Irish Farmer Finds His Horse and Goat In the Most Hilarious Positions Every Morning

“What in the name of Cirque de Soleil is going on in the garden today?” asks the farmer in this video in a delightful Irish brogue, as he comes upon a paddock in which a goat is seen standing on top of a mini horse. “What were these at last night? It definitely involved drink.”

The scene is a tranquil one, in the early Irish sunlight. Despite the stack of animals, everyone seems perfectly calm. Nearby, another white goat stands patiently in the grass, as if awaiting a turn, and there are two donkey in the distance, though it is not known if they are spotters or the goat’s next perch.

What is going on here? Well, it turns out, it’s actually not that unusual to see goats climbing around on the backs of horses and other beasts of burden. In fact, there is a whole subreddit devoted to the curious sight. /r/GoatsOnTopOfHorses/ documents—well, exactly what it says, although they also show us donkeys, mules, sheep, and even the occasional cow or capybara.

Related: Goat Family's Contentment Over Reuniting at Sanctuary Has People So Moved

Why Do Goats Climb on Horses?

Although the sight of a goat standing on top of his mini horse seems to give the farmer pause in this video, it’s actually not that unusual of an occurrence, and the reason it happens is extremely simple. Goats like to climb things, and horses don’t mind carrying things on their backs. It’s a fundamental trait of each species, so if you put them in an enclosure together, it’s bound to happen, sooner or later.

Taking Care of Goats

Goats are curious, social animals, and they love to climb. Most people are familiar with the sights of mountain goats picking their way up impossibly tiny cracks in the faces of cliffs, or African goats perched in tiny trees in the middle of a desert landscape, but even your average farm goat should be given the opportunity to climb on something in their enclosures, whether it’s a barrel, the top of a shed, some rocks, planks — or the back of an obliging beast of burden.

Some goats climb on the back of horses for fun, and once they are up there, they actually lie down, which gives the animals an opportunity to share warmth. Other times, they get on top of a horse or donkey to get a “ride” over to a tree where they can more easily reach the leaves while standing up on the other animal’s back.

The Obliging Horse

Animals like horses and donkeys have been domesticated for thousands of years. Art and remains show that these animals were being used to pull carts and carry loads for over five thousand (horses) or seven thousand years (donkeys). By this point, having something on their back is such an everyday experience for a horse that they don’t mind it at all.

And goats and horses make excellent roommates on a farm. Many farmers keep goats with their horses. Goats are steady, social animals, who have a calming effect on horses they live with. And though it may not be feasible for a farmer to keep more than one horse, a goat is a cheaper option to give the horse “herding” companions without investing in several other horses. Additionally, goats and horses forage differently, with goats preferring to eat weeds and vining plants (like poison ivy) while leaving tender grass shoots for the horses.

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