WELCOME TO ASPIRING MIDWIVES FARM!

How to Harness Your Goat

An article from a Harness Goat Society journal.

Bridle, Breast Collar,Traces,Saddle, Full Breeching or False Breeching. A goat's bridle does not need a throat latch or a browband. If the goat has horns the head piece can go between the horns and the ears, but i prefer to put it below the ears, like you would a horse. This item of harness can be put on first if required. I do this so I can control the goat, while getting him to stand while being harnessed.

(Cathi's note: Most goat bridles do not have bits, but have a sliding chinstrap, that works much like a hackamore on a horse. When it is adjusted properly, and the reins are pulled, it puts pressure on the goats nose, and causes them to turn thier head in the proper direction).

The breast collar can be put on next by either undoing the buckle on the neck strap and then fastening round its neck or it can slip straight over the goat's head. It really depends whether your goat has horns or not and whether it is a little head shy.

The breast collar is a very important piece of harness and must fit correctly for the goat to work happily and well. If it is too high then it will cut across the wind pipe and if it is too low the movement of the shoulder is impaired.

The traces connect the vehicle to the breast collar and provide pulling power. The traces go through the trace buckle. A loose knot can tie up the traces to keep them off the ground. The traces need not be disconnected from the breast collar, but can be left intact.

The saddle carries the tugs, through which the shafts are held. Place the saddle on the goat's back with the upper D toward the tail. The girth is now done up fairly tightly, so that the saddle can't slip round. Now do up the belly-band loosely, so that the shafts can go into the tugs. The breeching is to prevent the vehicle running into the goat when he stops or is going downhill (on some work harnesses there is no breeching, because the goat is only going forward).I learned this the hard way.(Cathi's note: In training Brownie to crowds(in a parade), he nearly jumped straight out of his harness when the band in front of us started playing. Now I have a harness with full breeching.He recovered within a few minutes, by the way...and did well for the rest of the night.) Full Breeching
The loin strap goes through the backstrap so it is lying just behind the point of hip. Adjust the loin strap so that it allows the breeching to hang level with the stifle joint.

False breeching
This breeching is ideal for the goats as they do not hill walk nor do they travel at speed. False breeching is a strap fitted on two D hooks on the exterior of the shafts slightly behind the goat. The strap must not touch the goat when it moves. However, it comes into play immediately when going down hill, or when the goat stops. The reins go from the rein rings on the bridle, under the neck strap, or through rings (if the strap has them) then through the rings on the saddle.(Cathi's note: I suppose this is to keep the goat from throwing its head, but I run mine straight from the bridle, through the D-rings on the saddle, and to the driver from there. I have had no problems).

Here are some other goat links:

Some addresses that you might like to have on hand:
American Harness Goat Assn. 15835 Bald Hills Rd., SE Yelm, WA 98597 360-894-3152
American Boer Goat Assn. 232 W. Beauregard, Suite 104 San Angelo, TX 76903 915- 486-2242
American Goat Society P.O. Box 330 Broad Run, VA 20137 540-349-4709
American Meat Goat Assn. P. O. Box 676 Sonora, TX 76950 915-387-6100
International Boer Goat Assn. P.O. Box 663 Spicewood, TX 75669 877-640-4242