Do goats like “goat yoga”?

Reading time: 5 mins

This is an image you may have seen in a photo dump instagram (a kind of photo album): a group of people in dog posture, upside down, accompanied by a slew of very small goats. Some have climbed on the participants’ backs, others are scattered between the yoga mats.

This is (of course) a goat yoga session. Born on a farm in Oregon, the practice then spread across the country, with classes charging between $30 and $50 per person. It’s more expensive than a course of classical yoga, but you benefit from a company of choice. This is not the only activity that it is possible to do with goats: you can also go on a Trekin a group, with a herd following you.

If you are looking for a fun activity to practice this summer with friends, yoga or hiking with goats may be options to consider. The humans involved in this case seem happy. But what about goats?

millennial companions

Classes are usually done with Nigerian dwarf goatsmainly for the comfort of the participants: they weigh a maximum of 18 kg, much less than a typical dairy goat (you imagine yourself balancing on your back a 70 kg Anglo-Nubian billy goat?).

According Backyard Goats, which provides advice on raising these beasts at home, Nigerian dwarf goats make excellent pets for people of all ages, because of their “calm and even temperament and their endearing personality”. They tend to be sweet and playful, and have a traditional climbing taste. Apparently, all the qualities required to enjoy a fun and cushy yoga class.

To find out for sure, I contacted a connoisseur of the cognitive system of goats, Alan McElligott, a researcher at the City University of Hong Kong. Goats were probably the first domesticated livestock, he explained to me. They have lived with us for millennia. Contrary to dogsthey weren’t bred to live or work in close proximity to humans, but they can be surprisingly sociable and are much smarter than we think.

Happy human, happy goat?

For example, research by Alan McElligott indicates that goats know how ask us for help if they want to open a sealed box containing food. Have you ever noticed how your dog looks at you when he wants something? Goats do the same: study finds they make eye contact with humans to ask for help non-verbally.

They can also tell the difference between our positive and negative facial expressions—in fact, they prefer when we smile. In study carried out in 2018, twenty goats were shown pictures of people sporting a happy expression and an angry expression. They approached the happy faces first and paused longer in these photos.

What’s even more fascinating is that prior to these studies, both behaviors (looking to communicate and recognizing facial expressions) had only been seen in dogs. and in horses, which (unlike goats) were domesticated specifically for use as pets. Goats are therefore not only farm animals stupid who spend their time ruminating, they have learned to decipher human behavior.

Welcome climbs

More good news, goat friends: some love yoga. McElligott assured me that, any abuse animal being excluded, stretching in the presence of our goat friends is pleasant for them as for us. Goats really like to climb on anything in sight, whether it’s a haystack or your back. They are also very fond of hiking, because they also need exercise and this walk allows them to taste plants that they do not find in their pastures.

Note, however, the use of the word “some” in the preceding paragraph. Alan McElligott explained to me that the question to ask is not “Do goats like yoga?”but rather “Does this goat like yoga?”. They have a personality –their temper can vary not only by breed, but also by individual. One goat can be exceptionally shy, while another can be very sociable and crave our attention.

To some extent, the preferences of the animal depends on how he was raised. A herd of dairy goats on a farm will be very attached to their herder, who provides them with food and affection, but they will be afraid of a stranger standing near the fence.

Conversely, goats that are in contact with humans from birth (such ashealing goatswhich, like other animals used for therapeutic purposes, are trained to provide comfort and affection to people who need it) will approach you to ask for treats or petting.

The science of bleating

A particularly shy or aggressive goat should not be dragged into a yoga class where it may be unhappy. But as long as you choose the right goats and provide an escape route in case they feel pressured, goat yoga can be beneficial for these beasts too. The same goes for hiking: the farm must establish a rotation between the goats to avoid overwork and it is essential to choose specimens that like to walk.

If you practice this type of yoga, watch for signs that the goat wants to be left alone (if it backs away, shows the whites of its eyes, or shows his agitation by cries). According to research by Alan McElligotta satisfied goat tends to keep its ears pricked forward and its tail up.

The amplitude of bleats also varies more when they are upset, such as the voice of aa nervous person when making a speech or addressing an audience (but, of course, if you are new to the subject, the difference between two bleats may escape you). A frustrated goat may also head-butt one of its mates, but even in distress it is unlikely to lash out at human passers-by.

Certainly, there are almost no studies concerning the specific effects of this type of yoga on goats. But given what we know about The well-being and the behavior of these, a well-organized course seems quite recommendable. After all, if he makes you smile, the goats will be happy too.