Photos: Bob Lewis.
Sprite is a fainting goat. Fainting goats have a hereditary genetic disorder called myotonia congenita that causes them to abruptly fall over when they’re startled. (It’s painless, though it can be hilarious.) Supposedly this trait was bred into them so that they could be placed with flocks of sheep as bait–predators would hone in on the frightened–and thus fallen–goats, giving the valuable sheep time to escape. Or so the story goes. Fainting goats are slightly smaller than the standard goat and are classified as meat goats, though they aren’t generally raised for meat because they’re also a threatened breed. Mostly, they’re raised for fun. They’re a novelty breed. And there aren’t very many of them in West Virginia, so the idea is to get Sprite and Pepsi together and start making little bottle caps.
You can see some YouTube videos of fainting goats here and here.
Right now, Sprite is in Tennessee.
She’ll be coming here in a few months.
Pepsi can’t wait!
Box Call says:
We can’t wait either Suzanne. This could turn into a money making proposition. Sprite and Pepsi mixed together…what do you call that drink?
On July 6, 2009 at 4:38 am
Lynda Dunham-Watkins says:
That goat is beautiful! I’d never heard of ‘fainting goats’ before Pepsi. LOL What are you going to have next?!!
On July 6, 2009 at 6:18 am
Nancy in Atlanta says:
They’ll make pretty little cans of soda! Fresca, Dr. Pepper, Nehi Grape, I can see them now. And both of these kids have beautiful markings. :snuggle:
On July 6, 2009 at 6:38 am
Diane says:
Sprite is very pretty. Sprite and Pepsi will make pretty little bottle caps.
On July 6, 2009 at 6:55 am
Christine says:
They are sooo cute!
On July 6, 2009 at 7:20 am
Claudia W. says:
Hooray! I couldn’t wait til you said you were getting Sprite! Pepsi is going to be so happy! (Not that he isn’t now though)
On July 6, 2009 at 7:25 am
Bev says:
Let the games begin…they will make cute babies
On July 6, 2009 at 8:26 am
Kristi of Million Dream Mom says:
oh my cuteness!! I can’t wait either! 🙂 The exploits of these two will be legendary!
On July 6, 2009 at 8:49 am
Winifred says:
Ah bless! They’re gorgeous.
On July 6, 2009 at 11:46 am
Estella says:
They will make really cute bottle caps!
On July 6, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Tori Lennox says:
So… when are you going to get some miniature hereford cattle?
On July 6, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Kacey says:
Making cute little bottle caps!! LOL!! :shimmy:
On July 6, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Shells says:
I was wondering how Pepsi was doing. Sprite is too cute and I can’t wait to see baby goats.
On July 6, 2009 at 7:17 pm
SarahKoski says:
Little bottle caps!! I imagined baby goats with hats that look like bottle caps on.
On July 6, 2009 at 8:25 pm
trish says:
“little bottlecaps” So darn cute. I never would have thought of it. This is just one of many reasons why I love this blog so darn much.
On July 6, 2009 at 8:56 pm
ToadMama says:
Hi there. I live in MD, but have a weekend place near Romney, WV. Sometime during the last couple of months, there was a story in The Hampshire Review (local Hampshire County paper) about a local teenager who raises fainting goats. Their Web site is not very extensive, but I’m sure if you called them and asked them about the boy who raises fainting goats, they’d help you find him.
On July 7, 2009 at 7:25 am
Sheryl (Runningtrails) says:
That Pepsi is such a cutie! I’m sure Sprite will be thrilled and will love her new home!
On July 7, 2009 at 8:36 am
Steve O says:
We don’t have any “fun” goats, just Nubians (dairy herd), like Lady Bug here:
That’s a cute fainting goat, though!
On July 7, 2009 at 1:13 pm
queenymom says:
I want to be one of your animals, LOL. That produce looks pretty yummy. Do you know how much they charge now for a head of lettuce here (Charlotte, NC) in the grocery stores? over a $150 now :hissyfit: . Susie
On July 7, 2009 at 2:35 pm
queenymom says:
Opps that is $1.50. :wave: Susie
On July 7, 2009 at 2:36 pm