Cow and horse together

[AF Texas Longhorn Ranch]

personally, I would not mix the 2, unless you highland is dehorned. It will mean serois injury to the horse, eventually. Cows and horses react to things differently.....horses kick, bite and run off. Cows head butt, shove and sometimes kick.......
Just be careful, thats all.

Not always true, my longhorn steer was pastured with a Morgan horse for quite a while and never had any problems. Horses are usually more dominant over cattle, therefore they have the ability to "drive" them. After them became buddies, my steer would play with his tail using his horns but if he accidentally hurt the Morgan he would receive a quick kick and soon learned "Horse Language"

 

[Heavenly Springs Farm]

I have my 3 year old gelding and 2 year old stud colt running with two this years heifers. The horses will chase the calves around but they have never gotten out of hand. THey pretty much stay away from each other in the pasture. Both of herd animals and like to be with their own kind. I bet if you put them together they will still eat away from each other in the pasture.

 

[siroiszoo]

Don't know if it helps but you see cows & horses pastured together all over the state of Texas. My neighbor used to run his two horses with about a dozen head of cattle on approximately 11 acres. He eventually sold his horses.

I even owned a mare that was in that kind of set up. We could never find her hanging with the herd of horses, she would always be with the herd of cattle. She loved them and wouldn't even chase one if you tried to use her to round up the cattle. Guess she figured cows had the better deal; no one ever tried to saddle and ride the cows.

At present, I am running my two Quarter Horses and my two miniature horses with the neighbor's bull (for details on that story see the thread entitled: How do you get a 2000 lb bull in a trailer). So far, no problems even though it is not what I prefer to do.

But from observation, it seems the more space you have the less trouble you will have mixing them.

 

[no nonsense]

I guess the point I was trying to make was that if you wanted to take the chance, it might work. there are no guaranties in life....... I am not willing to have my horses gored so I dont house them with my cattle. I also do not house my llamas in with my horses, as I do not want a llamas leg to get broken by a misplaced kick. I do know people who do both.....some have had a bad time of it, like the horse that lost its eye to a horn (goat horn actually) and some do just fine. Use your judgement, your the only one that can decide whats best for you and your animals. Also, if you can afford the vet bills.....all the more reason to try it.

I agree. A lot depends on your facilities, and the amount of space you have. Animals in large open pasture may get along better than those in small, irregular shaped barnyard paddocks. Larger herds also tend to behave differently than individuals in smaller groups, especially if you have more than one member of each species. One thing is certain, your horse will not get gored if it is not pastured with your Highlander. Your time, your money, your animals. I suggest another Highlander or other breed of cattle if companionship for your Highlander is your main concern. Otherwise, the experience your granddaughter receives may not be exactly the one that you have in mind.

 

[Nicki]

Hi we have Scottish highlands and horses and yes they do fine together the cows are ingeneral affraid of the horses the only probelm we have is we have a young horse who likes to exercise the cows a little more than they need. I have never had any of our cows or even the bull try and go after the horse they are usually busy running the other direction.

 

[FarmerChick]

usually depends on the horse. some will run cattle. cattle have that easier going personality (usually) and a horse will be more active.

I have seen it both ways. Some say never a problem with them together, some say the will never put the 2 together again...LOL

so it is what works with your animals...but feed separate and be aware who is eating what.

 

[YakLady]

It probably just depends on the breed. Growing up in Oklahoma, we always had our work horse, which was a Quarter horse, in the pasture with our Angus/Chianina crosses. The horse was a coyote killer, and protected the herd.

In my current life, however, I would not be able to do that. Yaks are easily annoyed by horses, and will often gore them to death. Yaks are coyote killers, too, though. So I don't need a horse. My 4 wheeler gets me around just fine. And I'm training a yak to let me ride him.

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

I have a yearling, polled, heifer, Eliza Jane, who weighs about 650 lbs, in a pasture with two pony mares. No problems what so ever. They eat sleep run and and play together. Either they think she's a funny looking horse or she thinks they're goofy looking cattle. Whatever...it works. Growing up we always had horses in with cattle. Depends on the horse these ponies are both 4+ years old they don't bother her at all.

 

[farmgirljen]

A horse could hurt itself in a round rubber padded cell...if there is enough space, the problems would be less likely to happen- a horse and a cow can be kept togehter just fine...