Tennessee Fainting Goats are known by several other names. Myotonic goats, Wooden Leg goats, Nervous Goats, Stiff Leg goats, and Fallin Down goats. Fainting Goats have a genetic characteristic know as Myotonia Congenita, which means their muscles stiffen up when startled or excited, but cannot loosen up right away, which means the goats sometimes faint. They do not lose consciousness during a faint, and it does not hurt them. A typical faint lasts somewhere between 15 and 20 seconds, although they can last longer if the animal is particularly excited. As adults they often learn to compensate and faint less often, but are seen to stiffen up and brace themselves, or even to run with their hind legs stiff. The fainter is a medium sized goat, and muscular in build. The traditional colors are thought to be black and white, but they now come in a variety of colors and hair lengths. They are excellent mothers, easy kidders with ample milk production. They are hardy and are thought to be somewhat more parasite resistant than other breeds of goats. Their myotonia makes it harder for them to climb, and therefore makes them easier to fence and raise than other breeds of goats.