Over the years, many animals have broken world records by performing tricks.
Dogs, cats, rabbits, parrots, and even guinea pigs are all part of the Guinness World Records family.
However, for the first time ever, a cow has joined their ranks.
Ghost, a four-year-old Charolais cow owned by Megan Reimann from Nebraska, USA, has set a new record for the most tricks performed by a cow in one minute, achieving a total of 10.
Here are all the tricks that Ghost performed during her record attempt:
- Stay in place
- Come when called
- Self-roping
- Spin
- Bow
- Stand on a pedestal
- Fist bump/leg lift
- Bell touch
- Kiss
- Head nod
According to Megan, Ghost can perform a “large and ever-growing” number of tricks, including the ability to distinguish between different colours!
“I knew Ghost was special from the moment I first saw her,” Megan recalled. “I decided then that she was going to do something special.”
Megan teaches a trick-training course for horses, and she decided to apply her methods to her “favourite cow.”
The first trick Ghost learnt was how to spin. Megan continued training her brilliant bovine and steadily built up her bank of tricks.
However, it never crossed Megan’s mind that Ghost could earn a Guinness World Records title, until one day she came across an article on our website about Joy the pig.
“That was so fun to see, so I went looking to see what records there were for cattle,” Megan said.
“I was surprised to see that there weren’t any […] so we set out to see if we could do it.”
After applying to set a new record for the most tricks performed by a cow in one minute, Megan and Ghost began preparing.
The first thing Megan had to do was decide which tricks were “quick enough to fit into one minute.”
Once that was decided, it was time to practise.
“I would park my pickup in the pasture, and we would play. The other cows would gather around and ‘help’,” Megan joked.
At first, it took Ghost “well over” two minutes to perform the routine.
However, when Ghost returned to the ranch for winter, the training sessions became “much easier,” and Ghost steadily improved her trick-performing pace.
Megan would film the sessions and review the footage afterwards, “anxiously” timing each practise run.
“Soon we were down to one minute, with time to spare,” Megan said. “Ghost could do it.”
However, on the day of their official attempt, the weather conditions proved to be less than ideal. Nebraska had experienced one of its snowiest winters to date, and although the snow had mostly melted, Megan said that “there was no place to work that wasn’t brown and muddy.”
Regardless, they went ahead with the record attempt.
Megan said Ghost was “nervous” due to the presence of “all the strange people,” such as the timekeeper and independent witnesses.
Ghost didn’t let that faze her though, and she began her first official attempt. As with all record attempts, Megan and Ghost were allowed three tries.
“She did great, except for the spin, which is usually her favourite trick,” Megan said.
Megan decided to do a second attempt, and Ghost was able to perform a “perfect” spin.
“She had done everything I asked of her,” Megan proudly explained.
Afterwards, Megan rewarded Ghost by offering her treats, hay, and scratches in her “favourite spots.”
However, Ghost “politely said no” and walked away towards the pasture.
“A star is allowed her opinions, so we let her go,” Megan said.
Whilst Ghost may not be too bothered about becoming a Guinness World Records title holder, Megan is ecstatic, and rightfully so!
Congratulations, Megan and Ghost, you are Officially A-moo-zing!
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