Why goats?

Goats are curious, sweet and funny. They learn quickly and they are very intelligent.

However, it is not possible to tame them completely. They always remain a bit wild and very stubborn. They do what they want. It is not possible to force goats – they have to want it themselves. With a lot of love and with convincing arguments they can be motivated, then they gladly do a lot of things. To win the friendship and trust of such an animal is something special.

Each of our goats is an individual with great character. They have very different voices and ways of dealing with different situations. I call them by their own names – for what the goats responds very well. No day with them is the same and a smile is guaranteed. However, long nerves are also sometimes required. Every day I learn something new from them and the group dynamics among themselves. At the same time, I also learn something about myself. Animals are like mirrors for us humans. With a bad mood or with time pressure nothing goes here.

The connection with animals is something special. Being out and about with animals in the nature and the mighty mountain scenery is something magical and just feels good. On the way you form a team with the animals. It calms you down and makes you forget the world around you. Goats puts a smile on our faces and in our hearts.

The goats hikes freely with us. The big motivation for them is the delicious food they find on the way; herbs, branches and perennials. Because goats are curious animals, they like variety and are open to discover exciting new places. I only lead them on a leash when it is necessary for them and their safety. They can do that, but do not enjoy it. The beauty of hiking with goats is gaining their trust so they want to accompany us freely. Both people and animals enjoy the adventure together in nature.

If you’re still asking, why goats? Why do you go hiking with goats? Here is the answer summarized in a few key words: Joy, adventure, team building, friendship and to experience nature in an unique way. 

Onni

Boss No. 1

Onni is brave and curious, and sometimes bit bully. Onni was born at the end of February 2020. He is not the biggest, but with his tall beard he is the Boss (at leat most of the time).

Onni prefers making contact towards new people by himself, rather than new people making contact to him. He often seeks eye contact, and with people he does not know he tends to observe them very intensively and look into their eyes.

Onni enjoys being scratched between his horns, but he’ s not so much into cuddling. On cold winter days he, as all the other goats as well, loves to drink warm herbal tea. He very much dislikes pedicure. Onni looks pretty with his bright atypical color for Capra Grigia breed.

Onni means luck in Finnish.

Sulo

Boss No. 2

Sulo is the Vice President. He is always by Onni’s side, they are always like clued together. They are inseparable. They eat together, they walk next to each other and also fight (play) fiercely every now and then. 

Black Sulo with his white nose is our giant “baby goat”. He was born in mid-February 2020 and is huge. He weighs about 100kg and his horns are very massive. Despite his size he is like a teddy bear (most of the time), and not always so brave. During the pedicure he’s like a macaroni and wants to lie on the floor, which doesn’t exactly make our work easier….=) 

He loves to be brushed. He often has a lot to say and makes funny sounds. His teenage grumbling like voice doesn’t quite fit with his size and appearance. 

Sulo is a traditional man’s name in Finland, which means charming.

Mama Donata

Mama Donata, our older Italian flair,  brings calm and order in the herd with her behaviour. She lets herself on a side of the play and fight of teenagers, and likes to watch, somewhat from a distance, for her own peace.

She is lowest on the hierarchy. However as soon as something scaring comes up, she takes over on the lead.

Mama Donata is mother of Sulo, Toivo, Into & Tähti. She is also grandmother of Sisu. And she was feeding Onni when Onni was baby.

Donata is the only “real goat” from our herd. Until we got her, she used to spend her summers up on the mountains with hundred of other goats. She does not mind rain, and eats green delicaties as long as she can find something outside.

She was 7 years old when we got her and she started to practise her trekking career. She happily joins for the hikes. However, the delicious food along the way stands on focus for her. She is our most efficient lawnmower.

Toivo

Toivo was born at our farm in the end of January 2021.  At that time we had a lot of snow, road was closed and stable was reachable only by foot. Luckily Donata did her part excellently and everything went well. 

Toivo is calm, obedient and absolutely loves to get attention.  He is adorable and very kind. Toivo likes cuddling and loves to be brushed. All of our goats are very connected to us, but I would say that with Toivo the connection is even on a higher level.

Toivo is brave and curious and, always ready for new adventures! With treats he would go with me to thew moon if needed! =)

Toivo means hope in finnish.

Sisu

Sisu came to us from the beautiful Avers valley. As a small goat baby he had in the beginning bit hard time to find his place in herd. He however did not give up, and has reached rather high position in the herd. He has capacity even for a Boss position in the future..

Sisu is bit smaller than the other grown up boys, but that makes him very fast and excellent climber. Sisu is also an acrobat, and his speciality are his yoga stretches he’s doing daily- jumping towards the wall and twisting his head 180 degrees behind. 

Sisu likes everyone and loves to be cuddled. He is also always ready for new adventures! 

Sisu means the Finnish mindset, if you want something, you go through the rock if needed, to get what you want. That matches for Sisu also very well.

Into

Into & Tähti, fruits of Mama Donata’s own family planning, were born in March 2022. We were not planning new members for our herd, but Mama Donata decided others, and independently visited a bock during her summer holiday. That gave us two new wonderful, unplanned, herd members.

Into is very kind and very laid back personality. When other boys are messing around, he takes it easy. He is excellent climber. Most of the time he is hanging together with her sister Tähti.

So that we did not have to separate anyone from the herd when Into & Tähti were small, we had to do a hard decision and castrate Into at early age. That’s why his horns are smaller, and he does not have beard.

Into is also an old Finnish man’s name and means “lively” and “to be enthusiastic”.

Tähti

Tähti is the other one of Mama Donata’s surprise babies. She is like a mini Donata by her look and character.

Tähti is very kind and likes to be cuddled. However touching her feet and stomach is no go. Tähti is little shy with new people, and with other goats she stays away from games and fights. As a young girl she has a special position in the herd, and she is being treated with special care.

Tähti is hanging mostly together with his brother Into. From the big boys, Sulo and Sisu are her favourite.

Äs Tähti has spent her whole life with her mom, she is still very dependant & connected on her. She still need quite much convincing to go for a hike without Donata.

Tähti means star in Finnish. As she is the only young girl among the wild boys, she has to be a star!

Capra Grigia

Our goats are breed Capra Grigia, gray mountain goats.

In 1997, ProSpecieRara launched the “Capra Grigia” project with the last grey goats from Ticino and the southern valleys of Graubünden, with the aim of saving the grey mountain goat. Prospecierara, a Swiss foundation, ensures the survival of genetic and cultural-historical diversity.
When ProSpecieRara started the project, only a few isolated representatives of the once widespread Calanca, Leventina, Valmaggia and Riviera goats were left. Saving every single one was hopeless due to the few remaining animals, and therefore all the grey goats still alive were grouped together to form the “Capra Grigia”. From the beginning, the Italian name was also used in German-speaking Switzerland – a homage to the home of the proud greys. Nowadays the population of the gray mountain goats is increasing.

The Capra Grigia stands out among the other breeds with its attractive grey coat color. The coat is short, and the bucks and many goats have goat beards. Both genders have strong horns.

Gray mountain goats are multitalented goats.
The Capra Grigia is not a leader in any specific field, but good average in all disciplines, which makes it interesting for all those who want a well-balanced and robust goat. The traditional breed is therefore suitable both as a mother goat with good maternal instincts, as a dairy goat that gives respectable milk without concentrated feed, even after long marches, and as a robust landscape manager in the fight against bush encroachment. And of course, many hobby goat owner’s heart beats faster at the sight of these headstrong, grey beauties. It should be noted that the Capra Grigia belong to the more temperamental of their species and definitely need a spacious and well-structured stable.

For us our Capra Grigia goats are first of all our pets. Trekking partners and as well landscape maintenance masters. Their off-road capability and temperament make them ideal companions up on the mountain.