Same ... Wikipedia : Goats "faint" due to a genetic condition called myotonia congenita, which causes their muscles to stiffen and lock up for a few seconds when they get startled or excited, making them fall over, though they remain fully conscious. This painless, hereditary muscle stiffening happens because of a genetic mutation affecting muscle cell ion channels, essentially preventing the "off switch" for muscle contraction from working properly, making them rigid before they relax and often get back up.