Today's Training: Our Breeding Buck About to Go Eunick/Pack Goat

[blackie's maiden]

 Well , we were worried it wouldn't work, but by George, his.first ever trip away from home.and.thru a creek bed went far better than we thought. So hard to find water to train in around here, this particular creek bed is usually only ankle.deep in spots, dry mostly in others, but.at.least.Waco has had.more.rain than us.and.we had spots.where.water.came.up to tops.of.boots.

Background: His mom had te problems and.wouldn't nurse him. Doe was our biggest so after bottle feeding him, we just made him our replacement.breeding buck. He is now.a.little over two. We're thinking of quitting the breeding biz or.cut.way down or replacing him as breeder.as our herd.needs.new.blood. Too attached to him to wonder where.the auction block might take him. We named him Sprite.just because we.fed.him with a.Sprite soda.bottle.

Anyway, he.'s.always been sweet for a buck. Only recently showing some.aggression when we.try to trim his.feet and I mean that is.a.serious.problem. If he.would.work out, it means.we.would.have at least.one.pack goat a.lot sooner.than.waiting for all these babes to grow into it. 

So today was the make-it-or-brake-it test run. We really expected to have trouble and indeed.did start out pretty iffy. We took Blackie.thinking Sprite might take.comfort.from Blackie's love of.that forest.and.hiking. Well Sprite only really relaxed when we returned to the trailer an hour.and.a.half.later. But the.real test.was to.see.if.we.could.even pull this strong boy into the water. The initial entry into the creek bed was a real pulling.contest. Took both of us pulling on two ropes. But.once in, he.went.along.easier.than we.had hoped. We even worked up the nerve to take the ropes off.finally and.see.if.he would.follow. He.would.almost let us.get out of.sight but then he would come. We.crossed.the.creek, took him off the ropes.and.just.left him there to see if he would cross back over on his own. He sure explored every other option but.finally joined us and.there was no place to jump so.he.had to come.thru the.water. Yippee! I believe Sprite has.a.future.a little.brighter than the bbq pit now.

BUT!!!! We have to overcome.the.foot.trimming.thing. That is a nightmare.and I know.his.feet.are.really bad.