the heathland being overwhelmed by bracken. Both breeds are completely docile; I have run within three feet of those massive horns, and the beasts don't bat an eyelid. I suppose there's no need to be aggressive if you've got weapons like that attached to your head!
Highland cattle always seemed quite relaxed, it's the daft young bullocks that are the most unpredictable.
it always makes for excellent unplanned speed training :DQuote:
Originally Posted by William Clough
Out when grass is actively growing.
In when weather and under foot conditions dictates.
Its not normally cows that want to get you unless they have a calf.
Its the bulls and beef cattle that like a jog around with you. 😁
I still have PTSD from an experience while camping at Turner's Farm at Seathwaite a couple of Augusts ago!
I arrived on a hot Friday afternoon, pitched the tent and decided to take a quiet leisurely run in the afternoon's sunshine, up to and around the reservoir and enjoy the evening rays and views. Running out from the campsite, along the gravel track, through the two fields leading to Moss House and the Rucksack Club's hostel, I was completely lost in my own thoughts. Suddenly, in the second field, I just became aware of something moving, in the far periphery of my vision. Glancing to my left I caught sight of this F-ing massive black cow, seemingly the size of a Ford transit, gunning towards me at full tilt. Snapping out of my summer slumber, I realised there was a calf, snoozing on the beckside to my right. Now I was brought up in the rural South and spent many years navigating fields stocked full of cattle, just me and the dog, and never had any problems. So, I tried my customary tactic, to see-off pushy bovines, of star-jumping while simultaneously hollering and growling. But, to my absolute horror and amazement, on this occasion she barely broke step and clearly wanted my blood. I think I then managed a PB covering the 100 metres or so to the next gate, executing an effortless gate vault to boot. Close call!!
Got me thinking. What if I'd been a parent with their child, say in a buggy, or someone less adept at moving fast? Maybe it was because I was running that I posed a potential threat to the calf - anyway I've been less complacent around cattle ever since.
Reminds me of when I lived in Patterdale - We had a Charolais cow on the farm and it was in a field on the other side of the Grisedale Beck as I started cutting wind thrown wood from the footpath. It also had a calf, that was down on the beck edge watching me. I carried on working, but noticed in my peripheral vision movement - the cow was trotting across the field towards the beck. I switched off just to make sure it stopped at the waters edge.....it didn't......it is really hard to run in chainsaw boots, but I discovered that it can be done quite quickly if necessary and fast enough to get me over the stile! The cow bellowed at the stile pacing up and down a short bit of the boundary, my heart rate started to subside, but I was definitely still quaking in my boots. A few days later the same cow kicked our farmer out of the stall - where he though he was safe - three cracked ribs, the cow went for slaughter.
I had a close call with a herd of young calves a while back. Jumped over a stile into a field not realising there were about a dozen of them lurking behind a hedge around a corner in the field. Started running across the field, totally unaware of their presence until I heard the sound of thundering hooves behind me. Suffice to say, I think I covered the rest of the ground to the stile on the other side in a time that Usain Bolt would have been pleased with and then attempted to vault the stile. I was left with a few bruises after falling over the stile but could have been a lot worse had the field been any bigger.
I recently came over a hump in the terrain descending from Low Pike towards Ambleside - it was muddy/slippery so I was concentrating on the ground just ahead - all of a sudden I noticed about 6 Highland cattle just in front of me. The closest reared up in fright and I only just missed it as I went to the side towards an adjacent track. As it was down hill I could have gone quite quickly if needed but once over the initial interaction they all just slowly walked off. Rather scary at the time - but as has been said they are normally very placid.