The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: pharnorth on May 03, 2016, 07:46:18 pm

Title: Training goats for showing
Post by: pharnorth on May 03, 2016, 07:46:18 pm
My two wether goats that will not be shown now walk very nicely in a halter. The three does and their 4 kids that I intend to show do not. I guess I must have got it right the first time but it was several years ago and took quite a while.  Any tips for training them?  They had halters on today for the first time but it was all rather more chaotic than I would hope. I have about 4 weeks the get it right with a 3 week gap in the middle.
Title: Re: Training goats for showing
Post by: Buttermilk on May 03, 2016, 07:52:44 pm
I used to show my females with a collar and only used a halter on the adult males.  I found one of the hardest bits of training was getting them to stand still and let someone walk behind them. A second person needed to practice that bit.
Title: Re: Training goats for showing
Post by: pharnorth on May 04, 2016, 04:50:52 pm
Thanks Buttermilk, I am trying to get them started on my own but already concluded it was easier with two, you have confirmed that.
Title: Re: Training goats for showing
Post by: Melmarsh on May 04, 2016, 07:25:12 pm
I used to walk them round with a collar or collar and lead , because I found even making them go forward could be difficult , you could also use a treat for them, mine loved rich tea biscuits. It's just practice practice practice I'm afraid , the more time you spend with the goats the better , when they love you they behave well  :love: Good luck and don't worry too much even the best have days when their goats are naughty especially the kids  :excited:
Title: Re: Training goats for showing
Post by: pharnorth on May 05, 2016, 09:15:36 am
Ok it's practice time. Hope it goes better than yesterday....