Studies have shown that interacting with animals can give our mental health a boost, helping to reduce feelings of stress or anxiety.
So it’s no wonder that activities like puppy yoga have become a major phenomenon in recent years, and cat cafes are all the rage (although it’s worth noting that there have been major concerns flagged about some of these practices).
But it’s not just dogs and kittens that people are desperate to spend time with to improve their wellbeing, there’s another animal that many are paying good money to get to hug — cows.
Yes, cow cuddling experiences are the new craze, with farms and animal sanctuaries offering guests the chance to get up close and personal with some of their most peaceful and loving residents.
TikTok blew up with cow cuddling videos over the last year, as farms in Hawaii and Texas offering ‘cow cuddle therapy’ went viral. Numerous people shared videos of themselves laying in the grass with cow’s heads in their laps, lazily scratching the cute creatures behind their ears. It looked incredibly wholesome and I wanted to go immediately.
As a perpetually anxious girlie and an animal lover, I was psyched when I discovered there were several spots in the UK where you could go to cuddle cows and booked myself in for the next available slot.
The closest location I could find to London was Hopefield Animal Sanctuary in Brentwood, so last Saturday I made the drive down to Essex to meet general manager Lianne Angliss and some of the furry residents she tends to.
Lianne, who has worked at Hopefield for 20 years, explained that the cow cuddling experience at the sanctuary is an ethical one, so it doesn’t involve forcing animals to interact with people. Instead, guests are taken into the cow’s field and it’s up to the animals whether they decide to come over to say hello.
Off we headed into a field that’s home to four rescued Friesian dairy cows; Jude, Devon, Wanda, and Chip.
They were all saved from slaughter in their younger years, and the former three have been at the sanctuary for eight years now. Chip is a slightly younger addition to the gang, but was also thankfully spared a similarly cruel fate.
Only Jude and Devon were interested in coming over for some attention, and I have to confess, I wasn’t initially prepared for just how big these animals were going to be.
I know it sounds silly, as obviously cows get pretty big, but in my defense most of the viral cow cuddling videos I’d seen online had featured much smaller calves, so when these two gentle giants plodded over, my jaw dropped.
There was no way I was ever going to be able to get my arms around them for a proper cuddle, although a taller (and braver) person might have been able to do so.
Despite their somewhat intimidating size, however, Jude and Devon were just like big, slobbery dogs. They licked my hand, allowed me to scratch their necks and backs, and were playful when it came to getting treats.
After some time making a fuss of the pair, Lianne and I headed back out of the field and to the other side of the gate to feed them.
The staff don’t allow guests to be in with them during this part of the experience as the animals can become quite excited and this can cause them to be a tad clumsy.
Jude and Devon were treated to plenty of bread, and watching them eat was a pretty hilarious experience in itself as they wrap their massive tongues around their food, much like giraffes do.
A fun fact I discovered about cows is that they drool rather a lot, so feeding them by hand gets pretty messy. I just about managed to escape without getting slobber in my hair.
While suffice to say it wasn’t quite the therapeutic experience I’d expected going in, there’s no denying that it was a great activity for my general wellbeing. It was something different, it was fun, and I felt like Jude and I had become pals by the end. I left with a big smile on my face.
But the best part is that not only do you get to try something new, it’s all for a wonderful cause.
Founded in 1983, Hopefield Animal Sanctuary has been giving homes to animals in need for more than 40 years. The sanctuary was founded by Paula and Ernie Clark who, after an incredibly cold winter, wanted to foster several horses that had been abandoned.
They attempted to rehome some of the animals, but after discovering that one of the new owners had left the horse in a terrible state, they decided never to do this again, and to give animals a good and proper home for life.
Since then, the sanctuary has grown massively and now looks after more than 600 animals, although not all of them are on display to the public.
As well as dairy cows, Hopefield is home to donkeys, sheep, pigs, horses, Shetland ponies, cats, rabbits, alpacas, reindeer, a boa constrictor, parrots, and a fox. There are also several exotic animals such as tanukis and skunks.
The sanctuary is open to the public and generates funds that go directly to the animals through small admission fees, a gift shop, an on-site plant-based cafe, plus the ethical animal experiences.
In addition to cuddling cows, they also offer visitors the opportunity to meet and feed other farmyard faves, including pigs, sheep, donkeys, and ponies. These experiences cost £70 for two people, the price of which includes 30 minutes of up close and personal time with the animals, general admission to the sanctuary, lunch at Max’s Cafe, as well as an animal sponsorship pack.
A PSA for those who want to cuddle cows
To anyone that is reading this and might be inspired to try and cuddle a random cow in a field… DON’T.
The cows at Hopefield are older, known to be friendly, and are used to being around people and given cuddles. But this might not be the case for other cows that you come across during a walk, especially if there are mothers with calves to protect, they can become aggressive if they are spooked.
And as Lianne can attest, having a cow run straight at you, even one that is usually pretty friendly, is a terrifying experience.
So if you want to get up close and personal with some animals, it’s safer, and much more ethical to do it properly. Visit The Hopefield website for more information.
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