The Goatherd Experience

Mom and I walked the boys again today. This time though we walked them two different directions. Then mom and I traded and walked the other one we hadn't walked before. I started out with Lewis and he put up a fight. He dislikes being separated from his brother. When I walked Clark, I didn't really have a problem with him. He just needed a memory check because he hadn't been worked for two days.

Yesterday, My mom dad and I drove to North Benton to see some alpine does that a girl had for sale there. They had some nice looking does and I decided to buy one. I put a deposit on a doe named Clover. We will pay the rest when we go pick her up. She is an American Alpine so her coloring is brown and she looks almost like an Oberhasli. She has a little white on her head and neck. I can't wait until we pick her up!

Remeber how I said that the boys got into the chicken coop yesterday? Well I think they ate too much. I found out that they ate a weeks worth of chicken food along with a paper bag and possibly some duct tape. I hope this doesn't kill them. I walked them though and they picked at some grass. Mom said that it was good I walked them because it will help their stomachs.

We went over to my cousin's to look at one of their does. She's a really good looking goat and they will sell her to us for $75. The only problem I have with her is that she isn't very tame. We are going to look at other goats tomorrow. Though we aren't going to bring one home until next week. Then I will make a decision about which goat I want to buy.

Well, I had to work with the goats by myself today because Mom had to work. I had one on each side and I dragged them along. The walked with me pretty well for a little while anyway. I felt kind of bad when I went down to the barn to work with the boys because they had gotten into the chicken coop and trashed the place. I found it funny but dad didn't. Maybe it's because I strongly dislike the chickens. After I walked the boys, I let them graze and spent a while watching them. I had a little thrill because Lewis let me scratch along his back and he's more skitish than Clark. I'm think about doing a double team thing for 4-H because I think Lewis and Clark would work better together.

Speaking of 4-H, We had a meeting tonight. I got the fair rules for the goats and I got my other project book. (creative writing) The meeting was pretty boring as usual though I am excited about going to the fair. We camped there last year and we are planning on doing it again this year.

An update on the doe we are going to buy: We aren't getting her Saturday because we had some unexpected expenses come up. We are going to still go see her and put a deposit on her. Then we will get her in a week or to.

That pretty much wraps up what's going on in goat land. Time to get back to the real world!

Didn't work as much today because it's been snowing heavily half of last night and all of today. We did take the goats out of the barnyard though and walked them just a little ways. If nothing else they got some handling. I'm afraid this blog is going to get boring because we are doing the same thing with the boys for two weeks. Oh well.

The woman who had alpine does for sale called us back today. (Her name is Nancy.) She told mom and I about how they had three maybe four alpine yearlings and how since they had to sell some, they wanted them to go to a 4-H family. We talked to this Nancy lady for quite a while and mom got directions to their house. We are going to go look over the goats and buy one on Saturday. It will probably be $100 maybe less though. I want a yearling so that after the fair this year, I can breed her. Nancy told us they have really good show quality does. I can't wait until Saturday!

Well, training has started. Mom helped me and we each took a goat and walked them using the commands we want them to learn. Mom started with Clark and I started with Lewis. We would then switch off every little bit. I walked infront with the goat I was walking and mom walked a little behind. This way both goats got used to being in front and back.


In other goat news, not really related to harness: I need to find a dairy doe to use for showmanship. I am partial to alpines and I don't really want another toggenburg because the colors are so similar I can't tell the boys apart except for their collars. I didn't want to have to deal with that with the doe I get. Mom called my 4-H advisor Mrs. Tinker and she gave us the name of another 4-H advisor to call. We did and found out that at this woman's 4-H there is a girl with five alpine yearlings. Which is exactly what I wanted. The advisor is going to call us back and tell us if the girl will sell us one. I'm very excited!

Hello Everyone! It starts tomorrow. I found a good training plan for the goats online so it's time to get them into shape for the fair. Since this is a new blog I'd better tell you a little about the goats. At the moment we have two wethers. Lewis and Clark are toggenburg brothers. I got them free from my cousin. This whole thing though should be an interesting experience. Wish me luck!