Maine Goat Tying Takes Skill and a More Cooperative Goat

It takes skill and timing to tie up a goat in competition successfully, but as you can see from this video, it also takes a cooperative animal.

Apple Hill Stables in Levant Gears Up for the Rodeo With Barrel Racing and Goat Tying

Saturday morning, I watched Barrel Racing at Apple Hill Stables in Levant, a competition they hold every year just before their annual rodeo.

The competitors were fast, the animals were beautiful, and it was a perfect day.

READ MORE: 9 Maine Spots Where You Get the Most For Your Money

Unless you were the goat they enlisted for the first-ever goat-tying competition held at Apple Hill.

Professionals Make Goat-Tying Look So Easy, But Mainers Found Out It Isn't

In goat tying, a rider races up to the goat, gets off their horse, flips the goat onto the ground, and ties three legs together. Simple, right?

As with all things, the experts make it look easy.

This is the kind of precision you'll see in a wide variety of events during the 8th Annual Charity Rodeo, coming to Apple Hill Stables September 11, 12, and 13, 2026.

Goat Tying at Apple Hill Stable in Levant, Maine Was a Learning Experience

Saturday did not go as smoothly.

But there are a couple of things to remember before you watch the video.

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The goat was larger than the ones you typically see in a goat-tying competition, and so he was considerably harder to flip onto the ground.

I don't believe any of the competitors had ever attempted this before.

Still...they did the best they could. (and way better than I could have done)

Admittedly, I didn't see all the participants compete before I had to leave, but the ones I saw couldn't keep that goat's legs tied together, for 0 points.

No one could pin him down.

Maybe they should rename him Tom Brady.