https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 01:09:45 +0000 MyBB https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=5768 Mon, 13 May 2024 22:51:59 -0600 Moorefieldc]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=5768
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My partner and I are looking seriously at getting some goats for packing in the mountains in Portugal.

With our combined skills, we have been able to build a sawbuck saddle based on measurements and designs we found online.

We don't have any goats yet but were lucky enough to be able to try the saddle out on a friend's dairy goat (a Golden Guernsey mix - ours will be Alpines). While it seemed to work okay overall, there are a few things that I can see that immediately need improving, but I would really appreciate some feedback from people better informed than we.

From what I can see:

The girth, and all the straps in fact, are too long. I've taped them up in these pics. The girth definitely needs shortening quite a bit - I had to tie it to the cross buck to make it fit this goat, so ignore what is going on there.

The girth also appears to sit very far forwards, right in the poor goat's armpit. I am not sure how I would stop it sliding forwards like this, short of making it very tight. Would two girths (as I have seen in some designs) be better?

The angle of the breast and breeching straps both seem awkward. Breast strap seems very high, possibly putting pressure on the throat?

We followed the plans extremely closely, so I am not sure if this goat is just too small and bony to wear it correctly. If anyone has any tips or anything they can see that would improve the design, I am keen to hear it. We are working on a Mark II, so let me know what is working well for you in your best saddles/your favourite strap set-ups, configurations, etc. I am sure there are a million ways to improve this.

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My partner and I are looking seriously at getting some goats for packing in the mountains in Portugal.

With our combined skills, we have been able to build a sawbuck saddle based on measurements and designs we found online.

We don't have any goats yet but were lucky enough to be able to try the saddle out on a friend's dairy goat (a Golden Guernsey mix - ours will be Alpines). While it seemed to work okay overall, there are a few things that I can see that immediately need improving, but I would really appreciate some feedback from people better informed than we.

From what I can see:

The girth, and all the straps in fact, are too long. I've taped them up in these pics. The girth definitely needs shortening quite a bit - I had to tie it to the cross buck to make it fit this goat, so ignore what is going on there.

The girth also appears to sit very far forwards, right in the poor goat's armpit. I am not sure how I would stop it sliding forwards like this, short of making it very tight. Would two girths (as I have seen in some designs) be better?

The angle of the breast and breeching straps both seem awkward. Breast strap seems very high, possibly putting pressure on the throat?

We followed the plans extremely closely, so I am not sure if this goat is just too small and bony to wear it correctly. If anyone has any tips or anything they can see that would improve the design, I am keen to hear it. We are working on a Mark II, so let me know what is working well for you in your best saddles/your favourite strap set-ups, configurations, etc. I am sure there are a million ways to improve this.

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  saddle stb side small.jpg (Size: 187.09 KB / Downloads: 0) ]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4833 Sun, 29 May 2022 11:49:20 -0600 Taffy]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4833
https://www.vevor.com/livestock-scale-c_...2007:21:31}]]>
https://www.vevor.com/livestock-scale-c_...2007:21:31}]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4400 Fri, 12 Mar 2021 12:59:11 -0700 Stringinit]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4400
I have a Saanen and he does great 99% of the time. Its only at the height of summer does he seem to show more of a reaction than my Alpine's in the heat, otherwise during deer season in the fall here in Northern California I see no difference in work ethic between Saanens and any other breed. I know there's a possibility of sunburn too with Saanen's. 

My question is how is the Sable's work ethic and do they have a weakness so to speak, to the heat? Sunburn, heat exhaustion etc.

I love Alpine's but man are they bullies!

I really like the personality of Saanens. I also have a La mancha who is just as gentle and nice to be around as well. I found someone nearby who has sable/la mancha hybrid bottle babies that are gorgeous! 


Thanks]]>
I have a Saanen and he does great 99% of the time. Its only at the height of summer does he seem to show more of a reaction than my Alpine's in the heat, otherwise during deer season in the fall here in Northern California I see no difference in work ethic between Saanens and any other breed. I know there's a possibility of sunburn too with Saanen's. 

My question is how is the Sable's work ethic and do they have a weakness so to speak, to the heat? Sunburn, heat exhaustion etc.

I love Alpine's but man are they bullies!

I really like the personality of Saanens. I also have a La mancha who is just as gentle and nice to be around as well. I found someone nearby who has sable/la mancha hybrid bottle babies that are gorgeous! 


Thanks]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4240 Tue, 22 Sep 2020 20:17:53 -0600 Taffy]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4240

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  2020-09-22.png (Size: 845.94 KB / Downloads: 3) ]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4019 Sat, 21 Dec 2019 19:53:17 -0700 Kat]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4019
https://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/grd/d...87764.html]]>
https://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/grd/d...87764.html]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=3980 Sun, 10 Nov 2019 16:07:01 -0700 Taffy]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=3980
I have the Garmin Explorer+.  So many areas I hike have no cell service so in case of an emergency I can communicate with family via text and/or press the SOS button to reach emergency services.

There is a fee for the service, but for me, the piece of mind is worth the expense.

https://www.rei.com/search?q=garmin+inreach]]>
I have the Garmin Explorer+.  So many areas I hike have no cell service so in case of an emergency I can communicate with family via text and/or press the SOS button to reach emergency services.

There is a fee for the service, but for me, the piece of mind is worth the expense.

https://www.rei.com/search?q=garmin+inreach]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=3972 Tue, 29 Oct 2019 14:33:46 -0600 blackie's maiden]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=3972 https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=3889 Wed, 21 Aug 2019 09:50:55 -0600 AcanthaRose]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=3889
I am having a bit of trouble properly adjusting my pack saddles on my goats so that they don't rub on their shoulder blades. I have the wooden crossbuck type, and my goats are both alpine and pretty narrow, so I don't think the type of saddle is the issue (?). I know the belly strap needs to be tight (I've been tightening it enough so that I can only fit one finger under it up to the first knuckle), and that it needs to be placed on the front part of their belly, before the soft and rounder part that is their stomach area. I also know that when placing the saddle, you're supposed to start more forward and slide it back so that the wooden part is behind their shoulder blades. After all of that, I make sure to stretch their front legs so that the strap doesn't chafe on their elbow/armpit skin. Still, when I take the saddles off, I notice that the hair on their shoulders is messed up. I attended a saddle fitting workshop at the Rendy the summer before last, but am I forgetting something important or doing something wrong? 
Any advise would be much appreciated. 


Thanks!]]>
I am having a bit of trouble properly adjusting my pack saddles on my goats so that they don't rub on their shoulder blades. I have the wooden crossbuck type, and my goats are both alpine and pretty narrow, so I don't think the type of saddle is the issue (?). I know the belly strap needs to be tight (I've been tightening it enough so that I can only fit one finger under it up to the first knuckle), and that it needs to be placed on the front part of their belly, before the soft and rounder part that is their stomach area. I also know that when placing the saddle, you're supposed to start more forward and slide it back so that the wooden part is behind their shoulder blades. After all of that, I make sure to stretch their front legs so that the strap doesn't chafe on their elbow/armpit skin. Still, when I take the saddles off, I notice that the hair on their shoulders is messed up. I attended a saddle fitting workshop at the Rendy the summer before last, but am I forgetting something important or doing something wrong? 
Any advise would be much appreciated. 


Thanks!]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=3809 Sat, 08 Jun 2019 09:40:13 -0600 blackie's maiden]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=3809 https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=3796 Fri, 24 May 2019 00:41:03 -0600 blackie's maiden]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=3796  My "air-fern" horse gave me an idea for hay for goats in transport. I had to buy her slow-feed hay nets, only 1/2" diameter holes to slow her down. I tried regular hay nets last time we transported.and one goat.got his horns.stuck in one, luckily was ok. Would these small-hole nets prevent that from happening as well as keep them from wasting so much on the floor or is any hay net a bad idea regardless of how small the holes? Or would the sillies ingest the nylon rope?

Thanks.]]>  My "air-fern" horse gave me an idea for hay for goats in transport. I had to buy her slow-feed hay nets, only 1/2" diameter holes to slow her down. I tried regular hay nets last time we transported.and one goat.got his horns.stuck in one, luckily was ok. Would these small-hole nets prevent that from happening as well as keep them from wasting so much on the floor or is any hay net a bad idea regardless of how small the holes? Or would the sillies ingest the nylon rope?

Thanks.]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=3639 Thu, 07 Feb 2019 09:31:25 -0700 Stringinit]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=3639
I'm in contact with a guy who's willing to sale his 4yr alpine that he's bottle raised and has been packing for 2yrs. He's asking$1000. 

Thanks]]>
I'm in contact with a guy who's willing to sale his 4yr alpine that he's bottle raised and has been packing for 2yrs. He's asking$1000. 

Thanks]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=3625 Wed, 23 Jan 2019 20:06:00 -0700 Taffy]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=3625 https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=3604 Sun, 06 Jan 2019 19:57:20 -0700 85ray]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=3604 https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=3588 Sat, 15 Dec 2018 00:06:07 -0700 Deborah Haney]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=3588