The brave pony and the scary cows

[janwilky]

I mentioned on my saddle fitting thread last week that we'd met some extremely scary cows - they were at least 10 feet high and Bambi was completely terrified of them. Luckily I'd just got off her to open a gate when she first saw them because she tried to do a runner, and the field we were in is a very steep bank going downhill towards home . She broke away from me but luckily the cows were downhill and I managed to catch her again before she'd worked out what to do next. It took me a good few minutes to calm her down, by which time she was lathered in sweat.

The trouble was it's the first time we've seen the cows all summer. The 'field' is a rough, steep bank of about 50 acres or so with a huge stand of tall gorse bushes in the middle, the odd ruined cottage and a few clumps of trees. We have to cross a short section of the very top end to get home, then go down the next steep field which only has sheep in it. The cows seem to spend the night at the top (judging by the poos) then go down the bottom in the morning to graze, so we usually miss them.

I've hardly ridden since then as I've had no saddle, but I have a new one to try for a week.  We didn't see the cows yesterday, but we were a bit early this morning and they were still up there. There were about 8 of them, big heifers, right at the top by the gate. I saw them first and hopped off - I'd rather be on the ground if she panics and I have to get off to do the gate anyway as it's a tricky one. Her head went up but she let me lead her up to the gate, and she then stood and sniffed No. 1 cow for a couple of minutes. She didn't seem too worried, and they seemed calm, and the alternative route was all the way back the way we'd come... so I decided to brave it and we opened the gate and went in. Gulp. 

And it was fine! We walked right past them, dear Meg skulking along the hedgeline as invisibly as she could. The biggest cow (with horns!) got brave once we had our back to them and started bucking and head-tossing, which spooked Bambi a bit but only a bit.  I turned around and spoke sternly to said cow and slightly to my surprise she stopped doing it and backed off. They didn't even try and chase Meg, but she's such a placid thing that she generally doesn't spook or wind up livestock. The sheep all come up and investigate her!

I was so pleased with my brave little pony. She does get scared sometimes, especially hacking out alone, but she tries her very hardest and once she's accepted something she's then usually really cool about it the next time. We've been doing some spook-busting agility-type obstacles with a friend and it's highlighted just how much Bambi does get worried about things, but also how hard she tries to be brave. She finds the obstacles much, much more challenging than Lucas does, especially anything that requires her to put her feet on a strange surface (wood, tarp, WATER  ).

And the saddle? It's a cute little 16.5 inch Harry Dabbs Working Hunter. It fits Bambi beautifully but it feels very different to my Barrie Swain, it's flat as a pancake and a bit slippery, but I've put my HM seat saver on top which definitely saved my seat yesterday when she had one of her 'spook at a sheep and leap sideways 8 feet into the wheat' moments. I've got another 5 days to decide if it's right for me. I think it will be OK, it's just that Bambi can be quite a bouncy ride at times......

[portiabuzz]

Wonderful go bambi !! She's a very brave girl ! Very pleased the saddle suits her too enjoy the rest of summer

Sent from my GT-I8160

[crazycolt]

Aw, good for her, and you! Great when they overcome things! And I hope all goes well with your saddle! x

[bertie666]

Well done you Talking sternly to cows usually works, or stomping at them with purpose, just never turn your back and run!

[crazycolt]

Apart from, as I'm sure we all know, when they've calves in with them! 

[janwilky]

We used to have a pedigree Hereford herd on the farm here until about three or four years ago when the farmer retired and most of the valley land was ploughed up and rented out to the local big arable farmer

The steeper hill land is mostly sheep, with just the odd few cattle from another farmer a couple of miles away - mostly heifers and bullocks. They go on the banks with too much gorse and bramble for sheep - silly beasts get themselves tangled up in it.

I miss the Herefords, not only were they very beautiful but they were friendly and docile too, and even the youngstock never bothered us or the horses. My spaniel used to play with the calves and the mothers didn't mind, and we used to have to shift the huge, docile bull off the cattle grid to get off the farm.

Cross breeds are very different, especially the bullocks which can be a bit lively, but these heifers we've got at the moment are pretty good.  I like cows, but I don't fancy getting chased down an extremely steep and slippery grass bank by a herd of bucking bullocks - it takes everything I've got to keep Bambi walking down the bank slowly and in reasonable balance, I'm not ready to canter down it

[portiabuzz]

nope that would not be fun

[holi]

well done brave pony!! Also its good to keep them walking - much harder work and really good for them.

We met braying donks (and their delicious babies - I could definitely steal one) yesterday for the first time in the forest - she was wary but ok mainly because she was in company I think. Mind you since my pony has been here she has definitely been on a chill pill - I keep saying that David and June must have doped her lol.