Evolving as herd animals, horses are highly social and thrive on interaction with others. Because of this, it is recommended that you have at least two horses on the property to satisfy their emotional and social needs. Depending on your setup or your finances, it may not be feasible to have multiple horses. Fortunately, many horses find companionship in goats– a manageable addition to your farmstead! Consider welcoming a goat into your stable; they are sure to bring companionship to your horse, and are great fun for the entire family!
Benefits of Raising Goats with Horses
Horses and goats are both herd animals and tend to bond with each other quickly. If you take a stroll around many racetracks or busy show stables, you will likely see a goat or two… and for good reason. Goats tend to have a calming effect on horses, helping them to manage their anxiety, while also giving horses that may not have much social interaction with other horses a sense of camaraderie. Goats and horses are both playful animals that easily keep one another entertained.
Goats also help to maintain your pasture… and actually improve it! Horses and goats can graze in the same areas, but they eat different plants. Goats tend to eat weeds and bushes that horses leave alone; they may nibble at the tender grasses, but generally, goats leave the grasses and legumes to grow for the horses. Poison ivy is a delicacy for goats, which helps to remove it from your pasture and protect you from the harmful effects of the plant. Goats are extremely easy keepers, and many times, with proper pasture, they only need small amounts of grain during the summer months to meet their daily requirements. This makes goat-keeping economically feasible for many families.
While goats and horses can be great friends, they don’t share everything — and that is a GREAT thing! Horses and goats have different primary pathological gastrointestinal parasites (intestinal worms), which makes their grazing on the same pasture exceptionally safe. They also do not share any major communicable diseases. Provided the animals have all had a full slate of vaccinations, this practically eliminates biosecurity concerns between the goats and the horses.
Things to Consider When Getting Goats
Adding goats to your farmstead can be a fun and rewarding venture, however, there are a few things that you should keep in mind. While goats generally have a friendly demeanor, they should be introduced to your horse in a slow, gradual manner for them to properly acclimate. Does (females) and wethers (castrated males) are recommended for beginner goat owners, since bucks (males) can be more aggressive with both humans and other animals. It is suggested that you have your goat de-budded (horns removed) to minimize the risk of injury to both your horse and the goat. This is a relatively painless process for the goat when performed by a veterinarian when the goat is between 3-7 days of age.
One drawback to consider is that you will need more than electric tape fencing or traditional three-board fencing to keep a goat contained. Many goat owners turn to woven-wire fencing, also referred to as no-climb fencing. This fencing prevents the goats from climbing over or crawling under the fencing. While no-climb fencing is appropriate for horses, it can be more expensive than other options. Electric net fencing and multiple-strand high-tensile electric fencing are also popular options for goat-keeping.
Goats also have a tremendous appetite. While this can be beneficial for pasture management, it can be downright difficult if you are trying to grow a vegetable garden or have extensive landscaping. Because goats will eat practically anything, it is important to plan accordingly with proper fencing. It is also important to note that commercial horse grain can be toxic to goats in high amounts, due to the copper content, so plan to feed the animals separately.
Essential Goat Supplies
As an equestrian, you likely have some of the supplies that you need to raise a goat already on hand. Before bringing a goat home, we recommend that you have the following:
- A shelter
- Goat-friendly fencing
- Bedding
- Hay
- Goat feed
- Feed dish
- Water bucket
- Hay net or hay feeder (This is optional, but recommended, and it is imperative that you hang the hay net in a location where your goat cannot get their hooves entangled in the net.)
- A goat collar or halter
- A goat leash, for example, the Hamilton Products 10′ Poly Lead Rope with Bull Snap
- Goat treats, such as the Manna Pro Goat Treats
- Mineral block (look for one formulated for ruminants)
- Hoof trimmers
- Goat dewormer
- Goat blanket, like the Horseware Goat Coat (for the winter months)
At The Cheshire Horse, we have everything you need to care for your horses as well as their goat companions. If you are adding a goat or two to your farm, our friendly and knowledgeable staff can assist you through this exciting process, helping you to select products to make bringing your goats home a stress-free experience.
Hay nets are highly dangerous for goats and can cause them to get entangled, break a leg, or strangle them. Do not use hay nets with goats.
That’s a good point Diana, thank you for pointing that out. We’ve added a disclaimer to the blog post to let people know that they should use caution with how they use hay nets with their goats.
Id like to personally hear from folks who this works for. I have to lay one horse to rest and want to move my goats to be with my horse(s). My hesitation is that we are in Michigan and have snowy winters. My goats really dont come outside much in the snowy weather, yet my horses are outside all day unless the weather is treacherous. How will my horse do when the goats refuse to even come outside?
Hi Jamie, we are so sorry to hear about your horse! Many of our customers have had great success integrating goats with one horse, although we rarely hear about it being successful when more than one horse is involved. Most likely, your horse will still venture outside during the winter months but still enjoy the camaraderie and social stimulation the goats offer. In fact, you may find that your goats head outside in the winter as well. While every situation is different, we encourage you to slowly introduce your horses to your beloved goat friends.
We had 2 horses ( mother and daughter). After 23 years together the mom horse had to be put down for sudden declining health, a year ago this week. it was devastating for all for us, since it was the first time foe us to euthanize a horse. But thought it all God showed His comfort all the way through. The blessed stories that were brought forth are utter mind blowing.
it was devastating to the daughter horse, Grace. I spent the 1st night together, it a very cold winter single digit temperature night. My horse and I mourned together the next several weeks. Grace when into a fast depression. We had goats but were not set up to fully integrate them together in the same area. They were in the area just on the other side of her stall. And they could see each other. We would let the goats out in the barn area for brief moments. Come spring we fenced in the barnyard and set them free together. It was such an emotional healing process. A year later, they are good friends. they share hay, where before Grace would not share her hay. She picks up a leg when they scoot under and around her. Amazing. Grace’s depress did ease over the summer. What an awful thing to see. I would sit with her, walk with her did some riding as well. but that too was a process since she usually went with her mom.
Hi Laurie,
We are truly sorry for your loss and the challenging time you and Grace went through. It’s heartwarming to hear how you found solace and healing through each other’s comfort and the introduction of goat companionship. The bond between Grace and the goats, evolving from initial separation to now sharing hay and even playful interactions, is a testament to the resilience of animals and the positive impact of companionship.
Thank you for sharing valuable insights about adding goats to a farmstead and considerations for introducing them to horses. Taking a slow and gradual approach to acclimate goats to horses is indeed important to ensure a smooth integration.