Is there anything more relaxing than going away for a nice long weekend at a bed and breakfast, enjoying a big relaxing breakfast, sleeping in a comfy bed, and just generally chilling out? Mountain Horse Farm in New York’s Finger Lakes region offers that experience, yes, but something else too: the chance to cuddle with cows for an hour.
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- Bonnie and Bella would be happy for your love. For $75, you can spend an hour hanging out on the farm with the two resident cows, Bonnie and Bella. You can get up close and personal giving them loads of cuddles, and what could be more soul-restoring than that?
- It’s a therapeutic experience. Suzanne Vullers, the owner of the farm which is in Naples, New York, told Insider she was inspired to include the animals on her 33-acre ranch in her bed and breakfast experience after a trip to The Netherlands. “After a visit to our home country, the Netherlands, we learned about cow cuddling,” she said. “We felt it would be an amazing addition to the wellness work we were already doing.”
- The cows really seem to love the attention. While they’re always free to roam and do whatever they find, guests often find that Bonnie and Bella come and sit down next to them, happy to bask in all the cuddles. “Choice and respect are the keywords,” Vullers explained. “When you spend time with them, you enter their space, and connecting with them is as much their choice as it is yours. When that connection happens it’s magical because it comes from a mutual desire. Giving them that freedom and choice makes all the difference.”
- You might come away with a new appreciation for cows. Vullers said that many guests who spend time with Bonnie and Bella end up being surprised by just how much personality the animals have. “Guests are surprised that cows are so much fun,” Vullers said. “They’re surprised that they know their names and come over when you call for them.”
- So how can you book onto the “Cow Experience”? The sessions are held once or twice per day, three or four days a week between May 1 and October 31, weather permitting. Only four people can attend a session at one time and you need to be at least 12 years old to attend. You can find out more info about how to book via the Mountain Horse Farm website.
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