does anybody have any information on goats and carts? i heard somewhere that you can ride these carts or put stuff on them to help you get around. how do you start a goat into getting used to it? where do we get the cart or harnesses? can i have multiple goats pulling me along in my cart?

-- jo veno (joveno@hotmail.com), February 04, 2000

Answers

jo, right off hand I've never seen goat carts and harnesses offered for sale. Possibly those more connected to the goat world will be aware of a source. I've never heard of goats being used for pack animals but wouldn't think there would be a problem as long as you excersied the same care with things like not overloading, proper fit of pack frame, proper conditioning of the goat, etc.

All the carts and harnesses for goats that I've ever come across were made either by the owners, or by a small harness or cart maker. To begin training your goat to pull a cart, it might be easiest to get a book on horse training from the library and follow the general guidelines in there. You've basically got 3 problems. 1. getting the goat used to wearing a harness. 2. getting the goat used to having something horrid and certainly goat-eating following closely behind it (the cart). 3. getting the goat to respond to the reins and spoken commands. You can reduce number 3 by always having someone walking next to the goat holding a leash.

Unless someone can give you better instructions or sources, search around in books with Victorian era photographs in them. Goat and dog carts were popular for the children of wealthy Victorians. I know that from even before that, dog carts were in use so assume goat carts would have been also. But Victorian era photographs are easier to find than drawings from earlier periods.

I know goats can be driven as singles and as pairs. Have never seen more than that, but it would be a matter of how much money you wanted to spend on harnesses and how much time you wanted to spend on training them. I'd start with just one or 2 goats. I'm not at all sure what kind of bridle/bit set up goats would use.

I've also seen pictures of sow teams if any of you pig raisers are feeling left out.

This is something I've been threatening my overgrown bottle "lambs" with for years. While goats could pull off either collars or breast straps, sheep are weaker-necked. I think I've got the details worked out, suppose I should start sewing harnesses for them one of these days. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), February 04, 2000.

The women we bought our pygora from uses arabian halters turning them upside down[part that gos under head is across goats back]and buckling strap under belly. She has hers pull a red flyer kids wagon one on each side.

-- kathy h (saddlebronc@msn.com), February 04, 2000.

Jo, See if Countryside Vol.80 no.6 is still available. It has a good article on backpacking with goats. It listed a book, The Pack Goat by John Mionczynski ISBN 0-87108-828-2 $15.95. Might be a good place to start. I have thought of building a cart for my goats also, I've even thought of using a pair with a small 10" coulter plow I have! Just a thought as of yet. Post any good info if you find some. Thank you.

-- Jason (ajakal3@yahoo.com), February 04, 2000.

Check out Hoegger's in Georgia, I think, and Caprine Supply in Kansas. Hoegger's advertises in COUNTRYSIDE. The last time I saw these catalogs, they had harness, carts, pack equipment and books on how to train, etc. I started a gaudy spotted wether but I needed his space for does and he came to dinner. I just introduced him to strange experiences, things draped over his body and following him around. He was a trooper with it. I didn't sell him because the only person interested didn't half care for his own stock. I'd rather Edgar had gone quickly and humanely rather than starve outside in winter.

I saw a team of goats pulling a man and 2 small children in a cart on level pavement in a parade. I mention the pavement because the load would have been too much on natural turf or an incline. The neatest team I ever saw was a six sheep hitch at the Sheep Festival in Bethel Missouri. I wrote for what is now SMALL FARM TODAY and my photograph accompanying my article was so good that the team's owner asked for a copy. Good luck with them and keep us posted here on the Forum! Better yet, take pictures and put them in COUNTRYSIDE

-- Marilyn Dickerson (rainbow@ktis.net), February 05, 2000.

Hoeggers supply # is 1-800-221-4628. They sell harnesses for goats, books on training the goats to pull,covered wagons for children to ride in pulled by the goats,set ups for a team of goats,goat powered garden cultivator, and some very nice looking carts.Also pack saddles and the like for hiking. There is a site, I think it is dairygoats.com discussion board, that had an old photo of a goat cart with kids riding in it. That site also has all kinds of helpful advice and you can ask questions about goats just like we do here.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@transport.com), February 05, 2000.

Jo, I found some good links:

http://www.caprinesupply.com/shop/working_goats.html

http://www.caprinesupply.com/shop/working_goats2.html

-- Jason (ajakal3@yahoo.com), February 05, 2000.

HarnessGoats@onelist.com is the list for harness goat owners and fanciers. you can find many good suppliers, answers to questions and training tips. We raise Saanens and wether our bucks we dont use for breeding for harness goats. They can be trained to pull carts, wagons, plows and cultivators. We train and sell them.

-- Susie Stretton (nightsong@beci.net), February 06, 2000.

thanks much for all your information. this really helps. ain't the internet great?!!!

-- jo veno (joveno@hotmail.com), February 07, 2000.

Yep, Hoeggers has supplies for draft goats. We have a HUGE wether (about 260+ pounds) that we use to pull a cart. We use him in parades, fund-raising events, and occasionally around the homestead. Make a sign for your cart and it is great publicity for your farm in parades--just make sure the route is not too long 'cuz walking on pavement for long periods is tough on their feet.

-- Don Hepler (dhepler@gci.net), February 07, 2000.