Fear of cows and cattle (bovinophobia)
A fear of cows and cattle can turn a country walk into something you dread, with your heart pounding the moment you spot a herd in the next field.
Many people find that with the right help, they can enjoy walks in the countryside again, feeling calm and sensible around cattle rather than frozen by them.
Use code PHOBIA at checkout for half price: £24.50 instead of £49. Outside the UK? $29.50.
Understanding this fear
Cows are large animals, and it makes sense to treat them with respect. With a fear of cows, the feeling goes well beyond sensible caution. It starts long before you reach a field, it can stop you walking in the countryside at all, and it can be triggered by cows that are calmly grazing a long way off. The medical name you may see is bovinophobia.
It is closely linked to a fear of animals, a fear of bulls and a fear of horses. For many people it is mostly about size and unpredictability, and the worry of being surrounded with nowhere to go.
Common triggers
- A herd in a field with a public footpath
- Cows walking towards you or following you
- Cows with young calves
- Cattle gathered around a gate or stile
- Walking with a dog
- News stories about walkers hurt by cattle
- Narrow lanes where cattle are being moved
- Not knowing where the exit of a field is
Where it shows up
- Country footpaths and bridleways
- Farm fields and open moorland
- National parks and hill walks
- Commons and village greens with grazing
- Farm parks and agricultural shows
- Holidays in the countryside
- Dog walks near farmland
Symptoms
In your body
- Racing or pounding heart
- Tight chest or short breaths
- Shaky legs or feeling frozen to the spot
- Sweating or feeling hot
- A strong urge to run
In your mind
- What if they charge at me?
- Picturing being trampled or cornered
- Scanning every field for cattle
- Thinking you will not be able to get out
- Worrying the walk will be ruined
What you might do
- Avoiding footpaths through fields
- Only walking on roads or paths you know are clear
- Turning back or taking long detours
- Climbing fences or hedges to get away
- Turning down walks, holidays or days out in the country
What causes it
A frightening moment with cattle, such as a herd running towards you or being followed across a field, can be enough to start it. Some people pick it up from a parent who was nervous of animals, or from news stories about walkers being hurt. Being in an open field, a long way from the exit, can also make the fear grow. Once the fear is there, avoiding fields brings quick relief, which teaches your mind that cows really were dangerous, so the fear grows.
How it can affect your life
A fear of cows can quietly take the countryside away from you. People stop going on walks, avoid holidays in national parks, skip family days out and feel left behind when friends head for the hills. Dog owners can find it especially hard, as so many good walks cross farmland.
Things that can help day to day
- Follow the Countryside Code: move calmly and quietly, do not walk between cows and their calves, and give the herd plenty of room
- If you have a dog, keep it on a short lead near cattle, and let it go if cattle chase you, as the dog can run faster than you
- Plan walks with your map so you know where the gates and stiles are
- Breathe out slowly, a little longer than you breathe in, as you reach a field
- Start by watching cattle from the other side of a fence, then build up at your own pace
When to get help
It is worth getting help if you are planning your life around cows, missing walks and holidays, or if the fear is spreading to other animals or the countryside in general. If the anxiety is affecting your daily life, your GP is a good first port of call.
Some caution around cattle is always sensible. If cows ever seem agitated, or there is a bull or young calves in a field, it is fine to find another way round. Working on the fear is about getting your judgement back, not about taking risks.
How I can help
If you’ve tried to talk yourself out of this fear and it hasn’t worked, that isn’t a lack of willpower. A phobia is an alarm your mind learned, and logic alone rarely switches it off.
When I work with a fear of cows, I first find out what the fear is really about for you, whether that is their size, being chased, being trapped in a field or a past scare. Using hypnotherapy and NLP over Zoom, I help your mind let go of the old alarm, so a field of grazing cattle becomes something you can walk past calmly and sensibly. We rehearse your walks in your mind, in detail, until they feel ordinary. You get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to before you head out.
I’ve spent 17 years in clinical practice and helped more than 1,000 people with phobias. I hold a Postgraduate Certificate and a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy, both with Distinction.
If you’re feeling low or on edge most of the time, talking to your GP or someone you trust can help too.
Common questions
Is it silly to be scared of cows?
Not at all. Cows are large, and walkers are sometimes hurt by cattle, so some caution is sensible. A fear becomes a problem when it is far stronger than the real risk and stops you enjoying the countryside.
What should I do if cows come towards me?
Keep calm and keep moving steadily towards the exit without running. Do not get between cows and their calves. If you have a dog and the cattle chase you, let the dog off the lead.
Is a fear of cows the same as a fear of bulls?
They often go together. Some people fear any cattle, while others only fear bulls. We have a separate page on the fear of bulls.
How do sessions work?
I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to this fear. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.
How many sessions will I need?
Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.
Further reading: NHS: Phobias · Lake District National Park: walking near cattle · Swansea Council: walking near livestock
Ready to start?
A short call is the simplest next step. We’ll talk about your fear, what you’d like to feel instead, and whether I’m the right person to help.
- Take the free test at the top of this page to see how strong your fear is.
- Book a 30 minute call. Use code PHOBIA at checkout for half price: £24.50 instead of £49 ($29.50 outside the UK).
- Start your sessions over Zoom from wherever you live, or face to face in Hertfordshire.
See all session options and prices