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05-22-2016, 07:05 PM
Id reduce it to 3 years. Even at 2, as Curtis has shown, they can be put to work if done right.
Id say dog pack at about 6 months. Work up to no more then 5 lbs or the weight of the pack saddle when its time to change over. 125 lbs is the typical weight of a goat that can begin to use the real pack saddle. Id say 12-16 months of age depending up on the size of the goat. But up to this point and beyond its more of a training aspect. Not a useful one. A goat needs to play, have fun and get excited about being out on the trail. If you are doing say a 5 mile hike where they will tire out and just walk, then feel free to put their saddle on em. Do this till at least a year and a half old. So most of the time Id suggest letting them go without.
I really like the way Curtis did his boys. His conditioning of them from age 2 to 3 really got them to be ready and able packers. But Id say keep it under 10% of their body weight till age 2. 15% till age 3 and then it really depends on how well the owner has conditioned them.
Id say dog pack at about 6 months. Work up to no more then 5 lbs or the weight of the pack saddle when its time to change over. 125 lbs is the typical weight of a goat that can begin to use the real pack saddle. Id say 12-16 months of age depending up on the size of the goat. But up to this point and beyond its more of a training aspect. Not a useful one. A goat needs to play, have fun and get excited about being out on the trail. If you are doing say a 5 mile hike where they will tire out and just walk, then feel free to put their saddle on em. Do this till at least a year and a half old. So most of the time Id suggest letting them go without.
I really like the way Curtis did his boys. His conditioning of them from age 2 to 3 really got them to be ready and able packers. But Id say keep it under 10% of their body weight till age 2. 15% till age 3 and then it really depends on how well the owner has conditioned them.