How well do horses, goats, and LGD mix?

[la dee da]

I have read that the best way to fully utilize pasture land is to put both a browser and a grazer on the land. Since I want both goats and possibally horses when I move out I was wondering how well they do together. Okay, I'm thinking that I would get Kiko goats for meat, the horses would be Shire (since I love them and they could double as a working horse), and I also would like a couple of Anatolians for goat protection. My biggest concerns would be that I do not want to have to disbud the goats, the horses might step on the kids, and I don't know how well LGD and horses get along.

Any ideas/experiences?

(oh yeah, I have thought about using rotational grazing where both the goats and horses would use the paddocks at different times, but since I want to stay away from electric I haven't been able to figure out how)

 

[farmgirlie1031]

I don't let the horses and goats together because a horse could get too playful and kick and kill a goat. I do let them share a paddock just not at the same time.

 

[ShadyGlade]

I have a mule, two horses, sheep and goats sharing pasture space. The only problems that we've had came when little ones were stepped on by larger animals. So now there is no pasture sharing when the kids or lambs are small. It seemed to happen when the little ones were new and first out in the main area. If they got on the other side of the larger animals and panicked they sometimes ran right under the horses and spooked them. However I have a neighbor whose horse will reach over the fence and grab sheep or goats if she can reach them. They've had a couple injured and lost a few lambs this way.

 

[toletiquesbysam]

Up the road from us, they have 2donkeys, a horse, and numerous goats all living together in a pasture. My QH, I would not even try it with because she's been trying to kill our puppy since we got him. Soo I would say it depends on the temperment of your horse, if they will allow it, then it could work but at the 1st sign of irritation I'd seperate them!

 

[Chirpy]

I would also say that it 'might' work for you but it might not. Do you want to take the chance of a dead goat? I have a Belgian mare and she has stepped on a dog once, killing it. It wasn't done out of anger, I just don't think she realized the little dog was there. So, I'd be quite concerned about that.

Once the goats are full grown, you may be fine but I'd still be careful and keep a close eye on how the horse acts around the goats.

The LGD should be perfectly fine with them once it's grown also.

 

[la dee da]

Thanks for the info, I knew you guys would know the answer !

I'm not the type to take chances, so I'll go with separate paddocks

 

[Equest94]

USUALLY horses and goats get a long very well. Goats are often used as companion animals for horses and although accidents do happen, I have never had an experience where a horse killed a goat...

If you do not plan on sharing pasture space, I suggest you consider getting another horse (or some kind of equine) to keep the other one happier.

 

[FrizzleFreak]

Just a note-disbudding is only painful to the goat for about 2 hours (maybe, I'm judging by noisiness, and I have Nubians and they are super whiny) It can prevent injuries in the future, and most breeds can only be registered with no horns. Goats with horns know that they have horns and are not squeamish about using them. If you can find sombody else with goats, then they probably disbud and you can have a disbudding party and look at alll the cute babies! That's what we do, and it's my 2 cents.

 

[SarahFair]

What is a LGD?

 

[Chirpy]

SarahFair asked:

What is a LGD?

Livestock Guardian Dog​