Highland Cows and Horses in Same Pen

[mustanggirl]

Hi,
My Highlands are to be delivered this weekend (momma cow and 3 month calf). They will be put 1 well-fenced acre. Then the weekend after that I plan to finally bring my 3 year old gelding home from the trainer. He will have to go into the same pen as I can't afford a round pen yet. Anyone in this forum have any advice on safety for my horse? Have you ever put a horse in with a long-horned momma cow and had bad results, like goring? Momma cow is well behaved, so is the gelding (he's not trained as a cattle horse). The horse is actually a little on the timid side. I'm just worried cuz an acre if a fairly small area and they might cross paths at the water trough and geez I'd just die if my horse got hurt.

[Muskrat]

I'm sure there are those on the boards who will say they've had the same situation and the animals did very well together. On the other hand, I've had a horse kill a calf by kicking it in the head; I think the calf approached him from behind and the startled horse kicked instinctively. I've also had Highlands hurt each other with their horns. So, yes, I would be concerned for the safety of my animals.

Personally, I wouldn't put my horse with the cows. A protective Highland cow with a youngster at side having a larger strange animal introduced into a small pen would, I'm afraid, set up a bad situation and an acre isn't really much room when you have three nervous animals inside. It's kind of late in the game to do much. Maybe a temporary fence down the middle to keep them separate until they become accustomed to each other would help.

[affenpinschermom]

They are protective mothers but we've never had a problem. We've run horses with the cattle for years, however I woulnd't put them together right away. I'd let them see one another across a fence for awhile. The horses have given our cows more problems then the other way around. The horses will tend to run the cattle if we aren't careful. That's just been our experience.