Like a lot of 11-year-old girls, all Hannah Simpson wanted was a pony to love, train, and ride. Like a lot of parents, Hannah's folks said ponies were just too expensive to buy, feed, and care for.

But Hannah wanted to ride and would not be deterred. On a dare from her brother, she climbed onto the back of their cow Lilac and rode the heifer. Not only that, she trained Lilac just like you'd train a pony. (Hannah doesn't encourage others to duplicate her efforts - Lilac has thrown her rider many, many times.)


Lilac can jump up to 5 feet - when she feels like it. Hannah says the cow prefers leisure to jumping. Apparently Lilac is very fond of long walks and lazy swims.

For seven years, Hannah rode Lilac through the meadows of Invercargill, New Zealand, turning heads and evoking smiles. Now Hannah has a horse named Sammy and Lilac spends most of her time enjoying the leisurely activities she loves. So did Hannah forget her first faithful 'steed'? Never. She still takes Lilac for a ride at least once a week.

Your "That's A Real Cowgirl!" Gift Guru,
Linda