Na-ah-AH! A cow will give you a warning by shaking its head at you, maybe lowing. If it's pawing the ground, you are being told!
A horse will give you a warning by turning its bum to you, threatening a kick. If a cow is gonna kick you its FAST! And no warning!
Both species flatten their ears back to show displeasure. A cow will swish her tail to show displeasure; I can't think I've ever seen a horse swish its tail for any reason other than the removal of flies.
Horses can rear in aggression, cattle don't.
Cattle don't bite in aggression, horses do.
This is fun - sheep don't kick and warn by stamping their front foot, and swish their tails to distribute their little poo pellets...
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horses arent that stereotypical. it depends on what herd status they think they have with u. if a horse is being trained and isnt happy, it will toss its head and shake its neck. if it starts to relax and think, it will begin to chew/lick it lips. a dominant horse would more likely to strike out with its front legs, stamp on u or push into ur space, a defensive horse will turn its quarters and kick. a tail carriage in a horse is a big signal to how it is feeling. a clamped tailed will signal disharmony in some area, whether with its handler or fieldmates. a horse in physical or mental conflict whilst being ridden will swish its tail an awful lot.
my calves gave plenty of kicks whilst 1st being handled, but most were slow warnings, and could easily have got me if they meant it.
iv also had a few kicks off sheep, tho may be have been mid-flight , sheep clamp their tails when under alarm whilst goats raise there tail.
Topic: cow body language (Read 15009 times)
