with taxidermy. Bones, organs, everything removed and the pelt or skin is stretched over a pre-fabricated, or custom-made form, for that animal type.

I've never come across any taxadermied piece that had bones in it. That's ridiculous.

"Can't you feel its bones?" wouldn't be enough for me to assume there were bones and not some kind of metal framework in there--maybe to make it strong enough for a child to sit on?

I'm not a collector, only a watcher of Antiques Roadshow, and I think the goat pictured is adorable. If I wanted it, and I had $400 to spend I'd buy it. As a normal lay person, I don't think $400 is such a bad deal.

If the picture you linked to is so different from what you saw, it is kind of hard to offer an opinion. The one in the link is 14" long, I think it says.

I really appreciate all of your comments/expertise!

The more I think about it, I think (hope) the shop owner was asking "can you feel its bones" tongue in cheek. Sometimes I find it hard to read people.

It would not be large enough for a child to sit on. It's the size of a baby goat and would be a pull toy.

I will try to get back there to take a pic. The shop might be seasonal--they were open for a Christmas Holiday Weekend event. Wish I had given the woman my contact info.!

In the end, those of you who wrote if I have $400, just buy it--I agree!