If you’ve strolled past the front pasture lately, you may have noticed a bit of extra excitement — we’ve welcomed a new baby to our herd of Tennessee Fainting Goats.
Officially known as the Myotonic goat, this distinctive American breed dates back to the 1880s, when a farmer in Tennessee began raising goats that exhibited a harmless genetic condition called myotonia congenita. When startled, their muscles temporarily stiffen, sometimes causing them to “faint” for a few seconds — though they remain fully conscious the entire time.
I’ll admit, I hadn’t actually witnessed one faint in years. Early on, one of our employees once called me in a panic and said, “I think we have a dead goat.” I immediately rushed out of my office — heart racing — and about halfway there it dawned on me… it had probably just fainted. Sure enough, by the time I reached the pasture, the goat was up and happily running around as if nothing had happened. A dramatic few minutes for us, but just another day in the life of a fainting goat.
Beyond their famous reflex, they are gentle, curious, and wonderfully personable — which is why we’ve loved having them at Fearrington for the past 20 years. They help maintain the pasture and delight guests of all ages.
We regularly welcome a visiting male to ensure healthy breeding, and just this week, a little one arrived — with more expected in the coming weeks. There is nothing sweeter than watching the babies find their legs, bouncing and leaping across the pasture. We especially love seeing the little ones climb up and stretch out on their jungle gym — as if they own the place. (If you watch the video below from a few years ago, you’ll see just how playful they can be.)
A gentle reminder: please do not feed the goats. They receive a carefully managed diet from our team, and we want to ensure they don’t eat anything that could upset their health.
If you’re visiting soon, stop by the front field. Baby goat season is one of the most joyful times of year at Fearrington — and there are likely a few more tiny arrivals on the way.
