We got home from the reunion and the very next morning moved the goats over to the fair. They ate their original pen decorations, so this is take two. They really liked having that hay bag all to themselves all week, but were less excited about the small pen.
Maria participated in goat showmanship Monday night and the rabbit skillathon on Tuesday, but the best part of the week was Wednesday: the pack and cart competitions. Maria trained Flash to wear a full harness and pull a wagon Jeff built. She had to lead him around the ring in a few different directions, including backwards.
We thought that was what she had to do, anyway. The judge said that a first year goat and first year exhibitor would only have been expected to lead on a leash, no harness, no wagon, even. The judge was so impressed with Maria that she gave her a hug.
After that came the pack goat obstacle course, which has long been my favorite event of the fair. Maria was excited to see the teeter-totter; she knew Flash liked that one.
One of the tough obstacles every year is walking through the branches without stopping to eat. For goats this is like Uncle Rick not stopping for someone handing out free bacon.
But even worse is the water trough. Goats HATE getting their feet wet. The evening before the event, Maria and Adam were trying to practice in the puddles behind the poultry barn. Flash and Crash were making spectacular, arcing leaps to avoid the puddles the children were trying to drag them through. During the competition, they both went through with only a little argument. (Of course, other goats had spilled out most of the water by then, but don’t tell anyone…)
Adam did not do as much specific training with his goat as Maria did. His philosophy was that he would ask Crash to follow him and Crash would. Dang if it didn’t work for most of the course.
The one thing they worked on a lot was the hay bale jumps, but the first jump in the series was a broomstick, which Crash just walked through (kinda like he does when I’m trying to clean!) and he climbed over the hay bales. He didn’t stop to eat them though, which was Adam’s worry.
When all points and times were tallied, Adam and Crash won fifth place out of something like 20 entries. Pretty good for a first time out!
Then there was a surprise at the end: a goat fun show, which included a costume contest (little goat on the prairie won), a game of musical goats (touch a goat when the music stops) and parent showmanship. Maria insisted. I won my first 4H ribbon for it. 🙂
Next up: rabbits
EICIE 