Horses & Goats?

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Charlie77

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Any one keep goats and horses? im thinking of getting a coulpe of Pygmy goats any one ever had any problems? i have a lovely strech of land that they could be kept in but would be great if they could also run with the horses? i used to work at a yard that had a goat but she would jump out, but i dont recall any problems though to be fair this was almost 20 years ago!

Also any one know of young Pigmy goats for sale in the south east? id idealy like young so they can grow up with my dogs etc.
 
I have a couple of goats and they totter around with my horses (but in Morocco). I was told by a lady in "Farmway" Yorkshire that I should have got sheep because they can't transfer worms between them. I only get to see them for the summer months so 59 days to go!!!:D
 
Yes I have two horses who share their fields and shelter with three pygmy goats and two angora goats. The goats have their own space where they could get away from the horses but they prefer to share. Sometimes I find goats and one of the horses lying down in the shelter together.
 
I've just moved to a yard where there is a goat, all the horses seem fine with him and my youngster got used to him straight away, he has the run of the place, grazes with the horses where he chooses, stands by their stables, no problems at all it seems.
 
No...but used to keep horses and llamas :) was really good til one day horse was having a play and accidently kicked a llama in the face and smashed his jaw :(
 
Millreef - i used to have sheep the ones my mum hand reared each year only each year i had at least 2 more! and the worm thing is true, also one of the bigger boys used to head but strangers, great gard dog lol. just fancy goats, though the sheep made the field look like a bowling green they did a lovely job.
 
My old girl used to be turned out with a pet sheep and goat and they all cuddled up together in the field shelter apparently. Bear a couple of things in mind though before you get a goat or two - they make Houdini look like an amateur and are quite capable of doing the indian rope trick, and remember they are browsers, not grazers so they like brambles and bushes rather than grass. Oh yes, they can get a taste for horses tails too and have been known to chew huge lengths off.
 
This was my beautiful Fredster

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Used to graze with horses, alpaca, calves, sheep plus all the free range fowl :D
 
I keep goats. Lots of them:) I have kept goats with horses for years and years.

These often wander in to Zeus, he just follows them around

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Unless they escape into paddocks with horses I do tend to keep them separated.

Goat himself has horns and likes to butt, as he is pretty tall, I worry that he could do a horse some damage, so sadly, to his disgust, he is kept separate, shame, because he loves the horses, and they tolerate him.

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Pygmys (any goats actually)...how is your fencing?:D They'll go through/over/under most things if they have a mind to. Once they discover a weak point they don't forget it. They may go for months without wandering, then one day the moment you let them out the little blighters are through their preferred gap in the blink of an eye! Electric works well, at pygmy height, although they never seem to believe that it has the temerity to hurt, all mine touch it, scream and then go back and do it again - just to check that they weren't mistaken about it biting! :rolleyes:

As someone mentioned, give them access to a shelter (where horses can't follow) and escape places, just field corners, so that they can get out of the way if they need to, if a horse takes it into its' head to do damage to a goat it can easily kill them:(
 
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Goats are good for trimming tails, chewing everything in site including your hair, so watch out when you bend down. They are demanding and noisy, messy and smelly, incredible houdini's so secure fencing is a must, very inquisitive ie into everything and don't think that they will eat the weeds you don't want, more like trim the hedges and strip bare anything edible if allowed.

We have two where I keep my horses and on a more positive note they are very friendly and affectionate and love to play, if its worth the extra work then go for it, but for safety I would separate them from the horses, their heads are a good kicking height
 
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