A little more than a year ago, Sammy came to live with us when he needed a home. The cute little year old goat needed a new home when his former owner could no longer handle him. We figured he'd be a great companion for our Shetland pony, Angus. The paddock stall seen in the picture was built with two sections so that each of the "roommates" would have their own little space.
They get along pretty well most of the time, but when Angus gets bored he likes to pick on Sammy, trying to bite him in the hindquarters during the chase. It's never serious, however, and I think it's really a game as Sammy usually maneuvers away and into his resident quarters. But recently, Sammy has exhibited a bad habit which seems to be here to stay.
What kind of habit, you ask? Well, it seems that Sammy has learned how to climb the fence although we have not been able to identify the actual location or see him do it. In the afternoon, prior to evening feeding of the animals, Sammy climbs out and runs into the pasture where the horses graze. Sometimes he gets into a bit of trouble as the horses will surround him, just standing there daring him to try to get out of the blockade. And then he just goes over to the corner where the fence adjoins his paddock and lays low, awaiting my arrival to bring the horses in for dinner in the barn.
Sammy uses my activity as a way to "horn his way in" to the yard adjacent to the horse barn and that's where the real trouble comes in. You see, Sammy loves to eat the thorny rose bushes as well as the hay bales stacked in the barn. And when I come with a lead line to take him back to his paddock, he tries to headbutt me. It's not dangerous, just a nuisance since his butting motion, raising himself up to come crashing down like a ram is practically slow motion and I know that he really isn't trying to hurt me. Nevertheless, should he get his licks in it can be painful. Eventually I am able to collar him around the neck like a calf roping move and lead him back home with the lead line.
The Great Pyrenees dogs, however, run when they see him coming. Valentino got a good headbutt one time when he thought he was just roughhousing and he doesn't want a repeat. Even Kaz the Great Dane doesn't relish a one on one with Sammy. He used to chase Sammy around the yard but the headbutt move bewilders him.
Sammy does his Houdini act in the morning after sunup in addition to his evening adventure and so far I've seen no indication of him going out at night. Should he do so, he would be a prime target for a hungry coyote. They do prowl the outer pasture beyond the mesh fencing and he wouldn't be able to defend himself. However, since I once saw him back in the paddock after early spotting him in the field, perhaps he would escape by just climbing back in.
Sammy is just another one of our special little creatures here at our little landlocked ark. We love them all, enjoy their idiosyncracies and view them as individual blessings from God. Sometimes people ask me why we love them so much and I just respond that it's largely that they don't talk back like people do. Having said that, one must always keep an eye out for a new maneuver for, after all, they can always surprise.
So I guess I will stay busy rounding up Sammy and returning him to his home and his equine pal every day. After all, who would Angus chase around the paddock if he didn't have his little buddy Sammy?
And besides, all of the animals offer a good change of pace from the daily diet of Obama. These guys offer a good outlet to forget about what's going on out there in the cold, cold world. I think we all need that.
Have a wonderful day and God bless.
They get along pretty well most of the time, but when Angus gets bored he likes to pick on Sammy, trying to bite him in the hindquarters during the chase. It's never serious, however, and I think it's really a game as Sammy usually maneuvers away and into his resident quarters. But recently, Sammy has exhibited a bad habit which seems to be here to stay.
What kind of habit, you ask? Well, it seems that Sammy has learned how to climb the fence although we have not been able to identify the actual location or see him do it. In the afternoon, prior to evening feeding of the animals, Sammy climbs out and runs into the pasture where the horses graze. Sometimes he gets into a bit of trouble as the horses will surround him, just standing there daring him to try to get out of the blockade. And then he just goes over to the corner where the fence adjoins his paddock and lays low, awaiting my arrival to bring the horses in for dinner in the barn.
Sammy uses my activity as a way to "horn his way in" to the yard adjacent to the horse barn and that's where the real trouble comes in. You see, Sammy loves to eat the thorny rose bushes as well as the hay bales stacked in the barn. And when I come with a lead line to take him back to his paddock, he tries to headbutt me. It's not dangerous, just a nuisance since his butting motion, raising himself up to come crashing down like a ram is practically slow motion and I know that he really isn't trying to hurt me. Nevertheless, should he get his licks in it can be painful. Eventually I am able to collar him around the neck like a calf roping move and lead him back home with the lead line.
The Great Pyrenees dogs, however, run when they see him coming. Valentino got a good headbutt one time when he thought he was just roughhousing and he doesn't want a repeat. Even Kaz the Great Dane doesn't relish a one on one with Sammy. He used to chase Sammy around the yard but the headbutt move bewilders him.
Sammy does his Houdini act in the morning after sunup in addition to his evening adventure and so far I've seen no indication of him going out at night. Should he do so, he would be a prime target for a hungry coyote. They do prowl the outer pasture beyond the mesh fencing and he wouldn't be able to defend himself. However, since I once saw him back in the paddock after early spotting him in the field, perhaps he would escape by just climbing back in.
Sammy is just another one of our special little creatures here at our little landlocked ark. We love them all, enjoy their idiosyncracies and view them as individual blessings from God. Sometimes people ask me why we love them so much and I just respond that it's largely that they don't talk back like people do. Having said that, one must always keep an eye out for a new maneuver for, after all, they can always surprise.
So I guess I will stay busy rounding up Sammy and returning him to his home and his equine pal every day. After all, who would Angus chase around the paddock if he didn't have his little buddy Sammy?
And besides, all of the animals offer a good change of pace from the daily diet of Obama. These guys offer a good outlet to forget about what's going on out there in the cold, cold world. I think we all need that.
Have a wonderful day and God bless.
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