A couple of days ago I went out for a walk along a clearly designated walkers trail which passed as usual through a pasture full of cows. Nothing new in this; just meant stepping carefully through them and over stretched out legs. After the cows there was an open space that I was halfway across when I saw a bull about 50 yds away; nothing new in this either. When I was well into the open suddenly the bull looked up and gave a bellow and ran at me. There was nothing I could do; having an artificial hip I couldn't run or even jump to one side. So I just kept walking at the same pace and ignored the bull. I was quite calm and thinking to my self that I was going to die in an awful painful way. When the bull was almost on me he stopped...about two feet away, and watched me. I didn't look at him. I just ignored him and passed within 6 to 8 inches of his nose. I had got about a yard passed him when I heard him start trotting up behind me and he nudged me in the back. I could hear his breath snorting through his nose. I still continued to ignore him and carried on walking at the same pace towards the gate that was about 100 yds away. As I was walking he kept close up behind me, not touching me, but so close I could feel his breath on my back. When I was about 20 yds from the gate his foot steps stopped, and I carried on walking, not looking around. When I got through the gate and looked back he was already some distance away running back to the herd of cows. I stood still trying to breath, but my heart was banging way so hard that I could hear it banging against my ribs with loud wacks. I tried to walk a few paces but thought I was going to throw up. After about 5 to 10 minutes I managed to take a few steps with out chest pain, but I was very weak. There was no way that I could continue with my planned walk as my brain just wasn't in it. I managed to get back to my car via a circular route and met some cow hands along the way and told them what had happened. They said that there were 2 or 3 cows on heat that day and they had noticed that the bull had got his head in a twist. They thanked me for alerting them and they would get the bull out of the field. I thought to my self...bloody hell...I could have been lying in a trampled mass on the ground at that time. What on earth were they thinking of to let a bull wander around in a field that is a clearly designated walking area, where a few hundred people walk along every day. I was the unlucky one to be the first through the field that morning. I still cannot get out of my head the moment that the bull bellowed and charged me.

Oldun, you are always good for a story. You must have a decent heart or you would be a goner. I've had a couple of bull episodes myself, but nothing like that.

Sounds scary but it could have been worse.Good job you didn't end up like this!

http://cubiclebot.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/f-the-popo.jpg?cb5e28

Yeah, good job you kept your cool Oldun, cause if you had been on heat........
Seriously though, you did the best thing by ignoring the beastie.
Dave.

This is a good reminder as to why its always best to walk with a friend, preferably one who runs a little slower than yourself, that way in this situation you only ever need to out run the said friend and not the bull !

Seriously though, it sounds like a really scarey episode, glad you got out of there ok.

Les

Oldun,
it souds as if you were Lucky man,
I am pleased you were not injured.
well done for keeping your head, I think if you had run he would have attacked you.

while working on a farm I had lucky escape from bulls,
the first was long story , but in the end he got me on bale of straw which was lucky for me as he pulled the bale of straw to bits instead of pulling me to bits.
the second one , I was driving the cows through a gap , when I heard a pounding of hooves and turning sideways a young bull pounded by missing me by inches.
for a long while after these events, if I had heard a moo I would have run a mile.

there is footpath in the middle of a field , where there are young beast in the field . When walking in this field, they always come and follow me the full lenth of the field, noses right up to my back.
I think if I showed any sign of nerves they would get restless and jump about and attack.

I hope you have no more incidents like the one you had.
Happy walking in future

.

I always raise my arms and shout but is it better to just ignore them?

I think it is better to ignore them, that way the beast can't see you as threatening and that's why they usually attack.
In the case of young curious bullocks, they can get a bit close and waving the arms and making a noise as you do, normally gets them to back off.
If cows are with young lying on the path, I meander around, giving them some space, without looking any of them in the eye.
The best thing is not to get too close or surprise them.
In the USA, on the trails in bear country, hikers are advised to make some noise as they pass through, so as not to surprise them. Hikers can purchase bear bells that ring and rattle as they walk along. If bears hear you coming they will normally get out of the way - surprise them, especially when with young, they may well attack.
Dave.

Dave, I've heard that you can identify bear poo by the small bells in it...



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