[The Goat Man]

Good idea, and I would in a minute, but there aren’t any in Vermont that I know of. I met a bunch of fellas at a Goat Symposium I went to at Cornell a couple of years ago. They were nice people. I asked them about Mules as I was thinking about getting one then. They used horses, raised Sheep and didn’t have much to offer. They asked a lot about Goats…didn’t take me long to tell them what I know. Ha.

[The Goat Man]

Eli, I hope you post updates, and share a bit of the feel you get from this man and his methods. Supposedly my Mule was Amish trained, and I know nothing about their ways, commands or anything. I did a little research on Amish Training, but didn’t find much. Good luck with it.

[The Goat Man]

Hey Andy……Thanks for the pic. It’s pretty much what I had in my mind. I can definetley see the versatility in it. I’m puttin together a little sugar rig for this spring and was wanting to add gathering sap to the list of things to do with my Mule. (A friend told me don’t let him drink out of a sap bucket. I guess he did with his horse, and the horse would “sneak” off to the left side of the road, while my friend was gatherin on the right.)

I’d think, (I don’t know) you would need shafts on a sled too, or wouldn’t it run up on your animal? The numbers are something I know nothing about….I figured you just had to judge kind of by sight how much your were askin him to do, meaning if it was to heavy, lighten it up and so on. I had the same logic about a forecart…..figured everybody else had one so that’s the next thing to buy. The one I have had in my mind could be used single or double. I’ve also had the idea of another Mule too. When I was looking and had to have one, they were scarse, in my neighborhood anyway. Now teams seem to be coming out of the woodwork. Don’t know what I would do with my little Donk either……I get to attached to my critters sometimes…..

I did this late last fall with the Hoe, then bucketed a big pile of Goat manure all around it sprinkelin it with the tractor. Like to drag it with something to work it in, then seed it with pasture mix soon as it warms up.

[The Goat Man]

Hi Andy……..Thanks. I’l take all the advice I can get. I’ve had my eyes on the right piece of Ash..(hey, that could me misconstrued) with the right bend in it to make some runners for a sled. I have a small Band Mill and want to saw out the runners, lay some 1/4″ flat stock on them, and build up. Might be going to look at a Pioneer forecart here soon. I have seen pics of an Arch, and can build one of those pretty easy. Might add a little winch to pick the ends of the sticks up a little. I’ve got a small set of disc harrows set up for a 3pt hitch that could probable be modified pretty easy to pull with a forecart. They are small enough where I don’t think they would be to hard on him. Also picked up and old grown driven JD Manure Spreader last summer. Needs new wood, but I doubt it has had 20 loads of manure through it. You wipe the grease off the sprokets, and it’s John Deere Green…….It sat outside and was never took care of. Not loaded to heavy, he could handle that too on flat goin.

[The Goat Man]

Thanks….
He didn’t look so good a year ago. He’s a “Good” Boy……Got a good heart, and no bad habits really. I want to log with him a little, nothin serious. Looking for an affordable forecart, might build one if i can’t find what I want. Got a set of chain harrows on the list too. I’m rejuvenating pastures with an excavator, and would like to smooth things up and make it all look pretty before reseeding. A Sleigh maybe…..and I want to ride him. You can get a lot of work done with a machine, but when I first drove a team pulling a wagon on a woods road in late November, there was a calmness and connection I’ve never felt with a Bull Dozer…….and I never had one waiting for me at the gate every morning

[The Goat Man]

Hey Eli…….

Thanks…..He’s a Good Boy.
3 Goats and a Dairy Farmer……It Counts.

[The Goat Man]

Thanks Andy……..

[The Goat Man]

Testing, Testing 1,2,3……..

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/424428_4981279404298_1890400132_n.jpg

“If” it worked…….this is Me & Nick. i’m the one with the Beard………

[The Goat Man]

Hi Andy, & thanks…..

I don’t think Nick has been abused……in a physical way anyhow with the exception of almost being starved to death. He’s pretty mellow. Not the least bit scared of a chainsaw, tractor, or other machinery. He’s barefoot too, and that might have something to do with his reluctance. Last week I took him off out in the deep snow just ground driving, and he was fine.

I’ve tried the image/attachment thing a few times and it doesn’t seem to upload, or at least doesn’t get to the point to drag anything as there is nothin to drag listed or to click on. I’m sure it’s pretty simple and I’m just doing something wrong.

[The Goat Man]

Thanks Folks.
I actually tried to attach a pic of my Mule when I first said Howdy. Guess I got to figure this out too.

Jean, we’re just a little bit up the Willaimsville Rd. off of Rt. 30.

Don, seeing this guy came from a Rescue, I have next to no information about his upbringing. He’s 15 or there abouts according to the Vet, and supposidly Amish trained……..I’ve tried 3 or 4 different bits on him, a couple of snaffles, 1 curb bit, and now am using a straight bar Liverpool. He seems best with the Liverpool. The others he’d fight, and stick his head out etc, but with the LP he just kind of accepts it, (tongue over it, of course). He steers pretty well, backs up and comes to a stop. I was taught “Come up” or “Step up” to get him movin, but realisticly, a good smack on his butt with the drivin line gets his attention. I don’t like doin it. Maybe i gotta learn Amish…..

[Author]

Posts