Parents wouldn't buy her a horse, teen rides a cow - seriously, with saddle (pic)

[Liberal_in_LA]

Horse dreams dashed, German teen turns to cow Luna

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.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/04/05/international/i021457D96.DTL#ixzz1IhWHl4Xh

[DURHAM D]

1. Damn - why didn't I think of that when my parents denied me a horse? nt

[BanzaiBonnie]

Seriously, when my parents couldn't buy us a horse...

we rode the cow. No bridle, no saddle, just got on her and rode as she strolled as she pleased.

[L. Coyote]

11. We had lots of horses to ride, but also rode a bull for fun.

I worked a team of horses before my legs were long enough to drive a tractor.

[WhiteTara]

13. we didn't know the difference between

the cows and the bulls and rode a little bull around without bridle and saddle. We were so lucky! We had no idea we could have been killed!

[Angry Dragon]

2. What's next .............. Pigs Fly??

[Historic NY]

3. Wait for it.

[progressoid]

19. "17 percent thought that pork wings are an actual cut of meat. "

A survey has revealed the ignorance of many people when it comes to butcher's shops, once a part of people's weekly or even daily shop.

Not only did some think pig wings existed, nearly two in ten thought tofu ribs were a cut of meat, and a leg of liver was something you could buy.

As many as 23 per cent thought a chicken chop or a lamb drumstick was a product they could pick up in a supermarket or a butcher's shop.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/8380848/British-consumers-think-pigs-have-wings.html

[brewens]

4. Probably the best conditioned cow around! Other than some

rodeo bulls, that cow probably feels great.

[haikugal]

5. Adorable!!

Awesome in every possible way. What a doll Luna must be and what a relationship they must have. Excellent example of great training...this is a wonderful story. Thanks for posting..I love it! I've ridden a heifer and believe me without a saddle they are very boney and uncomfortable...lol

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. I would never had thought a cow could get that big bulk off the ground.

:-)

[janet118]

8. I guess you've never seen cows the first time they get let out . . .

of the barn in spring. They http://www.stonewallfarm.org/content/may-events">actually dance.

[haikugal]

15. I was going to say the same thing....

they run and jump around like kids at recess!

[musette_sf]

9. one afternoon of watching PBR

should convince you otherwise

[Liberal_in_LA]

10. oh yeah! Was forgetting about bulls. lol n/t

[haikugal]

16. Very true, they can FLY!!

[PotatoChip]

7. Hey maybe I'll give it a whirl

Looks like fun. I'll get back to you all later as to how it went. :headbang:

[kestrel91316]

12. My sister and I and my cousins used to hop onto one of my grandfather's

range cows and go for a ride through the sagebrush on occasion. She didn't mind, just moseyed along. No halter or bridle or saddle at all.

Sadly, she got struck by lightning and killed one year. She was a good cow, produced many good calves.

[NV Whino]

14. So, instead of a pony

Obama's going to give us a cow?

[Stevenmarc]

18. He's given quite a few here a cow

[Zephie]

17. Aww, that's adorable. Good for her and Luna.