Fainting Goat

People usually look up fainting goats because they’ve seen a video, met one at a farm, or are considering keeping goats and want to know what the “fainting” actually is. The answer matters: it affects how you handle them, how you set up yards and shelters, and what’s fair and safe for the animal.

Fainting goats don’t truly faint. They have an inherited muscle condition that briefly locks their muscles when they’re startled, sometimes causing them to topple over, then get back up as if nothing happened.^{2, 3, 4}

Quick facts

• Common names: Fainting goat, myotonic goat, Tennessee fainting goat, wooden-leg goat^{2, 6}
• Origin: United States (central Tennessee; first documented in the 1880s)^{1, 6}
• Size (typical): About 43–64 cm at the shoulder; roughly 27–79 kg (varies by strain, sex, and breeding)¹
• Coat and colour: Many colours and patterns; coat can be short or long depending on line and climate¹
• Temperament: Often quiet and generally easy to handle, though individuals vary like any goat⁵
• Distinctive trait: Myotonia congenita causes brief muscle stiffness when startled (not loss of consciousness)^{2, 3, 4}
• Common uses: Meat, small-farm utility, and companion animals; some lines are bred for heavier muscling^{5, 7}

What is a fainting goat?

A fainting goat is a domestic goat with a heritable condition called myotonia congenita. When the goat is startled—by a sudden movement, an unexpected noise, or a burst of excitement—its muscles contract and then relax more slowly than normal, leaving the body briefly rigid.^{2, 3, 4}

The episode is usually short, commonly around 5–20 seconds. Some goats simply stiffen and keep their feet; others lose balance and fall, then rise and walk on once the stiffness passes.^{2, 3}

Do they lose consciousness?

No. Despite the name, fainting goats are not typically unconscious during an episode. The “faint” is a muscle lock-up, not a blackout.^{2, 3, 4}

Where did fainting goats come from?

Myotonic goats are one of the better-known goat types developed in the United States. Historical accounts place the breed’s early presence in central Tennessee in the 1880s, and many modern lines trace back to a small founding group documented in that period.^{1, 6, 7}

You’ll still see the Tennessee connection reflected in common names and registries, even though myotonic goats are now kept far beyond the US, including in Australia as small-farm stock and pets.⁶

What they look like (and why they feel so solid)

Many myotonic goats have a noticeably thick, sturdy build. The myotonic trait is often associated with heavier muscling, and some strains have been selectively bred with meat production in mind.^{1, 7}

Colours and patterns vary widely, and coats can be short or longer and shaggy depending on breeding and environment. You may also notice prominent eyes in some individuals—another feature often mentioned in breed descriptions.^{1, 2}

Behaviour: what owners actually notice day to day

Most of the time, a myotonic goat behaves like any other goat: alert, food-motivated, and busy with the small work of grazing, browsing, and testing boundaries. The difference appears in moments of surprise, when the muscles briefly seize and the goat may stand rigid or topple.^{3, 4}

Severity varies. Some goats show only a mild stiff-legged pause. Others are more dramatic, especially when young or highly excited, and can fall more readily.³

Is the “fainting” a defence against predators?

It’s sometimes described that way, but it’s safer to treat it as a side-effect of the condition rather than a purposeful strategy. During an episode the goat is briefly less able to flee, which could increase risk in a real predator encounter.³

Care and handling: practical points that matter

Myotonic goats need the same basics as any domestic goat—secure fencing, appropriate feed, clean water, shelter, and routine health care. What changes is how you reduce sudden triggers and prevent injuries if a goat does go rigid.

Set up the environment to prevent falls and bruising

• Avoid steep drops and hard edges in yards and pens, especially around feeders and gateways where excitement is common.
• Use calm stock handling: steady movement, minimal chasing, and predictable routines reduce sudden startle events.
• Think about footing: slippery surfaces make a stiff-legged stumble more likely to become a fall.

Health: what’s real, what’s exaggerated

The myotonic episodes themselves are usually brief and not described as a loss of consciousness. The bigger welfare risk is secondary injury—falling awkwardly, being startled repeatedly, or being kept in environments that make toppling dangerous.^{2, 3}

Like other goats, they can still face common issues such as internal parasites and hoof problems, so regular monitoring and basic goat husbandry still apply. Some sources note myotonic goats may show comparatively good parasite resistance, but that doesn’t replace routine checks.⁵

Fainting goats as pets: a good idea?

They can be steady, people-tolerant goats, which suits small properties. But they’re still goats: social herd animals that need space, companionship (another goat, not just humans), and secure fencing. Choosing them purely for the “fainting” behaviour leads to poor handling choices—too much startling, too many visitors, too much stress.

If you want a calm, manageable goat, look for an animal with a settled temperament and good health history, and set up your property so the goat doesn’t have to “test” its myotonia on hard ground.

A note on breeding

If you’re breeding myotonic goats, remember the trait is inherited. Breeding decisions should prioritise animal welfare: sound legs and feet, calm handling, and housing that minimises injury risk during episodes. If you’re buying goats, ask how the herd is managed and whether animals are selected for extreme episodes or for practicality and robustness.

References

1. Wikipedia – Fainting goat (overview, size range, history summary)
2. Live Science – Fainting goats don’t lose consciousness; myotonia explanation
3. Natural History Museum (UK) – Why goats faint: typical triggers and episode duration
4. The Guardian – Explanation of myotonia as muscle stiffness (not true fainting)
5. Goat Journal (Countryside) – Myotonic goat breed profile (temperament, uses, notes)
6. The Livestock Conservancy – Myotonic goats: Tennessee origins and heritage-breed context
7. Ohio State University Extension (Small Ruminant Team) – Myotonic goats: alternate names, lock-up description, origin notes