She Makes Harnesses, Tack For Goats
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Goats can do a lot of work with harnesses, pack saddles and other tack made by Bambi Iles. She knows her products work because she uses them on a daily basis with 15 of her goats that help work on her small farm in Aptos, Calif.
“Goats are very intelligent and easily trained. If a goat is bonded to the trainer, then training becomes very easy. Goats like to please their handlers, and they like to try to make you happy,” Iles says.
She initially purchased two milking does to provide milk for the family. When the herd grew to 30, she needed to find a use for the wethers (neutered male goats).
“I needed to have something for the boys to do on our farm,” she says. “I started by training them to pull things.”
But the harnesses she could purchase were inadequate in the breeching, and the carts and implements would run up and hit the goats in the back legs. She created an easily adjustable harness design with padding.
“I made it so it would function really well on the hills, and I add a lot of padding, especially the breast and girth,” she explains. “I pad everything that might rub the goats. I’m always looking for ways to improve the comfort of the goat.”
She uses quality leather and nylon webbing for adjustable harnesses and halters. Panniers are made of heavy-duty Cordura.
She uses her tack every day when she works her goats – from disking and cultivating the garden to pulling a wagon or hauling packs of firewood or veggies. She has even used some of her largest goats to skid logs out of the woods. On hikes, they make great pack animals, able to carry up to 25 percent of their body weight.
“You often don’t have to haul feed for them as they can browse brush and weeds,” Iles says.
She provides helpful information about raising and working with goats on a blog on her website, which she plans to use to sell her products. She also sells through Etsy (www.bilesharness.etsy.com). In addition to items for goats, she makes and sells tack for mini horses. Adjustable goat halters start at $18, including shipping.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Bambi Iles, B. Iles Harness, P.O. Box 2285, Aptos, Calif. 95001 (bambi@bilesharness.com; www.bilesharness.com).
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She Makes Harnesses Tack For Goats LIVESTOCK Sheep/Goats Goats can do a lot of work with harnesses pack saddles and other tack made by Bambi Iles She knows her products work because she uses them on a daily basis with 15 of her goats that help work on her small farm in Aptos Calif “Goats are very intelligent and easily trained If a goat is bonded to the trainer then training becomes very easy Goats like to please their handlers and they like to try to make you happy ” Iles says She initially purchased two milking does to provide milk for the family When the herd grew to 30 she needed to find a use for the wethers neutered male goats “I needed to have something for the boys to do on our farm ” she says “I started by training them to pull things ” But the harnesses she could purchase were inadequate in the breeching and the carts and implements would run up and hit the goats in the back legs She created an easily adjustable harness design with padding “I made it so it would function really well on the hills and I add a lot of padding especially the breast and girth ” she explains “I pad everything that might rub the goats I’m always looking for ways to improve the comfort of the goat ” She uses quality leather and nylon webbing for adjustable harnesses and halters Panniers are made of heavy-duty Cordura She uses her tack every day when she works her goats – from disking and cultivating the garden to pulling a wagon or hauling packs of firewood or veggies She has even used some of her largest goats to skid logs out of the woods On hikes they make great pack animals able to carry up to 25 percent of their body weight “You often don’t have to haul feed for them as they can browse brush and weeds ” Iles says She provides helpful information about raising and working with goats on a blog on her website which she plans to use to sell her products She also sells through Etsy www bilesharness etsy com In addition to items for goats she makes and sells tack for mini horses Adjustable goat halters start at $18 including shipping Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Bambi Iles B Iles Harness P O Box 2285 Aptos Calif 95001 bambi@bilesharness com; www bilesharness com
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