Alternate Goat Cart

When I found this bike cart it took me a while to think of a way to use it - you won't see me bike anytime soon, Ithaca is not dutch flat - and what a way it is! With guidance of the Working Goats site I devised shafts from 3/4" electrical piping we have laying around (intended for goat barn electricity someday).

One day while Monica was still pregnant - she's due the next week - I figured, what the heck, it's beautiful weather, Monica LOVES cookies, let's see what happens! I had parked the cart in front of their pasture for a few days for them to get used to the thing and with a handful of horse cookies and the new harness we went to work.

First I walked Monica on her leash around near the barn and close to the cart. She ignored the thing.

I put a cookie in the cart seat which got hoovered up real quick.

Then I walked Monica around while pulling the cart myself, sort of next to her and behind her. This made no impact either.

So I took the big step, maneuvered both in position (with cookies) and hooked her up. Now the cart got a good once over, and then it was time for more cookies according to her!

While leading her by the leash we walked around in front of the barn once or twice at the cost of two more cookies and I unhooked her to end on a good note :)

Monica got a nice mouth full of the fresh spring grass as reward!
She's such a good girl!

The balance of the bike cart is perfect for a toddler or two in the back - or some shopping, but nothing major heavy as the floor is just canvas. And it hardly weighs anything either, it is significantly easier to pull than a metal gardening wagon. I can't wait to put it to good use - and Simon can't either, he loves being towed around the yard!

Looking at the pics I do think I'd like to move the shaft hooks up a couple inches, the point up front seems long and leg room seems tight. Guess we'll know for sure when we start using it for real.

Oh, Monica had healthy twins the Friday after, both girls...
Which means I do not - yet - have a boy to wether and train as a cart animal! Go figure, we got five girls from two mommy goats! And if number three Gazelle really is pregnant (starts to look like it) you see we'll get a boy from her, and a girl from her & buck Jamie I'd want to keep...

A question I received recently, if we have any harnesses for sale - I'm sorry but no, we don't. And really, if you look at the pics, and know basic sewing, you should be able to make one yourself fine! This was my first attempt and it looks and works great - so I am sure you can do it too :)

You can get the materials at Jo-Ann's (webbing, fleece and buckle snaps) for about $20 if I remember correctly, tho I did use a coupon of course. There is someone on the internet who does sell them for about $120, I'm sure you can find her with google (I used her pics to make this one).