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Packgoats Low Impact and User Friendly Trail Companions by Carolyn Eddy * 12-23-00 Click linked photos, use your "Back" browser button to return to this page.       "Is that a GOAT?" I hear this all the time when I'm out on the trails, as people are amazed by my method of backpacking. The truth is out; goats make great trail companions and relieve their owners of a lot of work. They enjoy the out of doors and hiking just as much as their owners do. And for those who have handicaps that make it difficult for us to enjoy the backcountry without some help, goats are able to completely remove the burden of the backpack. They are more user-friendly than horses or llamas and are easier to train and transport. Unlike llamas and horses, goats will follow you along on the trail, and stay close at night without tethering. Goats are also loaded from above, so it's not necessary to lift loads high to pack them.       Training a goat to pack is a matter of putting the empty pack on a few times and allowing them to get used to it coupled with a conditioning program that makes the goat able to physically perform on the trail. Small kids are able to hike 2-3 miles with conditioning, by the time they are 3 months old. This distance is increased over the first 2 years. Most goats can easily do a 15-mile day with an average load by the time they are 3.       At first the load consists of just the empty pack, but after the goat is about 18 months, weight is added, starting at about 5 pounds and gradually over the next year increased to about 20 pounds. A goat is not full-grown till he is almost 4, so full load carrying needs to be postponed till then. A full-grown goat can carry up to 40-50 pounds, depending on his weight, although the further you plan to travel in a day the smaller the load should be. Wethers (neutered males) are used primarily as they do grow larger, although some people do pack with large does, and there is an interest in using milking does to come along and provide milk on long trips.       Goats bred for packing weigh over 200 pounds and are at least 36" tall. Packgoat breeders also select for slightly different qualities than dairy animals, a shorter back and very correct leg conformation, but slightly hocky in the rear legs. Saanens, Alpines, Oberhasli's, and crosses of these breeds all make good packers, assuming they have correct conformation. There is also a certain mental quality these goats need to have, called "Gung-ho Goat", that gives them the spark to be willing to go on the trail. Packgoats should also be docile and friendly. Many breeders bottle feed to ensure these qualities, imprinting the newborn kids and spending a great deal of time with the babies to ensure that they are human oriented and friendly.       Goats need a pasture and some extra feed, mostly grass hay, and vitamins and minerals and water. They will need to be wormed regularly and vaccinated yearly. They will need toys such as cable spools in their pasture, so that they can play. Two goats are better than one, and will keep each other company. Cattle panel fencing or field fencing backed with hot wire, or New Zealand fencing will keep them contained. Feet must be trimmed on a regular basis, and can be done by the owner. Owners must also learn about goat diseases and nutrition and be able to recognize them.       Goatpacking is growing in the U.S. There are now several local clubs and a national organization called NAPgA, the National Packgoat Association. Packgoats are allowed on National Forest lands anywhere horses and llamas are allowed, and many state lands and parks also allow use on equestrian trails.       The national packgoat rendezvous, known as Goatstock, has been held in Southern Washington for the last two years and attracts people and goats from as far away as South Carolina. People are discovering that goats are a low-impact, environmentally friendly way to enjoy the backcountry without being burdened with a heavy backpack, and that goats are great trail companions. Author Bio       Carolyn Eddy is the author of "Practical Goatpacking" and the soon-to-be-released, "Diet For Working Wethers". She raises and trains packgoats at her farm in Estacada, Oregon. Ms Eddy formerly was a horse packer, but about 7 years ago arthritis caused her to look for alternative methods of packing. Goats made excellent pack stock and were fun to own as well.       All Animals owns all rights to this article and the photos. You may link to the article (not the photos), but you may *not* copy it, nor reprint it anywhere else. You may print the URL which is www.all-animals.com/packgoat.html More Articles | Site Directory Advertising | Site Design | Site Hosting | About Us | Home | Email

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