Meet the real-life COWgirl who rides and JUMPS her pet like a horse

MEET Germany’s one and only cowgirl who has an udderly ridiculous pet that she rides - and jumps - like a horse.

13-year old Hanna Steinker likes to ride her cow like a horse AVALON

13-year old Hanna Steinker rides her pet cow Luna like a horse near her home in Friesland

When 13-year old Hanna Steinker is astride dairy cow Luna the world pauses to take a second glance.

“She’s riding a cow!” yell cyclists as they see Hanna putting Luna through her morning paces in a meadow near her home in Friesland.

Hanna has all the gear for an equestrian day out - the hard hat, the jodhpurs, the riding crop and a love of the open air.

But her farmer dad in the village of Ellenserdammersiel cannot stand horses - so she saddled up one of his dairy queens and has never looked back.

Hanna, who claims Luna is her best pal as well as her mount, said: “We have to keep her away from the bulls otherwise I would be nursing her young, not riding her."

Hannah chose to train her cow rather than her horse as her father doesn't like horses AVALON

Hanna said her pet cow Luna is her best friend and the pair often go swimming together

She can do most things a horse can by occasionally when I am riding her in a meadow she gets hungry, stops to eat the grass and nothing can shift her.

Hanna Steinker

The first time she tried to mount another cow she was having none of it and threw Hanna on the ground before bolting.

But Luna and Hanna were a champion made in cow heaven from the first time she rode her three years ago - and she even goes swimming with her in a local lake.

Hanna said: “She is more exciting than a horse."

Hannah chose to train her cow rather than her horse as her father doesn't like horses AVALON

Hanna chose to ride a cow instead of a horse as her father disapproved of a horse at their home

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“She can do most things a horse can by occasionally when I am riding her in a meadow she gets hungry, stops to eat the grass and nothing can shift her” added Hanna.

Her mum Petra Steinker said : “They are real friends and I have no worries for Hanna when she is with Luna.”

Professor Martina Hoedemaker of the Veterinary High School of Hanover said: “People riding cows- that is certainly a rarity in Germany.

Hanna first rode Luna three years ago and has continued to do so ever since AVALON

Hanna first rode Luna three years ago and has continued to do so ever since

“But if the cow does it voluntarily and is big enough to carry a rider, Hanna has no problem.”

Some of her school classmates have ridden on Luna but she is happiest when Hanna saddles up.

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