A couple of months ago, a herd of cattle was placed on Hoe Rough by a local farmer. This is done in conjunction with the Wildlife Trust, who like the natural way the cattle eat lots of the unwanted scrub grasses. They also churn up the ground, allowing some other plants to seed, presumably.
But for my walks with Ollie, this is bad news. Once the cattle are there, it is not a good idea to wander around with a dog. Not that Ollie would take any notice of them, but they might well be alarmed by his presence. Cows can run at up to 28 m.p.h., and for a long distance. They can outpace almost any human runner, and certainly beat me in a race. If alarmed, they might also trample Ollie, causing him grievous injury.
As cows kill more people than any other animal here in Britain, I keep away from them at all times.
I heard today that the cows had gone. They have presumably been removed to provide succulent joins of beef for the coming Christmas season.
For the first time in weeks, I could take Ollie over to his second-favourite stomping ground. Once through the gate, he was visibly excited, spinning in circles as I took his lead off. And then he was off, ready to sniff anything and everything he hadn’t been able to sniff for so long.
Unfortunately, the recent heavy rains and the presence of the cows had left the side paths deep in sticky mud, some eight inches deep. Even in my new boots, it was hard going, and made the walk more difficult than usual. But Ollie was so happy, I slogged on for a few circuits of the area.
By the time we got back, the sun was setting, and I had a tired dog ready for a nap.
I had no idea cows could run so fast and I’ve always happily strolled through fields with them in but will give it a second thought now.
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They are mostly docile around people. But when you have a dog with you, they have been known to turn nasty.
Cheers, Pete.
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Love your sweet everyday narratives that “graze” our commonalities in life! A good day is spending time in the company of a beloved dog mucking it up! Oh joy.
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Thanks, Cheryl. This is how I spend such a large part of every day.
But mostly they are good days, with Ollie for company.
I’m glad you like this kind of post.
Best wishes, Pete.
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i could sense Ollie’s excitement, Pete! anything about Ollie is a great read! thanks! 🙂
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Thanks, Wilma. This is Ollie’s blog really. He just lets me write other stuff occasionally. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Slogging… I like that idea but it would be a struggle.
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It probably wasn’t as bad as it sounds. I like to imagine walking in mud is harder than it is. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Sounds like a wonderful day, in spite of the mud. I’m glad Ollie could enjoy one of his favorite spots. I had no idea that cows kill more people in Britain than any other animal. Interesting. Best to you, Pete
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We have very few dangerous animals, but lots of cows. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Love it! Best to you, Pete.
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People often don’t realize that cows can be dangerous. You made a wise choice concerning Ollie. Nice that he gets to run around now, though.
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Thanks, Herb. As a former city boy, (London) I have always been wary of animals, wild or domestic.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I enjoy reading your conversations. You have a knack for using an experience to start people contributing. We feel we know you and Ollie so well. It is a special talent. Keep going,Pete.
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Thanks very much, Julie. Very kind. I live so much of my life in close company with Ollie, what we do together always feels very normal. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thinking back to when I was a kid I used to wonder through fields with cows almost every day walking dogs, I dont think I would be so brave nowadays. Luckily for me (not the cows) cows here are tethered, no walls or fences to keep them in.
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I heard about a local farmer being crushed by a cow three years ago. (He later died of his injuries) His farm is only in the next road to where I live. I thought if a dairy farmer can get killed by his own animal, I had best be wary of them.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Good old Ollie, on the go for another adventure. Go easy on the mud Ollie boy.
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Thanks, Arlene. Every walk is an adventure for Ollie. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Avoid horses as well…..Ollie needs his routine and when it gets altered they tend to get ho-hum….Rain is due here later today….so MoMo walk needs to be earlier……chuq
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Ollie barks at horses, so I usually avoid them. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Dogs do not like horses and always bark at them…..chuq
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Good to know Ollie has his walking territory back. Don’t get sucked into the mud.
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I (just) managed to keep my wellingtons on, Peggy. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I am amazed that cows account for deaths in England. Do they wander into traffic like moose?
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No, they mainly crush people. Most are agricultural workers, but some are walkers and hikers.
Read this, and gasp in amazement. 🙂
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cows-officially-the-most-deadly-large-animals-in-britain-a6727266.html
Best wishes, Pete.
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I now remembered walking on a public footpath in the Cotswolds in 1974 with my mother and encountering a bull. We fled.
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Very sensible, Elizabeth. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I did wonder why they let a bull out on a public footpath though.
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Sounds like a good day all around, Pete! I’m happy for Ollie!
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He had a good rest after that excitement, GP. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I have a great respect for cattle on a field too, Pete. Glad to see that Ollie could have a good run despite the mud.
Wishing the three of you a cosy weekend. A big pat for dear Ollie. x 🙂
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Thanks, Dina. Pats delivered!
Best wishes, Pete. X
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I bet the place was full of wonderful smells for Ollie! I don’t share your wariness of cows and don’t mind being in a field with them (I don’t have a dog) but not if they have calves as they become very protective.
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Having a dog seems to make a big difference, I think.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Strange, but mud is rather dangerous as well. Warmest regards, Theo
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Absolutely. I just found out … 😉
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I have ‘lost’ rubber boots in it before, Theo. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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If it’s of any consolation, at all (and might not be), the strict rotation of grazing animals on land in need of restoration and/or keeping it going strong, is a going thing, here, in USA based Great Plains – – once fences went up and humans built towns/became more populated, the regular ecosystems that kept nature going, rather got messed up – –
So, I’m just saying, done correctly, on rotational basis, and monitoring the health of things, is, of benefit to natural ecosystems impaired by human interventions (buildings, fences, etc.).
Thus, in my mind, you and Ollie’s challenges and missed opportunities are appreciated, at a deep ground level – though you may not know it – 😀
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Thanks, TamrahJo. I also appreciate the need for natural grazing. I just have to keep Ollie out of their way. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I’m like youm Pete. I give them space. Even by accident they have enough mass to hurt you without trying, not to mention they get moooody!
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Thanks, Ron. Some of them weigh as much as a small car! I give cows a wide berth!
Best wishes, Pete.
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I have a cow story! I’m sure I’ve already done it though I think. Anyways, definitely the right move to stay away from them!
Mmmm roast beef! Mmmm horseradish….
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I am definitely ‘cow-aware’, FR!
Best wishes, Pete.
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Pete, in Napa Valley, the world famous restaurant The French Laundry has a huge garden across the street, where they grow most of the herbs and vegetables they serve inside…one year, they got special permission to put 5 goats on the northern edge of the property, filled with bushes and weeds…they stayed for two months and cleaned it all up…and gained a lot of weight in the process!
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I could probably cope with goats, John. 🙂
Ollie would see them off.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Wait until one headbutts you 🙂
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I had no idea cows could run that fast! You’re wise to stay clear.
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BBC Countryfile TV show featured a race over a distance between leading human athletes, and cows. The cows won! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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There is no way that I would walk through a field with cattle in even without a dog. They’re big and boisterous and here there are often bulls too!
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Local farmers put signs on gates of fields where there are bulls loose. They are usually on their own, and often huge! But even a small herd (8-10) of cattle can be very dangerous if they decide to ‘crowd’ you.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Section 59 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 bans the keeping of bulls in fields crossed by a right of way, unless they are under the age of 10 months or not of a recognised dairy breed, provided they’re accompanied by cows or heifers (young female cows). Recognised dairy breeds are Ayrshire, British Friesian, British Holstein, Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey, Jersey and Kerry. I have never seen a sign around here and I have seen some huge bulls!
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Thanks, Jude. Rules or not, I intend to avoid bulls at all costs! x
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👍🏻
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Wendy, an old lady who happens to be a neighbor of yours, wants to know, “Where’s the beef?”
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You’re unstoppable. Wendy Burger closed down here, sadly. 🙂
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Sounds like you might have been ready for a nap after that walk as well, Pete! 😉 Cheers, Jon.
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Ollie woke me up at 6 am, barking in his sleep!
I won’t be late to bed tonight, that;s for sure. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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(1) Rather than use cattle to churn up the ground, can’t they just take a rough hoe to Hoe Rough?
(2) The cattle saw Hoe Rough as their stomping ground. They were always looking for unsuspecting dogs to stomp. Since Ollie sees Hoe Rough as his “second-favourite stomping ground,” I have to wonder what unsuspecting critters he hopes to stomp…
(3) “Cows can run at up to 28 m.p.h., and for a long distance.” Say, from Abilene to Kansas City? I’m asking for a cowboy friend of mine.
(4) “…the cows had left the side paths deep in sticky mud…” Some of those mud pies may actually be cow pies.
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4) Many of them were! 🙂
3) People also ask
How fast a cow can run?
40 km/h
Cattle/Speed (Google)
3) Is his name ‘Tex’, by any chance? If so, I know him.
Best wishes, Pete. 🙂
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I’m reminded of a song:
Where have all the cattle gone?
Long time grazing
Where have all the cattle gone?
Short time ago
Where have all the cattle gone?
Gone to slaughter every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
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You should contact Peter, Paul, and Mary with those new lyrics, David.
Remix with a rap by JayZ, and it’s a surefire hit! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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They can be quite dangerous to dog walkers because they don’t like dogs and will act as a herd and crowd you. People unfamiliar with them think they are big-eyed lazy dreamers.
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Thanks, FM. Some people think I am silly to be so wary of them.
But I know better. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Good for you two. I remember walking through a footpath in England that went through a field of cows. There was one that was separated and I swear it had Mad Cow disease. It was unnerving listing to an alarmed cow. I can understand your reluctance to take Ollie to a cow pasture.
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I have changed my opinion about cows since moving to the countryside. Definitely best avoided. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete. x
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