Baby Fainting Goats Royalty-Free Stock Photo

Young fainting goat A fainting goat is a breed of domestic goat whose muscles freeze for roughly 10 seconds when the goat is startled or excited. Though painless, this generally results in the animal collapsing on its side. The characteristic is caused by a hereditary genetic disorder called myotonia congenita. When startled, younger goats will stiffen and fall over. Older goats learn to spread their legs or lean against something when startled, and often they continue to run about in an awkward, stiff-legged shuffle.