Goats and horses

Batt · #1 04/18/12, 01:25 PM

Similar to the goats and pigs question...How about goats/LGD and horse? They know each other from "over the fence", but never been together. Horse has about cleaned up her pasture, but of course the goats have lots of grass.

kwagner21 · #2 04/18/12, 02:34 PM

Don't know with the LGD, but our goats and horses are out together all the time. The horses are young and every now and then decide to chase to goats, but they are all so used to each other now, its like a game. The youngest kids don't go out with them just because I am always worried about being stepped on, but otherwise they seem fine

saanengirl · #3 04/18/12, 02:58 PM

As long as the goats have a place to get away from the horse they will be fine as long as the horse doesn't like to chase goats. Colts often like to chase. Older horses are usually ok. I have fewer problems with my horses than I do with my steer.

Minelson · #4 04/18/12, 03:35 PM

It depends on the horse. I remember Calianne had a horrible situation with horses attacking her goats. She got rid of the horses. My 2 geldings get along fine with my 3 mini's. They goats wonder in to their pasture once in awhile. But they do have an escape if one decides to chase them.

wintrrwolf · #5 04/18/12, 06:26 PM

Mine get along fine, but I do not feed them together. Snickers has picked up one goat once and tossed it aside when it wouldn't back off her feed.

praieri winds · #6 04/18/12, 07:53 PM

we had a horse in with babies and don't know if it was anger or curiosity from the crying but anyway he stepped on the babies head killed one and blinded another so watch them closely to make sure your horse won't hurt them

CaliannG · #7 04/18/12, 11:30 PM

It does depend on the horse.

My thoroughbred filly, Truffles, grazes with the goats just fine. She's 2 1/2 now, so she is young, but doesn't cause problems with them.

HOWEVER, I *did* get rid of two horses whose favorite game was "Grab the goat, toss the goat, see if you can trample the goat before it has a chance to get up". My herdsire walks fine NOW, but that is due to my extensive care of his crushed hoof and ankle.

It depends upon the horse, and the horse's health. I have heard of older horses suffering from brain problems and/or dementia, kill a goat that had been their favorite companion for over a decade.

It really depends.

Donna1982 · #8 04/19/12, 12:11 AM

I agree it depends in the horse. We've had horse with our goats some where great some were not and were removed right away.

Wags · #9 04/19/12, 12:12 AM

We make sure the goats have a "horse free" zone they can escape too, and most of the time they don't venture out unless the pony is in a different part of the pasture.

Backfourty,MI. · #10 04/19/12, 07:23 AM

I agree it depends on the horse or horses. I know quite a few folks around here that keep a couple goats with their horses(these are horse people mostly) they told me that a goat takes the illness from the horse but that the goat doesn't get sick. I'm guessing it's an old wives tale but some of them I think believe it.

I sold 2 doelings to a couple 2 or 3 years ago now because they had 1 horse & it was lonely. The horse run the 2 little goats out of his pasture at first but she said it didn't take long for them to become best friends. She gave the goats a seperate shelter besides the big lean too & she told me the horse will stand out in a storm or rain to stay by his little goats. Said he even lets them eat out of his bucket with him which she couldn't believe either.

Batt · #11 04/19/12, 10:14 AM

OK, I turned the mare in with the goats just a bit ago. As normal, the first thing she had to do was run, roll and snort. Then a little period of stare down and "that the biggest goat I've ever seen". Then they just started ignoring each other. Yes, the goats have an escape pen, but so far, so good. And Stormy has soooo much grass. I introduced Batt to Stormy, and he pretty much ignored her after that.

Backfourty,MI. · #12 04/19/12, 10:37 AM

Sounds like it's going to work out just fine, at least while Stormy has so much to eat she doesn't notice the goats! Hehehe!

TennesseeMama23 · #13 04/19/12, 02:34 PM

We have a horse and a mule with my goats. When we have really young baby goats I separate the horses. After about all kids are over 3 weeks old we leave them together. The mule will lay her ears back at them if they get too close, but has never acted aggressively. The goats keep away from them. All my equine want to do is eat, they usually mind their own business.

nzw tom · #14 04/19/12, 05:00 PM

My goats and the horse are the best of friends. They follow each other around the pasture and play on the big mound of dirt (dirt from the pond). We call the dirt mound "Goatback mountian".