Why My Highland Cows Love Humans
posted on
June 6, 2026
When I'm hitching a Highland steer to a cart or heaving a saddle onto Finn, a 2,000-pound Highland steer, a visitor is liable to ask, “Does he mind that?” The answer reveals something interesting. If they didn't want to play along, they'd let me know—swinging horns, kicking up heels, and disappearing across the pasture. They don't. They like working with humans.
However, this isn't true for every bovine. Some want nothing to do with people, and that's perfectly fine. As long as they aren’t aggressive, we let them be. For example, Mason the bull is happy to spend his days in the herd—wooing the cows, eating hay in winter and grass in summer, and keeping his own counsel.
On the other hand, some cattle can't get enough of us. Scottish Highland steers Bleu and Finn wait at the gate to entertain guests in the Ultimate Cow Experience. They munch carrots that visitors feed them and dip their heads when brushed. They step forward on command and halt when I say so.
Years of training cattle have taught me about motivation and cooperation, and produced three rules.
Rule #1: Praise matters most—even more than edible treats. Bovines, like people, want attention and respect.
Rule #2: Never ask for the impossible. I guide my cattle through daunting tasks by breaking complex goals into simple, manageable steps.
Rule #3: Never punish a bovine for getting it wrong.
When a steer makes a mistake, it's almost never defiance. He's confused, tired, or distracted. So I don't scold him; I just ask for something different. If Owen goes into “reverse” when I want him in “drive,” I start asking him to back up. Soon, he thinks backing up was what I wanted all along. He forgets he started it himself. He finds himself in compliance mode, with me re-established as his bossy boss — which is everything in our relationship.
The main lesson: With the right approach—compassion, patience, and respect—even the largest steer is happy to work with people. Mutual trust unlocks their best selves.
So when someone asks, "Does he mind that?" I just smile. If
that steer could talk, he'd say, "Mind it? I love it!"
Carole Soule is co-owner of Miles Smith Farm, in Loudon, N.H., where you can have an Ultimate Cow Experience and hug a Scottish Highland steer. She can be reached at carole@cow-coach.com.
