After a Covid19 cancellation we finally got to go and learn (play with and cuddle) about some beautiful Angora goats. After a long trip down to the New Forest and avoiding the wild ponies, deer and donkeys mostly on the side of the road but some wandering into the road without a care in the world. We had a lovely welcome from Ian and Frances (www.newforestmohair.co.uk) even though we had arrived early.
Once everyone had arrived and after a coffee and an introduction we split into 2 small groups (5 total on the course today) Sarah and I went first to learn the practical aspects of the goats, we learnt how to handle (carefully holding the goats fleece below the chin, inject (just saline under Ian’s watchful eye a vet of many years ), dose/worm (funny they are quite ok with my hand in their mouth holding it open to put the wormer liquid in from a syringe) and how to trim hooves (amazing how strong and wriggly these year old ones are). We then had an honest in depth chat about ups and downs of keeping/breeding .
After a break for lunch (bring your own picnic sitting outside in the sunshine) we went for a tour of the farm with Francis (meeting all of the other goats out in the fields ) and a chat to answer all of our questions (the great thing is they both give a real picture of what its like to keep goats, no sugar coating just honesty).
To finish off over a coffee more information about diseases, breeding, general husbandry, a final question and answer session and a quick tour around the fibre shop before heading home .
