Ever thought of snuggling up with a 1,000 lb farm animal to help with your mental health? No? Neither have I. But, if the sound of that intrigues you, you’re in luck. Because as it turns out, ‘cow cuddling’ might be the hottest new wellness trend. It’ll set you back a few bills, but could it be worth it?
Photo: Buure TV screengrab
According to PubMed, there is proof that humans can decrease their stress levels by interacting with animals. How one may choose to go about that is their own preference. While this concept, in particular, might sound a little strange, the new therapy trend falls in line with other programs we’ve seen in the past. Remember goat yoga? Or cat yoga? What about bunny yoga? While yoga with a cow might be a little tricky, cuddling with them might be the next best thing.
Mountain Horse Farm in upstate New York has a program offering the ‘Horse & Cow Experience’ where individuals can spend time connecting with the large barnyard animals. You can interact with them however you want to by petting, brushing or playing. If you’re not in the mood to play with the animals, you can simply cuddle with them. “Cows have a body temperature that is slightly higher than humans and their heart rate is lower than ours. Cuddling up with a cow, feeling that lower heart rate and higher body temperature, is very relaxing,” Mountain Horse Farm wrote on their website.
Interacting with animals has become a popular way for individuals to decrease stress and connect with nature. Mountain Horse Farms notes on their website that horses and cows, in particular, are sensitive animals who use body language to communicate. ‘They will pick up on what’s going on inside and sense if you are happy, sad, feel lost, anxious or are excited, they will respond to that without judgment, ego or agenda.’ They say that hanging out with their animals can bring relaxation, healing, awareness, comfort, and mindfulness. It can also help with building assertiveness, confidence and overcoming fear.
The Horse & Cow Experience costs $300 for a 90-minute session. However, if you’re only interested in the cow cuddling part, you can book a 60-minute session for $75. For both of the sessions, you can bring a friend.
While this might sound like the ideal form of therapy for animal lovers, there is another side of it to consider. Mario Becker, an animal behavior expert spoke to Metro UK about how this trend could affect the cows. “Cows are escape animals and not cuddly animals. To cuddle with people is not a natural need of the cows,” he said.
The facilitators at Mountain Horse Farm assure their animals are loved and well taken care of. “We are passionate about letting them live a life as natural as possible,” they wrote on their site. They want their horses and cows “living in a herd where they can form strong bonds and friendships as they would do in the wild.” I guess those bonds and friendships can come in all different shapes, sizes, and species.
and then they kill them
Yes, good point, Shane.
It always astounds me that people comment as if they had personally been there, asked questions and understood the situation, as well as have created something useful for humanity and therefore have earned the right to judge someone who did. Nobody knows if the farm kills these cows. Many possibilities exist here. But only a curious person will even get to that platform.
In this case, the Swiss woman who runs this business, is a veterinary student. Her father has a dairy farm (where the cows are allowed outside). When one of his cows gave birth to triplets, that turned out infertile, the daughter asked if she could have them, since they would otherwise have been killed. They grew up among humans, and are very gentle and kind, that’s why people can cuddle with them. This is how they earn their keep.
So take that and put it where it belongs;-)
Yep… time fo a thick juicy burger right after a leisurely cuddle.
What a horrible thought.
Hey, let people see it for what it really is. (aside from animal exploitation to make a buck). They should let people cuddle these animals at the slaughterhouse while they are thrashing from the restraints and just as they are bolted through the brain, and then hung up by 1 leg (yes a 1000 lb animal) and while still conscious. Just might be what it takes for some people to connect a living breathing thinking feeling animal with the flesh on their plate.
Sure but only if you can slaughter at yourself
Don’t be gross. It’s not like the butcher is right there and ready to butcher them. Maybe the cows they use are companion animals because their deminear. Have you ever been to a state fair and walked through the animal barns? All those animals are taken care of by teens, 4H or just off the farm. Those kids sleep, eat and socialize right there with their cows, pigs, sheep…..guess all I’m saying is not all cow go off to butcher.
Rarely does a cow raised by a 4H student remain a pet. These teens are taught about the animal ag industry and making money by wheeling and dealing with the life of an animal. But of course, not their dog or cat, only farm animals that are enslaved and later meet a HORRIBLE death.
um.. only farm animals are enslaved?? under that argument any animal (fish, bird, mammal, insect, lizard, etc) would also have to be considered “slaves”. They likely didn’t end up in your home under there own accord. Probably bought or “given away” by another human “slaveholder”. If you have a pet you must be a slaveholder. Do they have a domicile contract with rights to leave whenever they wish or do you force them to stay? Is there any monetary relief while they are maintained in your home or domicile? Do you put your “pet” on a leash when it goes outside? Is it tagged, registered and given a permit? Did you mutilate your dog or cat by spaying or neutering without its consent???? Is there a “chip” implanted under the skin so you can always find it if it tries to run away? Do you decide if and when your “pet” can breed and what it breeds with? do you then sell the offspring? SLAVEHOLDER!!! FREE YOUR FISH TODAY!
Poor cupcake
Got news for you:4H animals end up slaughtered. People have no idea what happens to farm animals. Everyone colludes to pretend their lives are good , producers and consumers. You are telling him/her to not be gross for telling the truth.
Hahahahahahaha
This is so silly, something for westerners with money to burn and are probably afraid to get too close to humans. I’ve hung out with cows and it was sort of fun but if they like how you rub their forehead they can lean into you with all of their weight, and as the expert says here. they’re not cuddly animals and neither are horses. In a normal environment they don’t like being approached by humans. It’s absurd to think that any animal that isn’t domesticated would like to cuddle with you.
Nice comment, Christine Burrows.
Someone is going to get crushed. There are animals bred for cuddling, and I am sure large ruminants are not those animals. SMH.
just because they make excelent steaks doesn’t mean they aren’t social mammals and enjoy a good scrub and group napping! you don’t need to breed something into an animal that already has the instinct for it. I’ve worked as a cow vet for some time and I met plenty of dog-cows: they follow you everywhere, poke on everything you are doing, allow you to lean and sleep on them and almost drool when you give them a good back scrub. Not all cats like to be lap cats, same as not all humans like to cuddle, so why not have both parties enjoy it when both happen to enjoy the interaction? Cos one day one will become steak and the other larvae food or ash decoration? Common, we will all day some day, but every other day, we won’t. enjoy it while you can.
Anyone needing to cuddle an animal for their health can go to any number of shelters or sanctuaries where they can do this for free, help the animals needing this type of attention, AND not further contributing to the animal ag industry which does nothing but torture and dispose of farm animals.
GM, you suffer from pathological altruism and dunning-kruger effect. Big agribusiness is brutal and disgusting but don’t confuse it’s practices with what happens on small, mostly family owned farms. If you want humane and sustainable agriculture, support small local farms and farmers markets.
Yeah but a lot social media- powered eco warriors will happliy crash our economy to try and unrealustically run our country on solar power , which from an Engineering point of view may be at least 40 years away. The point I am making is that people need to keep stuff real. Our society wants all the feel good fluffy stuff like save the planet, but forgets lufe is brutal and horrible and short without cheap electrical power. Peopke are uneducated and uninformed about reality, and readily accept SJW generated BS without a grounding in reality. Everyone wants rights, but shirk the responsibilities tbat come with those roghts and freedoms. People need to grow up and grow brains, IMHO. The SJWs of the 20 somethings power thier stupid smartphones from the reliable power grid the older generation built.
Can I eat it when I’m done?
If you don’t someone else will
Gm seems to be an animal rights advocate.
Someone is going to get hurt. Farm animals are not pets. I just finished an equine master’s class where some idiot actually asked the professor “Does my horse love me?” No. He loves the sugar in your pocket. Likewise rolling around with cows will likely lead to trouble.
My Ex would make tons on money because of this!
4-H cows are often dairy cows which are not slaughtered but are kept for their lives…. yes, they become “pets”. They really appear to be fond of their kid. As a veterinarian, mother and 4-H leader, I have seen all of this. Plus, I haven’t eaten any meat for 47 years. That part is easy and good. (There’s always chocolate).
I see a second job for our herd of dairy cows. We’d offer a more natural environment and a cheaper price for the experience. Discount hotel accomodations 12 miles away, and a welcome center/lobby with $3 bottles of water and snacks (all chicken based of course).
We people, I swear.
And when rich hipsters get bored with this new toy and cowes no longer bring money then what? Turned into happy cow burgers or steaks and sold to another hipster connoisseur?
This is a classic “weird activity white people do.” Like walking your cat or goat yoga. Still cute, though!