An orphaned cow has found her niche in life — carriage driving.
Three-year-old Hettie Moo, a belted Galloway heifer, has been training with Amanda Saville for the past two years.
“She came to us from the Cairngorms Reindeer Centre after her mother died,” said Amanda, who has previously driven two other cows.
“She was hand reared and so was too friendly to join the herd.”
As Hettie Moo settled in so well with the horses, Amanda decided to recruit the cow, who stands around 12hh, to her Chariots of Fire display team, which tours county shows during the summer.
“It’s easier to break cows when they are young so we started early, schooling and getting her used to the bit,” she said.
“Hettie Moo can be feisty, but she’s really good at driving. With cows, steering can be a problem, but she knows exactly what to do.
“She even jumps — she loves it, as soon as she sees a jump, off she goes — she’s very accurate.
“She has a magic personality,” added Amanda. “She loves attention and enjoys being groomed.”
For more information, visit www.chariots.org.uk
This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (7 March 2013)
