Mini Cows As Therapy: Grief, Illness & An Accidental Business — Shantell Goodenough, Posh Mini Farm

What happens when a mini Highland cow shows up in a nursing home and a lady sits down at the piano to play for her? That is the kind of moment Shantell Goodenough lives for. Based in Shelley, Idaho, Shantell started Posh Mini Farm less than a year ago after a grief-stricken whim turned into a full-blown business and a lifeline. Fighting lupus and several other autoimmune conditions while mourning the loss of her father, Shantell found in her mini Highlands something no medication could give her.

This episode is warm, honest, and full of real talk about the true cost of getting started - not just financially, but in time, training, and commitment. If you've ever thought about taking your Highland to events, weddings, or care facilities, this one's for you.

Key Takeaways

The purchase price is just the beginning - feed, maintenance and training add up fast. 

Halter training takes daily consistency and some animals may never be event-ready. 

If you're taking your Highland to events or facilities, get proper insurance and use waivers. 

Pink pool noodles on horn tips are a genius hack for working with kids. 

These animals are a genuine therapy tool for owners and the people they visit.

Episode Highlights

Shantell shares how her first Highland came to her after its mother was struck by lightning — and how that became a full business in under a year. 

She breaks down what it really takes to bring mini Highlands into assisted living facilities, including the potty bag reality check nobody talks about. 

The team gets into wedding Highlands, cocktail hour saddle packs, and the very real risk of a cow bucking drinks across a reception. 

Plus Lori's black eye story makes another appearance.

Timestamps

00:01 — Welcome & intro to Posh Mini Farm 

00:49 — How Shantell got her first Highland after lightning struck 

03:35 — Building a business through grief and autoimmune illness 

04:50 — How cuddle sessions and assisted living visits began 

07:45 — Taking mini Highlands into care facilities and what to expect 

10:47 — Animals on the farm: goats, insurance and waivers 

17:00 — Cuddle and feed experiences and event pricing reality 

20:41 — What new owners don't expect: true cost of ownership 

23:29 — Halter training, personality and why it takes daily work 

27:42 — Chondro positive and planning for size 

27:42 — Weddings, saddle packs and cocktail hour Highlands 

35:02 — Charging fairly for your time, travel and training

Follow Shantell at 

Instagram: @poshminifarm

TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@shangoodenough?_r=1&_t=ZP-96hYRGQuAkp 

Follow us on social media so you don't miss out on any advice, auction updates, or crazy farm stories!

Find us on Facebook: Horns N Hooves Instagram: @hornsnhoovesauctionpodcast TikTok: @Hornsnhoovespodcast Website: hornsnhoovesauction.com

Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:05

Hey everybody, welcome back to another episode of Horns and Hooves, and we have a special guest here today. We have Chantel with Posh Mini Farms. I said that right, didn't I?

SPEAKER_00 0:17

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 0:19

She's with Posh Mini F Mini Farms, and I'm so excited to have her on. Her and I come to find out, um, have a lot in common. I will probably I'll let her share more. But both of our fathers um passed away of cancer, and we both have autoimmune diseases, but I'm gonna let Chantelle share a little bit about herself and how she got started on her journey with mini cows.

SPEAKER_00 0:48

I am so excited to be here. Thank you guys for having me. Um, so my journey is kind of funny because I did I fell into this kind of just by being one of those people that liked I just wanted a Highland cow. It was, I just that's how it all started. Yes, like she said, I um actually lost my dad to cancer as well. Um, just a year ago, we actually just celebrated his year. And I fight a lot of autoimmunes, lupus being my biggest one. And then ever since I've got that, I've gained like three other ones that have just added on to that and just made it super, super hard for me to even do a whole lot of anything actually. But a year ago, almost to this date, actually, I was looking at wanting just like a bigger animal. Um, I've got dogs, and I had this fetish of a Highland cow, and I ended up calling a guy, and he was kind of only a few hours away from me. And I, I mean, it was out of a whim. Me and my husband are like, oh my gosh, we don't have a, you know, what are we gonna do with this cow? We called him, he, you know, gave us all the information and we're like, okay, we'll think about it. For so for a few days, we're like, okay, we're crazy. Why would we ever get a Highland cow? Like, why would we do that? And it was funny because like two days later, he called us and said, Hey, this Highland cow's mom got struck by lightning. I can't take care of her. Can you come and take her and bottle feed her, all these things? And so it was kind of meant to be when I got my first cow. I always say, like, it was, it was meant, it was, she was meant to be here. I actually still had my dad at the time, and he was super excited for me. I he grew up with we grew up with racehorses, and so he thought this was so cool that I was getting into this and kind of got to watch me have her. And then right after the same guy got a hold of me and said, I have this boy that I I don't want. My wife wanted him, and she's got super ill and we can't take care of him. And so it was funny because here I went from having nothing and just thinking I wanted one to having two within a matter of like five months. But now it's turned into a full-fledged business within not even a year. Like I said, I haven't even celebrated my year of having like this business. It kind of just all happened. Um, I lost my dad super suddenly. Um, my autoimmunes actually just got kind of worse in the last year. I know a lot of it is to do with my dad passing. Um, but then also just I feel like my body was even kind of just holding off because I was kind of helping take care of my dad. And so now my body's like, okay, I you're gonna flare up, you're gonna have a lot of medical medical problems. And it's just kind of crazy because I started having people just reach out to me and just say, Hey, we found out you have these little cows. Is there any way we can come and see them? Or you could bring them up and show them off to these kids? And I, of course, was like, oh my gosh, yes, because I would have loved if somebody was like, Hey, can I come see your mini highland cow? And it kind of started with this lady. She owns this little kids place and she says, Oh my gosh, the kids would love it. Will you bring them up? And I had been working with them. I had I wanted them to be cuddly and friendly, like you see, you know, on Instagram and you see on, you know, TikTok and all that. And so I had been working with them and I says, Yeah, I'll bring them up. And that's kind of how it flourished is I took them to one thing, um, and it just kind of has blown up since. Um, it's honestly been a piece for me though, a way for me to escape kind of the real world, kind of, you know, my illness. That's kind of where I go when I'm having like my bad days. That's kind of where I've gone when I need to just kind of talk to my dad. I need to kind of just go out and be kind of by myself. And they have just brought so much. I now have six of them. We are, I mean, have huge things that we're planning, doing. It's just kind of been a whirlwind. I'm still trying to catch my breath, kind of of how fast this is all gone, but it's been amazing. So here we are.

SPEAKER_01 4:47

They are the absolute best therapy and thing.

SPEAKER_00 4:50

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_01 4:51

That miniature donkeys, yeah. Don't forget them. Right? They were my saving grace. So my I always wanted a Highland, and you know, financial reasons. I never got one, also area reasons, too. When my dad passed away and he I lost him, he was um 70 when he passed of cancer, and it was it was very fast too. He had just retired, did not have time to spend his retirement money, and um, us three girls were blessed with my dad's retirement. What I chose to do with his retirement was to invest in the Highlands. As like Taylor knows, my husband said, you know, you could start with four, and we have rapidly grew to 214. Oh my god, not all Highlands, just uh different Highland mixes too, but I kept the four in it, right? Yes, but I struggle with RA and fibromyalgia. The flare-ups I totally get, and I feel like if I can just, you know, it's hard to get off the couch, right? Or hard to get out of bed some days. And so what I do is make myself go, you know, see the animals and feed them cake and go out there, and that's just my my time where it feels like everything like the pain goes away, the everything you're feeling goes away. It wakes you up. They're just my my saving grace, honestly, and my therapy. They were the best therapy for when my dad passed away. Also, I have a hill, my dad's buried 30 miles away, but I have a hill up in one of my pastures where my highlands are at, and that's where I go um to talk to my dad. And so it's been, you know, they've been a saving grace for me. But for you, you have branched out also, like you're going into assisted living places. Is that right?

SPEAKER_00 6:51

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:52

Tell us a little bit about that.

SPEAKER_00 6:53

Yeah, it's kind of been crazy. I had a friend that reached out and she runs an assisted living facility. She says, Would you be able to bring your highlands in there? And I'm like, Oh, I mean, we can try. I said, I mean, what if they have an accident? What if they, you know, because I wasn't aware of like the potty bags and stuff, you know. I wasn't expecting any of that. And she says, That's fine. We have carpet cleaners, we it's we don't care, you know, it's just for the residents because, you know, they say, you know, animal therapy. And they she said, This is just something that, you know, these older men would just die over is these cows. And I says, Yeah, let's try it. And we went to our first one, and I I will never forget, like, I have chills right now just because it was the coolest experience. I mean, I had a lady that she sat and told me her story of working on our she grew up on a farm. The guys that would come over and tell me their stories. And I had a guy that, you know, he he had been in Scotland and he had been with them. And I had a lady play the piano and my little Highland just sit there right there with her why she played the piano for the Highland. And so now it's turned into a full-fledged thing that we have gone to over. Oh my gosh, where are we at now? Over 10 facilities we've gone into now. And all where are you located? Where are you located? So kind of like right in Idle Falls area.

SPEAKER_01 8:18

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 8:18

So yeah, we've, I mean, there's so many assisted livings that I didn't even know we had that. Yeah, we are kind of going all over to the different cities we've gone as far as I mean, like the few little cities around us. But yeah, we're it's kind of been, it's it's been amazing. We go in, some of them we go in, some of them we stay outside, but it's the same thing every time that the people love them. They sit there and they tell me their stories, they'll tell us, you know, and I that's my favorite part is just seeing them light up. And a lot of them have never seen these cows, you know. So the questions that we get, and it's it's been so fun though. But yeah, that's kind of been our new little thing. We've kind of taken over this going into these assisted living houses. That's so cool. Me, like things like that.

SPEAKER_01 9:02

Sorry, things like that with my um autoimmune, it makes me get up. It would make me have to go because you've committed to going, so you have to, and once you get there, all those stories and stuff I feel helps take that yes, anything you're feeling away for that time. That's just that's awesome. And Taylor mentioned mini donkeys are another great therapy.

SPEAKER_00 9:30

Do you have any mini donkeys yet? We don't have mini donkeys. I've actually been asked about the mini donkeys. I I don't know. I have this soft spot for these mini highlands, and I think I'm just gonna keep it strictly the mini highlands, and I do have three mini goats. We actually got those before I did anything else because I have three kids and they we bought this house, built this house, and it is on five acres. The kids said, Well, what are we gonna do with all this land? We have to have something. And so we bought these mini goats and started out with just these little itty bitty mini dwarf goats, and they've they've found them way that you know, they're in there with my highlands, they love the highlands, so they're part of the pact. But no, I think we're gonna just kind of stick with the mini highlands and just kind of go with that.

SPEAKER_02 10:13

I will tell you, I have several mini donkeys. I raised them too with my highlands. Yes, I love sitting out with the highlands, but I like example of two days ago, I was just I was in a bad mood. Like I had enough, I was crabby, and I went out and I just sat on the ground in my donkey pin. And I had one of my Jennies come over. I'm like, they're little, and like so she like put her head right next to my head and just kept it there. Then her baby came over and was like trying to sit on my lap, and then she'd move over and like she just kept putting like her face so gently on my face. I when people come over, I tell them I was like, I know I'm gonna sound crazy, but like you walk out here and it's just like your stress just like is gone. It's just it melts away. And I get that. Like I love going out and sitting with the cows too. Like I love it, but there is something about those mini donkeys that there is a peace about them, is what I tell people. And they don't believe me till they till they go out and do it, and then they're like, Okay, yeah, you're not crazy.

SPEAKER_01 11:07

It sounds like a we we actually I started with the goats, and my husband was like, You saw the goats, then you can have the highlands. Now he's wishing they would have kept the goats, and right had and I'd have less highlands, but we are the goats and the baby.

SPEAKER_02 11:22

We did a baby goat. Um, she was a surprise. Um, wasn't expecting her and was born yesterday. Oh yeah, like the little dwarfs, and I got little pygmies, and so like we're talking like little tiny baby that was just born.

SPEAKER_00 11:34

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_02 11:34

I love it.

SPEAKER_00 11:35

So that's like how ours started out was just the teeny tini, and they're not very big now, and they have been super easy, which is the only reason I've been able to keep them, is because yeah, they've been super easy. They get along with it. I mean, they are I'm trying to think of how old they are now, they're five or six, and they've they were triplets, which was great. So there's two boys and a girl. So each one of my kids got one, they named it, and now they just hang out. They just and it's been fun because yeah, they just hang out with the cows, and yeah, they're hilarious.

SPEAKER_02 12:02

Ours get on the pigs. I have cooney coonie pigs, also, and those poor pigs, like they like are laying around and the goats just like jump on them and from one pig to another pig. And the goats are hilarious, they're fun to just sit and watch.

SPEAKER_01 12:15

Maybe Arnold needs a goat friend.

SPEAKER_02 12:17

Yeah, he does.

SPEAKER_01 12:18

I have a naughty pig named Arnold that I got from Taylor. Oh and he's only he's naughty because he gets into everything. You do not leave pop, beer, water, anything on the ground. He's going to drink it, and he does have a preference on he likes Pepsi and he likes bushlight. And he'll open the hoppers. He's figured out how to get the pins out of the hoppers anyway. He's naughty. So maybe I should get him some goats to entertain him.

SPEAKER_02 12:47

There you go.

SPEAKER_01 12:48

Something like that. So tell me you got started, and you mentioned pea bags. Do you use those potty bags?

SPEAKER_00 12:58

So we have tried them out. So of course they're not. They can't pee in them, it's just for the poop. Um, and we haven't had one actually go in it yet, which has been nice. Um, but our last, we just went to a home last week, and I'm like, oh my gosh, they really wanted us to come in. And I've been trying to tell them, like, hey, it's nice outside now here in Idaho. Let's have the residents, if they can, you know, kind of come outside. That way I don't, because I still feel really bad because there has been accidents, and I know they've told me all of the, you know, all of them were like, we have carpet cleaners or we're redoing our floors. We redo our floors every year, but you still feel bad because you know you guys all the messes that they can make, and when they go to the bathroom, it's not just like a normal bit, you know. It's so I had this one last week that they were just adamant. They just said, No, we really want you to come in. And so we finally on one of my boys we put it on, and he didn't go in it, but it was nice because it was there, and I felt like, oh, well, good, he can't go. I have not had the chance for them to go in it yet and see how that all works, but I do want to have it for yes, you for your peace of mind.

SPEAKER_01 14:09

Yes, I get that. I was wondering that too. I'm like, these people that you see on TikTok that have the animals inside, I'm like, what they're not showing is how big of a mess that they can make. So when these new people are getting into Highlands and they think they can come into their house and just hang out, um, they can. No, even when we have a baby calf that has to come in. Oh my goodness, the mess is insane.

SPEAKER_00 14:34

Yeah, well, I don't think people realize like that's even the thing is even when they pee, it's not like a dog and they squat and they make just a little mess. I mean, it is, and so that's why I always feel so bad as I'm like, oh my gosh, you guys, like it's a it's a mess.

SPEAKER_01 14:48

It's you know, it's it's not just a quick potty either. It's you feel like it goes on forever and ever and ever. Yes, especially if you're inside. So, did you guys have to get any special insurance or anything to do this, or you just so we do have to sign waivers?

SPEAKER_00 15:06

Yes, both. We do kind of all the things. Um, because I actually have people come right on my farm as well, and we do like what's called like a cuddle and feed that I actually let them write in with my cows and they get a cuddle them, kind of exactly what it's called. They get a cuddle them, they get to feed them, they get a brush them. So, yes, I have a couple different insurances for that reason. Um, and same with like for being able to take them to places and then as well as waivers. I mean, just like you guys know, they have horns, they have hooves. If they step on you, it hurts if they, you know. Yes, it does. Someday I'll learn not to wear flip-flops out in the summer. You know, bruises. I have scars on the back of my legs, you know, like you guys probably from the hooves, you know. And I mean, it's just so I mean, and I always warn everybody, I always say, Hey, like, uh especially my girl. Um, she's got she's my oldest one, she's two and a half, and she's got, you know, her gorgeous, her gorgeous um horns, you know, horns and everything. And I say, Hey, like she doesn't really realize she has them. And, you know, so we've actually started, it's been funny. We've actually I have little kids that come and I says, What am I gonna do to not make these so scary? And I actually went and bought pink pool noodles and I have put them on top of her horn like so they're like this big, and I stick them on the top of her horns so they're not as pointy and as scary, and the kids laugh about it because she's got these little little pink things running around on her horns. But I love that. Yeah, so have them sign waivers just because I mean, of course, they're I mean, they're big animals, and so yeah, they're animals just in general, like they're animals, yes, can't be like, no, don't do that.

SPEAKER_01 16:47

Yes, like for us, I've got one, Bessie, and she's now what four or five. She will give me, she will give hugs for treats, but her horns are massive, and right now it's fly season. Sorry, girl, we're not doing hugs today because all of a sudden you want to flip flies around or flies off of you, and I'm gonna end up with a uh horn in my somewhere. But yeah You don't want that. No, I don't want that. I've already I've had one in my leg, and it was a little guy that got me in.

SPEAKER_02 17:18

Do you remember the black eye you got?

SPEAKER_01 17:20

Oh that was horrible from me feeding, so I was feeding cake at cattle cubes, and so I bent down to get I dropped one on the ground, they ate it out of my hand. I dropped it on the ground, and another cow, and this was uh a registered British white, she actually came in and wanted that piece of cake, and we butted heads and oh my gosh, terrible black eye from that. And I'm like, you know, I wasn't even thinking. Figured I could grab it real quick. Oh no, she came flying in. Oh my heck, yeah, it hurts and it kills. It's uh it does. So is there anything? So we like to educate also on for new people coming in. We've kind of hit a couple things, things that you might have wished you would have known before you got started. Anything that you can think of?

SPEAKER_00 18:18

Probably number one, and I'm sure you guys can say is the cost. Um, yeah. I and I get asked that a lot actually when people come here, especially, you know, when they come and do the cuddle and feeds, everybody wants one. Um, and right now I have three babies on on my farm. And so that's the biggest question is are they really as much as everybody says they are? And do you really have to spend that much? And do you really, you know, and I think that's my biggest thing is I I didn't I realized the cost, but I didn't realize the cost. I don't know how you put that, how I put that.

SPEAKER_01 18:52

Especially the cost that goes into feeding and everything else.

SPEAKER_00 18:57

Feeding them, and then I mean just the maintenance of them. And that's kind of you know, the maintenance of them to I mean, just all of it, all of it all together, I guess, is just probably I guess that's probably one of the biggest things that I wish that maybe I would have known more information on is you don't just go buy a Highland and think, you know, oh that's that's my only upfront cost. I gotta save all this money and I'm gonna go buy a Highland. And because that's no, um no, I think that's that's just what that's just the start of it. Yeah, yes. And I think that's kind of I mean, even still now, I mean, we'll be like, oh my gosh, we have to this and this, you know, and it's just kind of I didn't I didn't grow up in that farm farm life, so I didn't get to see. I mean, my dad, like I said, my dad had very prestigious racehorses, but I was younger and I didn't see that kind of like you know what I mean when you're younger like that and you you don't realize that it caught the hay fairy, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:52

And the hay fairy doesn't just show up and bring hay that's that that's a cost.

SPEAKER_00 19:57

Yeah, I didn't, you know, I didn't I didn't look at all at all that and all the costs and all, you know, and I didn't care because I'm like they weren't my horses. I didn't, you know, I didn't get to hang out with them or do anything with them. And so I think now that's like my biggest thing is I just I'm like, man, somebody should have you needed to kind of dig in and look more at costs and more at, you know, it's not just easy just to go get a Highland cow and say, hey, I have a Highland cow and this is you know where I'm at with it. And so that's probably my biggest one.

SPEAKER_01 20:26

That is, I mean, that's huge, and I think a lot of people don't understand that. They see these little calves, they're like, Oh well, I can bring that home, and then you gotta start thinking about how you fencing, how you're gonna get them in. Now, yours, I'm sure you have them all halter trained. Can you walk out and just put a halter on them if you want to?

SPEAKER_00 20:48

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And so, but that's the thing though, is I think that's another thing is I have people come all the time and they think that that is something that they come with. They they come halter trained, that they come nice, and you that's a lot of work. I says, No, you know, I've spent hours and hours and days and every day out here. And I says, you know, in Idaho, our winters are brutal. I mean, our winters suck here. I says, I still have to be out here with these guys. I says, you don't just get to take your winters off, and you don't get to just, you know, I said, these are a full-time, full-time thing. And I think that's another thing too, is people just they don't realize when they come here that they don't come like mine are. I mean, we're out there every day. My kids are out there with me, my husband's out there with me. The halter training's not fun. It's, you know, I mean, we're still doing some right now. I have a girl that she's got jersey in her, and she is stubborn and she is almost a year old. And I tell you what, she has she she wouldn't take a bottle from us, and she has been my stubborn one, and it has been so hard to sit and watch her try to do the, you know, the all of it. I mean, even coming up to us and being around us and around other people. So, I mean, I think that's another thing is. People just don't realize that these are they're not dogs.

SPEAKER_01 22:03

They don't come, you know, they're not puppies, they're not yeah, and they're also kind of how I explain it, they're like children, as or not children, but us, adults, everybody. We every animal has a different personality. Oh, for sure. So you're one you're talking about right now. I've got some in the pasture. They might come around and hang out from a distance when I'm up there, but that's they choose to be introverts, basically. They choose to be out there on their own. They don't want to have full contact. They will shake their heads and point down like they want a treat, but you're gonna throw it at them. You're not gonna get up there. I just feel like it's like they could, I mean, they have their own personalities, just like we do.

SPEAKER_00 22:52

Oh, for sure. Yeah, she's definitely gonna be. We have said, she's definitely our one that we do not, we will not be taking to events. She is my one that I mean, she does okay if we get her out and take her, you know, to a different field or do something like that, but she's not the prestige that, you know, will walk and be all cute at an event or you know, something. She's right, she's more just the you know, in the pasture. She'll come and get a treat from you and whatever, but and that's fine. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 23:20

Well, I've got I've got those too, and I'm sure Taylor has some of those also that just they want to do their own thing. Juniper is one of um, we also have like the registered side we um show the registered highlands. And Juniper was a bottle baby, but I'll tell you what, you put her on a halter and she's a whole different child. She's a monster. She's a monster monster. Uh-huh. I mean, you ever see a kid like throw himself on the ground and do a and have a temper tantrum? That's what she does with the whole thing, that's so funny.

SPEAKER_02 23:55

I have one I'm trying to halter break that is that exact thing right now. You stick it on her and like the world is ending. But she'll walk right up to you and get her creep and no problem.

SPEAKER_01 24:08

That and also I'm sure you have seen ran into, I feel like size is another thing that people don't realize is they're not gonna stay small. They're gonna grow.

SPEAKER_02 24:20

Are yours chondro positive then? Since like what you're doing, did you get them small?

SPEAKER_00 24:24

Well, I have a couple of them that are, but then I have a couple of them that are not.

SPEAKER_02 24:28

Gotcha.

SPEAKER_01 24:28

And then are you doing weddings or anything yet? Yes. Have thought about it?

SPEAKER_00 24:32

Yes. So that is that has been a whole other ball game too. Um, just because of them wearing the saddle and trying to get them to be trained to wear that saddle to be able to walk around and do that. That has been a whole other ball game too. That it's everybody thinks, oh, that's so, you know, that's so easy. That's so no, no, no, no. That's been that's a rodeo. That's I I bet.

SPEAKER_01 24:58

So we had the registered show Highlands, and we went to a show in Oklahoma, and that we didn't think this is not gonna be any big deal to put a ballerina skirt around this highland. Oh, we had to switch the Highland that we planned on using for Olivia to dress up because it was um the kids dressed up in the as the Highland and or the same thing, whatever it was. But so she um she wanted to use Pink Pony, but we ended up Pink Pony did not want that on her, so we ended up having to use a different a different island to put a pink tutu on.

SPEAKER_00 25:37

Yes. Oh, we've yes, that's kind of where we're at right now when it comes to figuring out which which cow is gonna be the best to carry this and this, and yeah.

SPEAKER_01 25:46

That's kind of I know I know a lot of people use um donkeys, but I've not I haven't seen too many trihighlands. That's why I was curious how that was going. And do they just use them? Do they use them like as a flower girl? What are they using them for?

SPEAKER_00 26:01

So I've got a couple, like it's actually it's funny because everybody wants them for something different. I actually have like a couple that literally wants to walk them down the aisle with them. Like they both want a cow to walk down the aisle with them, which I'm like, okay, well, if that would have been me back in the day, yes. But and then I have like a couple that just wants them to be there for just pictures and kind of like the meet and greet before you know, but then I also have some that I've bought this like pack that actually sits on them that can hold like drinks and stuff in it. And so they want them to kind of just go around, they call it like cocktail hour that they can walk around and grab a drink or whatever from them. And that's the saddle that I'm talking about. That like the cows are like, hey, what is this thing on me? Like it's what you know, and so it's been kind of a rodeo. We're gonna, it's yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:46

I'm big shape. That's cool. So cool bucking the booze off yes, drinks, whatever's on them, bucking it off and going everywhere. Right. I know. And that's your worst nightmare too when you're doing this.

SPEAKER_00 27:01

Yes, that is like I'm like, oh my gosh, what if that happens? What if, you know, luckily I haven't signed a waiver, and I'm hoping all of my brides are very, very aware that you know they are animals. They are we're, you know, I'm only letting, you know, me and my husband ever go to like a wedding. I don't ever, you know, want anybody else to try to take them. Um, and so that's kind of my thing, too, is it we'll always be the ones that handle them and stuff. But I that's yeah, I hope people realize they're animals. And I kind of put that right in the agreement that I send them that you guys have to read. Sounds like you educate.

SPEAKER_01 27:31

Yeah, it sounds like you educate very well. Yes, which is great, which is awesome. That way they they understand the liabilities. But I also think that it's absolutely wonderful that you're doing all of this and that you're going into these nursing homes, that it also is kind of your therapy. I think that's yeah, it is amazing.

SPEAKER_00 27:51

It's just like you said, like that was probably the best wording that you could say is honestly, that's what on days that are your hard days, and that you're just like, I cannot do this today. I can't, you know, I can't mom, I can't, whatever. You know, like, hey, I have somebody coming over, or hey, we have to go to this place, or we have to do, you know, or hey, my babies need a bottle. Um, that is honestly like has has been what has been able to get you up that get me up that day and to have my therapy that day. And it's been amazing. And I've a lot of people have come here and it's been the same thing for them. I've had people come in wheelchairs. I've had, you know, I've had people come that have really bad anxiety and depression. And they say, I mean, kind of what Taylor was saying with her donkeys, like you just walk out there and you just feel this sense of like it's just almost like peace and you just feel, you know, calmness. And they'll kind of just even sit out there with them and just sit there and rub them. And I think that's like the biggest thing for me is knowing that I can go do that, but then also sharing that with other people that they can come and do that. And so, yeah, it's kind of honestly on days, it's what gets you up out of bed on those hard days.

SPEAKER_01 29:02

I agree. I so agree. It's and it's hard. People don't understand what you're going through inside. Uh, they don't. I mean, you can tell them, but nobody understands those flare-ups and that pain and that just only you. You you're the one that knows you can't really tell anybody else how you're feeling. And makes me feel good to hear you saying, you know, you know, you're helping other people feel good too. And I'm sure those older people, you know, they live their days and they love it. I mean, they get a visit with each other all the time, but seeing something different like this makes their day. It does. Can you think of anything else that we haven't covered? Hmm. My mind just went blank. They'll edit this part, but my mind just totally went off to la la hand on. I'm trying to think if there was anything else you want to cover. Um Taylor, can you think of anything else?

SPEAKER_02 30:00

No, I think we covered a lot.

SPEAKER_01 30:03

We did get a lot of.

SPEAKER_02 30:03

Your story is really good, and that's really cool. It's like a whole nother avenue that people are doing with the mini um Highlands, and it's awesome. I have a my calf that's leaving today here in like 10 minutes. They're doing agro-tourism, like that is what they got her for, too. And she's like, her first uh event is July 3rd, and I'm like, oh my gosh. I said, You're gonna have to spend a lot of time with her. I was like, She just got weaned recently. I was like, I have started her, but it's a lot of work. People don't realize like how much time you have to put into it to get them that general, like you're talking about. Not only that, but also like when I bring someone new into my cow pen, like even if they're on the side by side with me, like my cows know. Like they are like the ones that would normally come up and like see what's going on, they'll stand back and be like, No way. Or if someone's walking through, you'll see heads just like, uh, who's this? So it's also a socialization that you're having to do that that's a lot of time, so much work.

SPEAKER_00 30:59

And I think that's another thing people don't people don't realize. Like when you talk when we talk about like money and stuff, is when you do charge, like for like, for instance, for the weddings and stuff like that, or I don't think people realize for one, how much the cows cost themselves, but then like the training and everything that goes into it. I think that's like another just big thing is putting it out there and then having people kind of come back at shit and be like, Well, that's I wasn't expecting that cost, or I wasn't expecting, you know. And I always have my husband tell me because I always feel bad and I feel like my prices are just like so fair. I actually try not to even, you know, but like my husband will come back and I have these brides that a lot of times we're traveling five, six hours with my cows, you know, and having to board them or, you know, whatever it may be with the cows, stop and you know, have I'll have my husband say, You don't realize like you've got to charge for your gas, you have to charge for your time, you have to, you know, and I think that's like another just hard thing for me because I'm like, oh my gosh, but I want him to be able to be there. And so that's been a hard part of this business for me is being like, Oh, but I know how bad they want him there, and oh, let me cut them a deal, or but yet on our back end, we know exactly how much money everything is, and you know, you're pulling that horse trailer, you're you know, you're you're feeding them on the way that I mean, just kind of all the logistics of it that is hard to people to kind of gander, I guess, when it comes to these animals that is hard.

SPEAKER_01 32:26

And it's not just easy to throw them on a trailer for that long.

SPEAKER_02 32:29

I know they get so dirty on a trailer, like that's like the dirtiest they get, even like in your clean trailer, because they as soon as they get in, they're gonna poop. Well, and I guess it's gonna happen.

SPEAKER_00 32:39

And I think is you know, we have to show we we show up early so that we can take care of them, clean them all off, do you know, do all the things. I don't, you know, and I don't of course we don't charge or anything for that. That's just what we do, you know. And I just I don't think people fully understand that, like when you're talking to them about stuff, and that's like hard for me because I'm always like, I feel bad, but yet there's a lot that goes into all of it. A lot. I mean, just like you said. I mean, just even getting them to come up to people and like people and kind of even do this, you know, kind of what I call the cuddle and feed. And then, you know, like I do like a fun thing, like where people like I'll have photographers that want to come and take pictures, and it's the same thing because I think they expect me to say, Hey, it's free, come on in with my cows, and you can, you know, do it for free. And they'll kind of have like this, I'll kind of get some come back at me kind of almost mad that they're like, You actually you're gonna charge us to do that. I'm like, Yeah, sorry, like, you know, so that's kind of a hard part about the business part that I have, and I'm sure it is.

SPEAKER_01 33:38

Um, you get that with a lot of people, they just don't understand what all goes behind it. And if you don't keep up on the halter breaking with your animals, they get not they get used to not having it, and you kind of have to start over. So it's every day that you have to work with them or close to to keep them that tame.

SPEAKER_00 34:00

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 34:01

Our first our show animals will be working. I mean, we don't work with them all the time, but I can't. There might be two out there that I could get put a halter on right now without putting them in a corner or running them in someplace smaller to be able to put them on. I couldn't do it right now.

SPEAKER_02 34:18

Yeah. People aren't raised on a farm too. They like don't realize like all the pictures they see and where they fall in love with them, they're clean, right? They've been bathed, they're blown out, like they look really good. And so if they were to just show up and be like, hey, let me take pictures, for example, like you're saying, right? Well, do you want them to look like a real cow? Or would you like me to have them bathed and blown out and look really good for your photos? Because I mean, that's what you can say there. Well, I'm charging you for me to bathe them and me to make them look really great for your photos. Yeah, that is a lot of time.

SPEAKER_00 34:49

I yeah, that's just the biggest thing is there's so much more details that people don't that don't get into the logistics of it and see, well, these cows, I mean, they're not these little, I don't, I don't even know. I don't I sometimes I don't know what people expect. Like it's funny when they come to my farm and like they'll ask, like, because I mean that's kind of my next step is I would love to breed. There's um around here there is no, you know, no breeder. So that is something that we're you know looking into, but of course it takes time. You have to raise your, I mean, they have to be old enough, they have to, you know, and so that's something we get all the time is well, I I I want one, you know. What's what's the you know, and I'm you know, I but I live, you know, and I just think that's I mean, people don't do their research on it, they don't see how hard, you know, it is, and just kind of like we talked about before, it's I mean, it's a lifestyle, it's it's you know, I I didn't ex I mean that's something I wish I would have looked more into, and I'm so grateful now because like I said, this is what gets me up in the morning. But if you're somebody that's already busy and you've got you know other things and stuff, this is gonna be a very hard thing for you kind of jump into and do.

SPEAKER_01 35:55

I feel like you're married, but it's hard to go anywhere when you have ammo animals like that. You can't really board a cow or six or 214 of them, yeah. So true. That's I think that there's so many things like that that people aren't, you know, they don't think about before they purchase, but we are here and we try to educate and we love meeting new people and we love having new people on our show. And I'm glad um Joe actually found you for us. He helps me or helps us with the podcast, actually is now reaching out to people and asking them if they want to come on. And he found you and I said, Yes, bring her on. I can't wait to hear her story. So I'm so happy you got on today.

SPEAKER_00 36:47

Yes, I loved it. This has been so fun. I was so excited when he asked me. I'm like, I've never been on a podcast. This will be so fun. This is exciting. I didn't even, I mean, and to be able to like know about this and have people be able to hop on here and listen to all these, like this is great. I mean, you know, for people like me that I wish I would have known about something like this, that I could have gone on and listened to you eyes and you know, got more information on.

SPEAKER_01 37:10

Thank you. Thank you so much. We we try our best to bring on and educate people. Basically, things that we wished we would have known when we got started. Yeah, and we've been sure we've been four or five years in. I can't remember what I'm in now, but um, we love to meet new people and have new people on, and we are excited you jumped on. And I think we're about out of time for today, so we're gonna close out. Thank you so much again for jumping on, and thank all of you guys for tuning in to another episode of Horns and Hoofs.

SPEAKER_02 37:47

Yeah, thanks for joining us.

SPEAKER_00 37:48

Yeah, thank you guys.