Advice needed about an elderly horse's companion animal

[auburngrad82]

We have a friend who has an old horse (he'll be 29 in January)and his health has deteriorated to the point where he may not make it to the end of the year. He has a companion animal, a goat, who is very attached to him. My wife and I have offered to take the goat and to give it a good home. We have several acres of land, a barn, and a fenced pasture so it's doable.

The question I have is will the goat adapt to life without his horse? I'm prepared to get a second goat as a companion, since my parents have a dairy goat farm and will gladly give me a companion for the little goat. We can guarantee that the goat will be safe and well-taken care of, but realistically, will the goat adapt to life without his horse?

We have experience with goats but not with rehoming an animal who has lost his constant companion of the last five years. We have dogs who have been around goats and sheep so they won't hurt the goat. In fact, the younger lab mix will probably think the goat is the coolest thing since sliced dog treats.

Do you think that the dogs can replace the horse as companions or will the goat adapt to a solitary life? Or, if we get a second goat, will the rescued goat adapt to this? I'd hate to take the little goat and have it grieve itself to death.

You can pm me if you don't want to post in the thread.

[Whoa_Nelly]

1. Look at it this way

The Facts:
The goat is going to lose his companion.
If you don't take him, he will not get the attention to transition that you can offer him.
Having other animals for him to bond with is a plus.



You can't foretell his short or long term response, but you you are giving him the best of all possible options. And, with so many other animals, he has a greater chance of forming new attachments.

The fact that he has an attachment to the horse is probably more about the two animals' personalities than anything else.

Given that the goat has a personality where he can form attachments with other animals, the chances are greater that, given time and attention, he will adjust to his new home and friends.

I would wait before getting him a companion goat. Give him time to make new friends and establish his territory within the new space.
Maybe you could introduce him to another goat later, or have one that has an even temperament visit for a while to see how that works out.

You really can't do more than you have already planned to do. You are doing him a wonderful favor by being compassionate about and for this goat. And, for all you are planning to do, the fact that you are willing to assess prior to, and, no doubt, will assess and respond after you take him in, means that both you and the goat will figure this out over time.

You are very kind.
That's one lucky goat :hug:

[auburngrad82]

2. Thanks for the reply

The old horse has outlived 4 other goats but Snowflake has the misfortune of outliving her buddy. She'll have a great home and we'll keep a close eye on her to make sure she's eating and stays healthy, but I'm sure there will be a transition period. She's never been on her own and never liked it when she couldn't see her horse.

We'll make it work.

[dropkickpa]

3. If it easily doable

I think getting another goat as a companion would be a great idea. They are naturally herd animals, so a companion would most likely be appreciated, especially after losing his friend.

[riderinthestorm]

4. In my experience with draft horse teams

when one of the partners dies, the other horse usually does fine without them. We had one draft team where the pair had been together almost 22 years and when the one partner died, the other one just went and bonded with another horse that very same day.

I know, it sounds cruel but I'd be wary of anthropomorphizing a goat's emotions. I will qualify that with a confession that I don't have any experience with goat behavior... do they tend to conform to typical herd dynamics? Horses have a brain the size of a walnut so their emotional range is pretty limited. When their favorite buddy dies, every horse that I have observed just went and found another buddy....

Does this goat have a pleasant attitude to start with? Perhaps you could introduce the "new" and future companion goat into the herd now or is the goat "possessive" and would simply drive the newcomer away?

That said, I would try to get the two goats together as soon after the demise of the old horse as possible so the goat DOES have another companion to turn to, if it so desires. And I would do this at YOUR place since the new situation/location will assist in facilitating the goat's bonding as they seek to find comfort in the routine change. As an example, horses that have never met before in their lives will typically tend to "bond" in a horse trailer on the way to a competition since the routine change seems to bring about this desire to group into a herd, any herd when confronted with that kind of disruption of their normal routine.

Regardless of what you decide to do, good luck and you are a good soul! :hug:

[livetohike]

5. I think all your sweet little herders will make the goat feel at home

The goat won't be lonely with all the company and you'll give it a nice place to live.

:hi:

[auburngrad82]

6. Update

It looks like my wife has found a coworker who will take the goat to live with her horses. If it doesn't work out then we'll take her. Either way she'll have a good home. Thanks to everyone for their input.

[CottonBear]

7. That sounds like a good outcome.

Goats can be destructive (to cars, plants, trees, structures, etc.) The goat will be happier with other herd animals. Good luck to the goat and to the old horse. The old horse needs warm and waterproof sheets and blankets. Feed the horse (water) soaked hay and feed it soaked beet pulp (one scoop) mixed with its grain order to prevent colic.

[auburngrad82]

8. The old guy's been at the vet since Saturday

They specialize in large animals, especially horses. They're doing all they can and he's a tough old guy but it's not looking good.

[CottonBear]

9. Poor horse. It might be humane to euthanize him if he's not going to get better.

We've had to do that at the farm where I keep my mare. It's hard on thepeople but it's humane for the equine. 29 is very old for a horse. You one don't want an old horse in poor health to go down (colic or other illness) and suffer in great pain when you're not there. At some point, they just wear out: teeth, digestive system, bones, etc.