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Flip through the slide show to see some of the amazing goat coats Marion has made from recycled materials over the years. These coats were exhibited at her exhibition in Devon. An amazing display where Marion raised in excess of £500 for the charity MIND.

Sampson and Julian, twin Golden Guernsey wethers born in May 2020, were my firstborn kids. Their mother, Peaseblossom, was one of my first two goats. Now, I can’t comprehend anyone turning living goats, with their huge personalities, into anything as boring as chops and steaks, but I do think that animals should have a job to do in the human world. So harness goats were the obvious solution.

I have only kept goats since 2018. That is hard to believe, as it feels like a lifetime! Having retired and owning a house with a little land, I have been able to indulge my lifelong wish to keep lots of animals. I am afraid I am quite impractical about it and make no attempt to make the animals pay their way. As well as the goats, we have Ouessant sheep, ducks and hens.

I first met members of the Harness Goat Society at a show, before I even had goats, and joined the Society soon after. Sampson and Julian were encouraged to walk on the lead from a very young age. Training is currently proving a little difficult, as they are very lazy and dislike walking on wet grass.

Interviewed about his career plans as a harness goat, Julian thought his best gait would be the Stand and Look Noble. Sampson said he planned to specialise in the Sit, especially when combined with the Eat. (I think that is what he said – it filtered indistinctly through the hay that was filling his mouth.)

Barbara Le Gallez, Nov 2020

My name is Debra Chennels, I started rescuing goats some 25 years ago whilst working with mental health. I found the goats gave people great reward just seeing them and being able to walk them. I started therapy goats 3 years ago but I’ve always used goats for people with any kind of illness. I started taking them to care homes which have been amazing- the reaction I’ve had.

I’ve learned so much about goats over the years but you never stop learning –they are amazing animals and understand more than we realise.

I have now moved to Wales & plan to open up a therapy camping site for colleges where people can spend time with the goats getting plenty of therapy and chill out when they need to with these lovely animals.

Cider was our first Harness Goat and he brought us great pleasure.  He loved his work and was super intelligent (not always a good thing)!  He started a string of 8 Harness Goats over the years and we now have Mungo who is our remaining goat.  We have had some fabulous experiences and met some great people, some of whom we meet on a regular basis.  We have had some memorable experiences including driving down a village street and navigating the traffic, taking a Bride from the church and doing a dog agility course, much to the organiser’s surprise. At the moment we have 2 ponies, 3 alpacas, 3 sheep, Mungo goat and a dog, so there is never a dull moment.