Cuddly cows

Mountain Horse Farm in upstate New York is offering a 60-minute cow cuddle for US$75. The farm also offers a full Cow And Horse Experience, which lets customers pet, brush and play with cows and horses. The 90-minute session costs US$300.

Animals are known to decrease stress in humans: think emotional support dogs. But cows?

“Cows’ body temperature is slightly higher than humans’ and their heart rate is lower,” Mountain Horse Farm says on its site. “Cuddling up with a cow, feeling that lower heart rate and higher body temperature, is very relaxing.”

“They will pick up on what’s going on inside and sense if you are happy, sad, feel lost, anxious or are excited, and they will respond to that without judgment, ego or agenda.”

The session starts with a few breathing exercises for about 15 minutes to “take you out of your head and into your body”. 

Then it’s cuddle time.