Why Don’T People Ride Cows?

Cows are a common domestic animal that have been an integral part of human civilization for thousands of years. If you’ve ever wondered why we don’t ride cows like horses, despite their similar size and docile nature, read on to uncover the fascinating reasons behind this fact.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: People don’t ride cows mainly because cows are not anatomically suited for riding like horses are. Cows have a different body structure, are less agile and slower, and have not been bred for riding purposes over time like horses have.

In this comprehensive article, we’ll explore the anatomical, historical, and practical reasons why cows are not ridden as a means of transportation or for sport in detail. We’ll compare cows to horses, look at exceptions of cows being ridden, and summarize why people overwhelming choose horses over cows when it comes to riding animals.

Anatomical Differences Between Cows and Horses

Body Structure and Size

Cows and horses have very different body structures and sizes. Cows generally weigh between 900-1,500 pounds, while horses average around 800-2,200 pounds depending on the breed. Here are some key differences:

• Cows have a stocky, thickset body with shorter legs while horses have a leaner, more muscular build with longer legs.
• A cow’s center of gravity is lower to the ground which makes them less agile. Horses have a higher center of gravity and are built for speed and maneuverability.
• Cows have cloven hooves with two toes. Horses are ungulates with a single solid hoof on each foot.
• Cows have much shorter tails than horses. A cow’s tail is usually no more than 3 feet long while a horse’s tail grows around 4-5 feet long.

Speed and Agility

Cows are significantly slower and less agile than horses. The fastest recorded speed for a cow is 35 mph compared to 55 mph for a thoroughbred racehorse. Here’s why cows lack the speed and nimbleness of horses:

• Cows have shorter, more muscle-bound legs and heavier bodies unsuited for quick sprints or jumps.
• The cow’s spine is ridged and inflexible while horses have a supple spine ideal for arching and twisting.
• Cows struggle with coordinated maneuvers like jumping fences or changing direction rapidly.
• Horses are athletic with explosive acceleration and the endurance to run long distances.

In essence, the horse is a natural athlete bred for performance while cows are best at slow, steady movements grazing in a pasture. It’s no accident horses have been raced competitively for centuries while cow racing remains a novelty event!

Nature and Temperament

Cows and horses also differ in their innate nature and temperament as livestock animals. Some key differences are:

• Cows are placid, docile creatures while horses are known for being more high-strung and excitable.
• Cows are inherently less fearful than horses and easier to work with in close proximity.
• Horses have a strong fight-or-flight instinct when startled while cows are slower to react.
• Cows tend to be quite stubborn yet also very passive. Horses are more willing to respond and bond with humans.

In general, cows are gentle creatures of habit while horses are wired with more innate curiosity, intelligence, and sensitivity. However, both animals can form strong bonds with human handlers who earn their trust over time with gentle, consistent training.

Cows Have Not Been Selectively Bred for Riding

Unlike horses, cows have not undergone centuries of selective breeding to produce animals well-suited for riding. Cattle were originally domesticated around 10,000 years ago as a source of meat, milk, leather, and labor. Riding was not a priority in bovine breeding decisions.

Cows Were Domesticated for Food

Archaeological evidence shows that ancient farmers began herding aurochs, the wild ancestors of modern cattle, primarily for their nutritious meat and dairy products. Docile temperaments allowing for easy handling and management were preferable so cows could be milked and eventually slaughtered for food.

This contrasts sharply from the origins of horse domestication, which occurred later around 6,000 years ago. Horses were initially bred for transportation, riding, and warfare uses where athleticism, speed, and responsiveness to commands were prioritized.

Horses Have Been Bred for Riding for Centuries

Over hundreds of generations, horses were selectively mated to produce animals with a skeletal and muscular structure capable of comfortably carrying humans on their backs for extended periods. Their physiology and temperaments were shaped to suit riding purposes.

Cows simply were not bred with the same qualities in mind. For example, the spine of a riding horse is strong yet flexible to absorb impacts from both the rider and ground. Cows have not evolved this adaptive trait that supports weight on their backs.

In the 21st century, over 300 horse breeds exist worldwide that were created for specific riding purposes, from racing Thoroughbreds to jumping Warmbloods. No such variety has emerged in cattle focused on riding ability because it simply hasn’t been a cow vs cattle breeding priority.

So could a future cow be bred to comfortably carry humans? Perhaps, but there have not been historical demands driving cows to genetically adapt in that direction. Ultimately, the needs of the dairy and beef industries take precedence in cattle production, not developing cow “riding breeds.”

Practical Limitations of Riding Cows

Lack of Necessity

In most parts of the world today, riding cows as a means of transportation simply isn’t necessary. With cars, trains, planes, and other modern modes of transportation readily available, riding cows has become obsolete as a practical way to get from point A to point B.

Unless you live on a remote farm or ranch, chances are you can get where you need to go much faster using a car or public transportation than trying to ride a cow.

Additionally, in developed countries the primary purpose of cows is for food production through dairy and beef. Using cows as beasts of burden would take away from their main purpose – which is to provide high quality milk and meat.

With so many other options available, riding cows is an inefficient use of their time and talents.

Availability of Better Options

Over the centuries, humans have domesticated animals that are better suited for riding than cows, such as horses, donkeys, and camels. These animals are faster, compliant, and more comfortable to ride over long distances. Horses in particular have been bred specifically to be ridden by humans.

Compared to a 1,000 lb dairy cow, riding a 150 lb horse is much easier to mount, control, and guide. The horse’s slim build, long legs, and energetic gate covering over 25 mph makes it ideal for travel over varied terrain.

Riding an agile, eager horse is a much different experience than trying to get a slow-moving, stubborn cow to cooperate.

Difficulty of Training

Cows are primarily bred and trained for milk and meat production – not to be ridden. Although cows can be trained, their nature makes them more difficult to train than horses for riding purposes. Cows tend to be less intelligent than horses, more stubborn, slower moving, and more lumbering.

A cow’s build is also not conducive for a human to comfortably climb up and ride on their back.

Training a cow to be ridden requires time, patience, and persistence – especially to overcome their naturally stubborn temperament. Even with extensive training, cows may resist human commands and be less willing than a horse to be ridden long distances.

While it’s possible to ride a cow, the difficulty of training means it’s an impractical option compared to choosing more suitable riding animals.

Exceptions and Instances of Riding Cows

Riding Steers and Oxen

While most cows are not ridden, there are some exceptions. Steers, which are castrated male cattle, can be trained from a young age to be ridden and pull carts or plows. This practice dates back thousands of years, with oxen being used as “beasts of burden” throughout history.

Today, riding steers is still practiced in some parts of the world, though it is relatively rare. The larger size and strength of steers makes them better suited for riding compared to regular cows.

Water buffaloes are another bovine animal that has a long history of being ridden, especially in parts of Asia. The water buffalo is larger and stronger than cattle, with males weighing over a ton. Water buffaloes have been used to plow rice fields in places like China, Vietnam, and the Philippines for centuries.

Unlike cattle, water buffaloes are still commonly used as beasts of burden in many developing countries today.

Riding Cows for Entertainment

While not common, there are some instances of people riding cows just for entertainment. Riding a cow or bull is one of the events in rodeo competitions like bull riding. However, the purpose is not transportation but to see how long the rider can stay on the back of the bucking bovine.

Some cattle ranches have also offered cow riding for tourists looking for a unique experience. Of course, this is done more as a novelty and not as serious transportation.

Conclusion

In summary, cows are anatomically less suited for riding compared to horses in terms of their body structure, speed, agility, and temperament. Additionally, cows have been domesticated primarily for food purposes rather than transportation.

With the availability of more suitable riding animals like horses, there is little practical need or advantage in attempting to ride cows. While there are some exceptions of riding tamed steers, oxen or water buffalo, riding cows has never caught on as a common practice.

Understanding the key differences between cows and horses helps explain the historical and practical reasons why cows are not ridden in modern times.