The New Forest cow, grazing sedately, can come in many shapes and sizes. Usually these cows are gentle and quite shy, but if they have a calf with them, they can be quite dangerous, so please keep a good distance.
There are at least a dozen breeds grazing on the New Forest National Park - you'll never see the black and white Freesian here, but you may see highland cattle with massive long horns and very shaggy coats, especially around Brockenhurst.
If you are concerned about these beautiful animals safety, visit my
animal accidents
information page. Share your views on animal accidents - just fill in the form at the bottom of the page.
Where we live on the New Forest we often
get quite concerned when a herd of cows
or ponies get split up from one another.
One minute they are all grazing peacefully together.
Then the herd of cows or ponies move on
and you suddenly see - or hear - the
plaintive sound from one of the cows or ponies who have been left behind.
It really is quite sad sometimes, but they all manage to find each other eventually.
One day a really funny event happened.
If a strange New Forest pony, donkey, or cow is put out, the
existing animals, whether ponies or donkies or cows take a while to accept the newcomer. It really is a New Forest animal right of passage!
From across the green a new young cow was crying out for the herd, which were nowhere in sight. There was a group of ponies grazing who felt they needed to put this newcomer cow in its place.
All the heads of the ponies went up.
The young cow had a choice - carry on through the herd of obviously curious and definitely playful/antagonistic ponies - or turn around.
We were willing it to turn around as we could see there was going to be some territorial issues about to start.
The young cow looked at what was ahead, decided it was going to walk through and off it went - straight through the centre.
The ponies were stunned and they surrounded the youngster, some with legs flying up in the air. Some charged very close and gave a wonderful display of who was not welcome here!
The young cow just carried on regardless and when it got to the far side of the green, looked round, saw his herd was nowhere in sight, and sauntered off in another direction.
The ponies were stunned that all their displays of might had absolutely no effect! What an amazing sight. A cow with attitude!
Never a dull minute when there are deer, donkeys, cows and ponies about!
New Forest cows are probably the daftest animals on the roads within the forest.
They have no idea of road danger and will literally step out infront of your car.
Please always slow down and get ready to brake!
There is no sorrier sight than a big dead cow on its side with an "Agister aware" sticker on it. To find out more about
New Forest cow accident figures
The Verderers publish weekly accident figures - they are horribly upsetting if, like me, you love the forest animals!
Share your views on New Forest animal accidents.
What are your views on the New Forest accidents each year? Share it here!
There are at least a dozen breeds grazing on the New Forest National Park - you'll never see the black and white Freesian here, but you may see highland cattle with massive long horns and very shaggy coats, especially around Brockenhurst.
Where we live on the New Forest we often
get quite concerned when a herd of cows
or ponies get split up from one another.
