Polo the goat had a day out in Edinburgh this week to celebrate – and promote – the return of the Royal Highland Show later this month, the first time the full event has gone ahead since 2019.
The six-year-old English goat – entered in this year's show in the 'Any Other Milker' class – visited Edinburgh Castle, the Scottish Parliament building and the Palace of Holyroodhouse with her handler Irene McCreath, who runs a mixed livestock unit in Galloway.
"I've been attending RHS since 1997 and shown goats since 1998," said Irene. " I have also shown Bluefaced Leicester sheep alongside my sister many years ago. My husband used to show Galloway cattle too back in the 1990s. 2002 RHS was our honeymoon and we were back in 2003 with a 10-day-old baby. Not missed a show yet."
The McCreaths run 35 Galloway and Beef Shorthorn suckler cows, 100 Cheviot×Lleyn ewes, assorted poultry and around 50 goats, English and British Toggenburg. The goats' milk is used primarily for rearing orphan lambs and calves – and as a diversification enterprise, they supply animals/livestock plus handlers for a variety of TV and film work.
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