Chat
04-11-2019, 04:07 PM
Saturday morning was warm but the air was humid and heavy with rain. The USFS rangers had spread flyers around the campground inviting people to our packgoat "meet 'n' greet" at 9:00, but most of the campground had already cleared out ahead of the approaching storms. However, one couple and one family showed up and they were a good audience. None of them had ever heard of a packgoat before and Finn and Sputnik were good representatives.
We had our class under the pavilion where we could stay dry.
Sputnik showed off a basic crossbuck saddle. He was a funny boy. When I was done using him for demonstrations, I tied him up out of the way where I thought he would be no trouble. WRONG! He's a goat, isn't he? Sputnik kept reaching over and pulling down the equipment I had draped over the rail. I scooted them further and further from his reach, but he simply reached further each time. When I finally managed to get everything out of his way, he started hunching his back and attempting to spray like a buck (unsuccessfully, thank goodness, but these displays are always rather embarrassing!). I slapped his rump a couple of times to make him stop, so he got up on his hind legs and began gnawing on the beams of the pavilion and then clacking horns with Finn. He was really quite full of himself and was determined to remain the center of attention. I did eventually bring him back onstage so he could show off his tricks and he was immensely pleased to be once more in the limelight. What a ham!
The spectator crowd left after the demonstration, so there was plenty of time for the rest of us to enjoy riding the cart before lunch! There was a nice, big paved loop around the pavilion and playground which was perfect for carting. Sputnik was eager to get going but not so eager to go without Finn. He was a bit torn on what he wanted to do, but he was mostly obedient when we asked him to leave his buddy. He only needed a couple of minor corrections to keep him from cutting across the grass. Connie took the first turn and you can tell from her face how much fun she had!
Connie's husband Robert took the next turn. He used to drive trotting horses at Belmont racetrack in New York as a teenager!
Next up was Kim Fox. Kim joined us early Saturday morning after an adventure trying to find the campground on Friday night. We were so glad she was able to make it!
We had our class under the pavilion where we could stay dry.
Sputnik showed off a basic crossbuck saddle. He was a funny boy. When I was done using him for demonstrations, I tied him up out of the way where I thought he would be no trouble. WRONG! He's a goat, isn't he? Sputnik kept reaching over and pulling down the equipment I had draped over the rail. I scooted them further and further from his reach, but he simply reached further each time. When I finally managed to get everything out of his way, he started hunching his back and attempting to spray like a buck (unsuccessfully, thank goodness, but these displays are always rather embarrassing!). I slapped his rump a couple of times to make him stop, so he got up on his hind legs and began gnawing on the beams of the pavilion and then clacking horns with Finn. He was really quite full of himself and was determined to remain the center of attention. I did eventually bring him back onstage so he could show off his tricks and he was immensely pleased to be once more in the limelight. What a ham!
The spectator crowd left after the demonstration, so there was plenty of time for the rest of us to enjoy riding the cart before lunch! There was a nice, big paved loop around the pavilion and playground which was perfect for carting. Sputnik was eager to get going but not so eager to go without Finn. He was a bit torn on what he wanted to do, but he was mostly obedient when we asked him to leave his buddy. He only needed a couple of minor corrections to keep him from cutting across the grass. Connie took the first turn and you can tell from her face how much fun she had!
Connie's husband Robert took the next turn. He used to drive trotting horses at Belmont racetrack in New York as a teenager!
Next up was Kim Fox. Kim joined us early Saturday morning after an adventure trying to find the campground on Friday night. We were so glad she was able to make it!