G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time)
The goat was one of the earliest animals that we humans adapted into a domestic species, second to the canis lupus familiaris (see dog). The goat has been an important animal for homo sapiens for a myriad of reasons. Their agility, ability to produce milk, meat, leather, and fiber (cashmere) have made them a keystone relationship to many nomadic tribes throughout time.
Anywhere from a few to a dozen of goats will accompany most of our trips, contingent upon how many people and how far we will be going into the backcountry. We will take wethers, which in the goat world are castrated males, as well as does, which will provide us with milk on our journey. We work with our animals year round to train them for the trail. We tend to their health and keep them safe from predators, and in turn they provide us with milk and companionship.
The goat is a loyal, dependable, curious, companion, and much stronger than you’d think. In our modern times goats are used both to sequester carbon through rotational grazing, while creating firebreaks for us living between the wild and urban interface. At Kincentric Circles we value these animals for their adaptability to migrate with us into the wilderness. Carrying packs and foraging on whatever looks good on our travels, we use goats to allow us to pack further, safer, and sillier into the backcountry. On our trips we will explore what shepherding animals entails.
Our goats are very gentle and friendly, they are handled by humans daily and do not tend to be aggressive unless they are being treated uncomfortably. Like most animals each goat has its own unique personality, some goats appreciate affection more than others. Our animals look forward to getting to know you and sharing themselves unabashedly, head first.