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Keeping horses with goats

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We are thinking about buying a farm in the near future and starting a small meat goat hobby farm. The

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Old 09-21-2009, 09:28 AM   #1
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We are thinking about buying a farm in the near future and starting a small meat goat hobby farm. The farm we had in mind is 10 acres, about 20% wooded. Has anyone had much luck keeping horses with goats? We have 2 horses, possibly 3 in the near future.
Could they share some of the same main pasture space, but have seperate areas to grain them? Any tips on keeping them together? Or would anyone strongly advice against it? and why
Thanks in advance for any advice!
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Old 09-21-2009, 12:16 PM   #2
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I had 3 goats in with my 2 drafts they were together 24/7 with no problems except at feeding time. The goats wasn't scared of anything, they would get under/behind/between the horses legs where ever they thought they could get in the feed buckets. The horses were very good about trying to look out where they stepped but my big guy stepped on one of them(just caught the toe she was fine) The goats would get on top of the hay roll then jump on the horses backs and jump off, the goats thought the horses were there to be a jungle gym. Lucy(one of the goats) was the first to ever ride Junior my 5 year old draft.
I did give the goat away because I didn't have a way to feed everybody seperate.
The goats will keep the woods clean of the weeds, they will eat the weeds before the grass.
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Old 09-21-2009, 08:20 PM   #3
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As long as they have a separate place to eat and no goats with horns around horses they should be fine.
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Old 09-22-2009, 12:19 PM   #4
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Goats are often used as companions for solitary horses, or horses that are nervous. They get along quite well. We have often run horses and goats in the same pasture (goats are cleaning it up). We feed our goats in our goat pen and the horses in the pasture. When they all hear us getting the feed ready (or see us heading for the feed room) the goats head for the gate to their pen and the horses head for their feeding area. Most of our goats are horned, but we haven't had any issues.
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Old 09-22-2009, 09:42 PM   #5
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I dont have any experience with goats, but a few weeks ago I did look into them as companions. I read they can be quite mischevious, and try to escape alot. I also read about a couple of horses wh have actually killed the goat. Most will get along with them I think, depends on the horses personality really.
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Old 09-23-2009, 08:55 AM   #6
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We have (well, the daughter has) a Kiko billy who doesn't realize he's a goat. He refuses to stay in the pen with his two girlfriends. He climbs the fence and stays on our front porch or in the yard. I hope he doesn't go out in the road. When we walk down in the pasture, he follows right along, stopping to nibble here and there. If we get out of sight, he starts bleating and carrying on like he was a child! He's quite a character. The does follow us because he's following us - but they're not nearly as friendly. They weren't socialized to people the way he was. I'm not even sure we'll get any babies out of him because he is so disinterested in the does!

Actually, the does follow us down to the pasture, then hang around more with the horses than with us. At least until feeding time!
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Old 09-23-2009, 04:09 PM   #7
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I've always kept horses, goats, and sheep in the same pastures together. At night they are separated into their own stalls, but out in the field, everyone has coexisted very well together.
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Old 11-02-2009, 05:02 PM   #8
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goats are very good for keeping land clean i,ve kept them with horses no problem
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Old 11-02-2009, 08:48 PM   #9
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My family has kept horses with goats, llamas, and alpacas... they all get along fine. :)
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Old 11-02-2009, 09:19 PM   #10
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I tried the goats in with one of my mares and she kicked one of them and almost broke his leg.Didn't work for me but I'm sure it has for others.
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