You’re Not Really Going to Click on a Story About a German Girl & Her Jumping Cow Are You?
- Posted on April 5, 2011 at 3:41pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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LAUFEN, Germany (AP) — When Regina Mayer’s parents dashed her hopes of getting a horse, the resourceful 15-year-old didn’t sit in her room and sulk. Instead, she turned to a cow called Luna to make her riding dreams come true.
Hours of training, and tons of treats, cajoling and caresses later, the results are impressive: not only do the two regularly go on long rides through the southern German countryside, they do jumps over a makeshift hurdle of beer crates and painted logs.
“She thinks she’s a horse,” the golden-haired Mayer joked on a recent sunny afternoon as she sat atop the impassive brown-and-white, grass-munching cow.
It all started about two years ago, shortly after Luna was born on the Mayers’ sprawling farm in the hamlet of Laufen, just minutes from the Austrian border.
They started off with walks in the woods during which Luna wore a halter. Then Mayer slowly got her cow more accustomed to human contact and riding equipment.
About six months later, it was time to see how Luna would respond to a rider on her back. Mayer sat in the saddle, and all went as planned — at least at first.
“She was really well behaved and walked normally,” said Mayer, decked out in riding gear. “But after a couple of meters, she wanted me to get off! You could see that she got a bit peeved.”
Luna and Mayer are now soul mates, spending most afternoons together once the teen — who aspires to become a nurse one day — comes home from school.
Their extensive routine involves grooming, petting, jumps and a roughly one-hour ride. That’s also the case in winter, when Mayer lovingly drapes a blanket over Luna to keep her warm.
It’s a lot of work “but I enjoy it,” Mayer said.
Her efforts have paid off.
Now, Luna understands commands such as “go,” ”stand“ and ”gallop.” If she feels like it, that is.
“When she wants to do something she does it, when she doesn’t, she doesn’t,” said Mayer, who proudly says Luna thinks of her as her mother. “And she’s often very headstrong but can also be really adorable.”
Luna‘s stubborn streak meant that teaching her pony tricks wasn’t always easy, Mayer noted, saying she sought tips from a cow expert in Switzerland on how to deal with “steering” problems.
Anne Wiltafsky, who trains cows near the Swiss city of Zurich, said Luna’s talents are not particularly surprising and that, historically, it was quite common to ride cows and use them as workhorses.
“Especially younger ones can jump really well,” Wiltafsky said in a telephone interview, adding that cows are lovable companions because they’re easygoing, have strong nerves and are “unbelievably devoted” to people they like.
Being — and owning — a cow-turned-pony isn’t always easy.
Take the somewhat skeptical neighbors, such as Martin Putzhammer, who had to be won over.
“At first I thought it was kind of weird — a kid on a cow?” the 17-year-old said during a break from repairing his moped. “Had to get used to it but once I did I thought it was pretty funny.”
While Mayer’s friends quickly warmed to her passion after laughing at her, Luna‘s fellow cows weren’t so open-minded.
“Cows don’t really like her … they’re jealous because she always gets goodies,” Mayer said.
And horses? Many run away in fright, but others often join Luna on rides.
“She really enjoys that and gets totally into it,” Mayer said.
Mayer hasn’t given up her hopes of having a horse and may soon get one. But she says Luna will always have a special place in her heart.
“She’ll stay my darling,” she said.
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Comments (77)
ares338
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 5:54pmI’m sorry…I broke and clicked on it!!
Report Post »Dick Blitskreig
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 5:50pmI’d ride her till the cow comes home.
Report Post »mrsmileyface
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 5:44pmIsnt there a law against riding Joy Behar in Germany?
Report Post »clockwatcher
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 6:57pmNo, you just saw her jump. : )
Report Post »texasfarmer
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 5:40pmI’d name the cow tenderloin.
Report Post »clockwatcher
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 5:36pmThat is not a cow it’s Mika from MSNBC.
Report Post »TexasBlaze
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 5:36pmUdderly ridiculous. Makes me want a quarter-pounder…
Report Post »ArmyWifeNiz
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 5:25pm“A kid on a horse is not in hot water”…It seems the saying goes for a kid on a cow, too. I remember being a horse crazy kid with nothing but sheep to ride, they were a LOT less willing to play along than cows, and I have the bruises to prove it!
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 5:11pmThat’ll do, cow. That’ll do. Dang it, wrong critter!
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 4:56pmNope…I will not click on it………..Oh wait….dang-it!
Report Post »TumbleBumble
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 4:38pmNow I want a cow! :D
Report Post »mrcritic
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 4:38pmYou’re wrong. Cattle jump all the time. What’s odd is this one had to be taught. It’s a real problem for cattle ranchers and no fun when someone calls to tell you one is out.
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 6:30pmBlack Angus can be a handful. Yep. They are fair jumpers, often clearing fences that trip up the odd whitetail deer. If they can’t jump it, they’ll go thru it. Have a cow in heat and a bull on neighboring property will jump, swim and crawl in manners that may seem very un-bovine.
Report Post »mom4times
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 10:41amAngus can be just as bad in the barn too….we have one that I make sure when i open up that door that she’s right there looking at me…..If she gets loose……HOLY COW!!!! :O….Time to call in the national guard to get her back in her stantion. As far as out in the field…..ALL our heifers got out last summer….something spooked them good…..took hours, a four-wheeler and a cattle truck to get them back home
Report Post »TheGreyPiper
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 5:22pmWell of course, all animals jump; the trick is getting one to do it on command.
Report Post »StevenL1955
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 4:32pmThats a bunch of BULL! Wheres PETA (Pretty Edible Tasty Animals)
Report Post »Infidel and Proud
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 4:15pmYou gotta admire her determination and creativity ! Talk about thinking outside of the box !
Report Post »Would LOVE to see her take the cow to an equestrian event – change its name to “horse” and enter it – (“Babe” anyone? )
goatkid
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 4:07pmIt’s always good to see that there are frugal children who know how to make use of what is available.
Report Post »I had horses for years. I love them but will probably never own another unless I become independently wealthy. At least a cow makes milk or beef, you know, pulls it’s own weight around the farm. (now I am sure that will have pissed some horse owners off)
MrSunshine
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 4:06pmShe’s quite the bovestrian!
Report Post »sabrinacle
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 3:57pmSee, this is what kids will do if they don’t have a TV. I know kids who have trained cats, rats, snakes. I think this video should be an inspiration to young people
Report Post »Rob
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 3:52pmGood parents.
Report Post »TheAmericanRifleman
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 3:51pmIt won’t be long now, pigs will fly.
Report Post »nacilbuper
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 3:51pmHolly …..
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 3:51pm“Take the somewhat skeptical neighbors, such as Martin Putzhammer, who had to be won over.”
Putzhammer. Wonder if he’s kin to Charles Krauthammer?!
Report Post »sleazyhippo
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 4:58pmIt depends on whether you know the difference between a “Putz” and a “Kraut,” mien hausfrau! Yust Zahein!
Report Post »AmericaFirster
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 8:08pmKrauthammer is of different ethnicity. The girl and the guy in that video are German. Krauthammer is definitely not German.
Report Post »bassist237
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 3:50pmA real cow-girl that one. :)
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 3:50pmPerseverance!!
Report Post »reckless
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 3:49pmBut can she train Democrats not to spend?
Report Post »brickmoon
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 3:59pmSure, right after the animal manages to jump over the moon.
Report Post »marine249
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 4:07pmif you ride them hard and carry a big stick
Report Post »Untameable-kate
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 3:44pmGet her butt off that animal, she’s making the steaks tough!
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 4:00pmMissing the jump must play havoc on her udders. I milked cows, hayed, cut silage for feed as a kid . Taught me many valuable lessons
Report Post »Anti_Spock
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 3:44pmWanted a horse but got a cow instead? I love her parents!!
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 3:45pmWhere there’s a will, there’s a way!
Report Post »stifroc
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 3:47pmEverybody needs a hobby I guess
Report Post »dr_funk
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 3:51pmWell, an investment in a cow can redeem itself in milk or beef, so…makes sense to me…
But this cow is now a family pet, there’s no way they can send it to the butcher now…
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 3:55pmGreat, now how are you going to keep him in the field? Have to make the fences higher, now.
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 4:15pmReminds me of watching the little ones ride sheep at a rodeo. Those are some tough kids.
Report Post »M-Theory
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 4:18pmDr_Funk, typically you don’t butcher the cows because of milk and breeding (but you do butcher the bulls or the steers.) Luna wouldn’t likely ever have gone to the butcher.
Report Post »Untameable-kate
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 4:46pmTexasCommonSense
Report Post »We never got to ride the sheep when I was a kid but sometimes our dad caught us riding the cattle and boy did we ever get our rumps whooped.
dealer@678
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 4:48pmBulls jump the fence all the time. Sure you all know someone thats happened to
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 5:04pmIf a COW can learn…is there hope for the potus???
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 5:04pmNext the moon!
Report Post »NeoFan
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 7:35pmThat girl really really wanted a horse! She should get one now.
Report Post »Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 8:38pmGot a cow instead, but made it act like a horse. At least she isn’t carrying a picket sign against her parents. She made it work. Bravo!
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 9:09pmI always knew the COW really did JUMP over the MOON…
Report Post »Snidely
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 10:01pmM-THEORY Actually, cows do get butchered. Heifers (cows that haven’t had a calf) are just as likely as steers (bulls without their…. manhood) to get get butchered. Cows that are not producing calves (too old, difficulty calving, etc) get butchered, but it’s not common. Bulls rarely get butchered. The meat is poor quality, it would like like end up in lower quality processed products like hot dogs. This was a Hereford, so it is beef breed, not a milk producing breed. Herefords only produce enough milk for their calf.
The story reminds me of when my brother tried to ride a calf. He ended up with a broken arm.
Report Post »Czar Casm
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:58pmDamn it! I did click on this story.
Report Post »MIBUGNU2
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 1:04amWasn’t gonna, but I got sucked in.. Really enjoyed the story..
Report Post »If you have lemons, you make lemonade.
Some of our kids should take a lesson from this.
Very Good Story, Thanks, Yahoo Right Winger
duckwalker
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 10:46am@dr_funk Hey a horse can redeem it’s self as well. We’ll always need dog food. Oh please, where do you think old horses go?
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