In 1986 the Harness Goat Society was formed. It still remains today; a dynamic society with active members, promoting and demonstrating the abilities of our amazing animals.
So where the heck did the idea of a goat in harness come from? You maybe surprised the hear the simple answer is about 4,000 years ago!
The oldest recorded reference was found in Crete on a ring. Dated roughly to around 2,000bc the precious stone had carved into it a chariot pulled by a pair of goats. There is also a record of a goat pulling a plough in Crete at about the same time.
A harnessed goat appears many times in mythology. Thor the ‘God of Thunder’ was pulled across the heavens in a chariot powered by goats, each time he threw his hammer it caused thunder and lightning.
Jumping forward towards the start of the 20th Century, King George V is seen in his wedding photograph dated 1893 with children in a goat carriage. Many European families owned a goat cart or carriage for their children to enjoy, from lower classes up to royalty. Whilst the former built very basic carts from recycled materials, the latter, of course, had some very elaborate vehicles. The son of Napoleon and Empress Eugene had an impressive calash, drawn by a white goat. This apparently was the prince’s favourite ‘toy’.
Sadly, in the second decade of 20th century, it would have been quite normal to see a goat cart on the streets in many countries across the world. The First World War claimed the lives of thousands of horses and an easy and (usually) amenable replacement was a goat. Disabled people also made use of them and photographs dating from 1914/18 war show injured soldiers riding in goat carts.
Harness makers of the period showed goat harness patterns in their catalogues. They would all be made from leather. The poorer classes would
make rough harness from upholsterer’s jute webbing. It may be of interest that both car makers, Peugeot and Studebaker (in America) started from very humble beginnings, advertising goat and dog carts for sale.
Many different items were carried in the carts, besides children. Milk was delivered, vegetables, barrels of water, and in America “Buck Beer” was
advertised being transported in a goat cart. It is known that basket makers used goat carts to carry willow shoots, and another goat cart was used by a travelling salesman selling kitchen ware.
In 1891, came the introduction of bank holidays and with the advent of railways, towns people were able to travel to the seaside for a day out. Cottagers living near the coast saw a marketing opportunity and pressed donkeys and goats into service. The donkeys carried ladies up and down the beach, their saddles covered with a white cotton cloth to avoid soiling the riders’ fine clothes and goats pulled tiny carriages giving rides to children. Local councils at seaside resorts later licensed all operators giving goat carriage rides In Brighton, the last known Harness Goat licence was issued in 1953.
During the Second World War a pair of goats was used to draw a small trolley carrying food to the forward troops, and due to the scarcity of petrol, horses, donkeys, and goats again became popular drawing carts In truth goats have been used over the centuries to carry pack saddles or pull
carts, transporting varied goods. The goat has proved itself to be a very versatile working animal. In the Himalayas goats are still used today as they
have been for centuries, carrying pack saddles loaded with luggage across rough terrain that motor vehicles either struggle with or simply can’t manage.
During the 21st Century in the UK very few goats are used for ‘true work’. Our fortune and economy mean that goats in harness are merely used for tourism, entertainment, education and a hobby. Although one American member of the harness goat society did until very recently use his goat to collect his weekly groceries from the local supermarket. Goats have in the past few years been used to pull; ice-cream selling carts at a petting zoo, Children at fetes and charity events, a teenager to her end of school prom and just to take their owners for a relaxing cart ride around their local communities.
Whenever those people, lucky enough to share their lives with a harness goat, take their goats out into public they are inundated with people wanting to share their experiences of goats, explaining why they have a unexplained love for the animal, or wanting to take a million pictures and post on social media.
People have a deep affection for goats, and as any goat owner knows goats have a deep affection for people.
The Harness Goat Society currently has nearly fifty members (and are always seeking more). Many of these are active members with goats. The society runs events, workshops and attends numerous fetes and agricultural shows through the year to promote a lifelong love for the goat and to explain and educate the general public in how versatile and amazing the goat is as an animal.
As anyone reading this, fortunate enough to own goats, knows they are intelligent and quick to learn, so pulling a cart or carrying a pack is a task they take to relatively quickly and easily. The training of a goat in harness is an excellent use of a Wethered goat also?
So we ask anyone who has an interest in goats to consider the novelty of having a goat in harness and to consider joining the Harness Goat Society and helping the society progress and move into its fifth decade.
The Harness Goat Society 