A poor man's cow
Scenario for photograph no. 17
by Louise Ritchie
The domestic goat is often dismissed as the poor man's cow for its ability to thrive on meagre fodder and cope with harsh environments.
In this performance a man/woman will spend three days with a herd of wild goats. These can be found in the uplands and coastal regions of Scotland. Alternatively, this study could be carried out with a domestic goat in Folly Farm Pembrokeshire or in a farmer's field (make friends with the farmer first). For three days the man/woman will roam, eat, sleep and observe the herd or individual goat. Before embarking on this period of isolation with the goat, the man/woman should familiarise themselves with Joseph Beuys’ action I like America and America likes me. Your belongings should be kept in a small cart and transported using your arms and back to pull the cart (goats are often trained to pull heavy goods in this manner). Goats can consume 4.5 units of dry matter per 100 units of body weight per day. You should calculate this for your own body mass and take the correct weight of food to match the daily consumption of the goat. Following this three-day period, you will present your journey to a small audience. This can be in the form of photographs, video, and description.
To embark on this study you will need
1.)A map
2.)A notebook and pen
3.)Video and stills camera
4.)Waterproof jacket
5.)Sleeping Bag
6.)Water
7.)Dictaphone
8.)A small cart
9.)Food = calculate in weight
10.)One goat mask
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