Take a hike, and take your goat too
Continued from previous page
This same bonding is evident on the hike. All eight
goats have vibrant colored nylon collars and leads. They
are led out of the gate way and across the dirt road
separating the 15 acre Geiser Ranch from the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) area. Once across the road,
Norm and Donna remove all of the leads and place them
in the pack. The goats will stay with their human compan-
ions.
Staying doesn't mean the goats won't dawdle a bit to
browse on the woody native plants. Donna points out a
type of sage that acts as a natural wormer. She points out
another shrub that provides oil for their shiny coats.
Many of the nutrients goats need are contained in the
various woody plants. She also gives them kelp, herbs,
hay and grain.
Asked why her goats, raised by the doe, seem to be so
/- well bonded, Geiser says, "I think the bonding is in direct
':orrelation to the amount of time a person spends with
them. I am with my animals for at lea.st six hours a day."
Norm leads off and the goats bound along sometimes
in a string and other times fanned out but never far. Donna
is lagging behind to video tape some of the activity. This
creates a problem of divided loyalties for some of the
youngsters. They are eager to be ahead, but don't want to
leave Donna. "They don't like to have anyone in front of
them," Donna says.
All of these goats are wethers, castrated male goats.
"Wethers make the best pack goats," Donna says. "Does
are sometimes used, but are better utilized for breeding."
She knows about goat breeding. It' s part of her business.
Her favorite goats are hybrids like Czar Nicholas who is
a cross between a LaMancha and an Alpine. He gets his
personality from the LaMancha and his size from the
Alpine. The best of both breeds, she says. She also raises
Oberhasli, Saanen and Santa Theresas.
What is the most difficult part of training? "Teaching
the goat that your lunch is not his lunch," Geiser laughs.
She uses a squirt gun, with a shot of water in the face, for
this lesson and others.
Who would use a pack goat? "Hikers, seniors, pho-
tographers, anyone who
enjoys hiking and has gear
to carry even if its only wa-
ter and lunch," she says. Thd
goat can carry one-third of
its body weight. In addition
to taking the weight off your
back, the goat is agood com-
panion. He also provides an
extra set of very keen eyes.
Two extra sets are better.
Geiser doesn't like to sell
just one goat. "It's better to
have a pair. They are hap-
pier with company, and it's
just as easy to provide hous-
ing and care for a pair."
Excellent in the desert,
goats don't need the amount
of water other animals do,
Donna says. "Their bodies
have the ability to recycle
urine if needed. However, I
would choose to never let
my goats be without wa-
ter."
It doesn't appear the
Geiser Ranch goats are
without anything. They live
.... ) in large, clean areas en-
closed by high, secure fenc-
ing. There are open, roomy
houses to give them pro-
tection from sun and
weather when they want it.
They have places to climb,
jump and play, and the ani-
mals have plenty of com-
panionship both goat and,
human.
The nutrition program
is carefully planned and
provides for all their needs.
Hooves are trimmed regu-
larly and veterinary care is
provided as needed. In ad-
dition, the goats enjoy regu-
lar hikes as often as once a day in the best weather but
never less than once a week.
The Geisers started their pack animal business with
llamas and still raise, train and sell them. Norm says the
llamas can carry more weight than goats. Donna prefers
the goats.
"Goats are easier to work with. They bond with
people, but llamas don't need you," she says. Norm
admits a pack llama needs to be kept on a lead as it would
never stay with you like a goat does.
Donna calls her young goats, like Fargo, pre-trained.
A six month old pre-trained goat will sell for $150 to
$200. An experienced packer would sell for $200 to
$300. She will happily talk about goats. For more infor-
mation or to make an appointment to see goats and/or
llamas call 727-7399.
Las Vegas was home for many years for the couple.
Their one-half acre near Craig Road and Jones was way
out of town, but the area grew up around them. They
looked at a number of rural areas where Norm could still
commute to his job at Southwest Gas Company and liked
Pahrump the best.
They purchased 20 acres as far west as possible
before it becomes BLM territory. Later they sold five
ares. Three years ago, the couple became residents.
Norm built for the animals first and is now building a log
house.
They have stunning views from every window of the
new house. It's quiet and ideally peaceful. Best of all it's
the perfect place to raise pack goats with a natural
training area just across the road.
PAHRUMP VALLEY
Call Joy Morrissey
727-4
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