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. 

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.

Onni

Boss No. 1

Onni is brave, curious and fast. He is interested in everything new. Onni was born at the end of February 2020. He is not the biggest, but most of the time he feels like the boss in the herd. Passion: climbing on rocks, stones and whatever. The steeper & more dangerous the better. He enjoys being scratched between his horns. He loves to drink herbal tea. He very much dislikes pedicure. Onni has a long strong beard and looks pretty with his bright atypical color.

Onni means luck in finnish.

Sulo

Boss No. 2

Black Sulo with his white nose is our giant baby goat. He was born in mid-February 2020 and is already very big. As grown up he will probably weigh about 100kg… Despite his size he is like a teddy bear (most of the time), and not always so brave. He, like all the others, enjoys brushing very much. He often has a lot to say and makes funny sounds. His teenage grumbling voice doesn’t quite fit with his size and appearance. His passion is to eat trees and leaves, and from higher the better.

Sulo & Onni are inseparable. They are best friends and do everything together. And also fight fiercely from time to time.

Sulo means charming in finnish.

Mama Donata

Mama Donata brings calm and order in the stable with her behavior. She lets herself outside of the play and fight of the boys, and likes to watch, somewhat from a distance, for her own peace.

Mama Donata is the mother of Sulo, Toivo, Into & Tähti.

Donata is not so used to hiking with people, as she is not originally trained as a trekking goat. She also likes to come along for shorter walks. However, the delicious food along the way is then on focus for her. She is our most efficient lawnmower.

Toivo

Donatas baby Toivo was born by us at the end of January 2021. Toivo is Sulo’s little half-brother.

When Toivo was the only baby goat, he spent a lot of time with us in and that’s why he is very attached to us. He is calm, obedient and loves to get attention

For Toivo we then got about same age baby goat friend from Avers. Our goats like to play in age groups. Toivo & Sisu are together a team.

Toivo means hope in finnish.

Sisu

Sisu came to us from the beautiful Avers, farm Madrisch, as reinforcement for our herd and play pal for Toivo. Sisu is one month younger than Toivo and quite small. In the beginning it took a little while before Sisu found his place in the herd.

He is our circus goat. He likes to learn tricks. His specialty is to climb up with his front feet everywhere and then twist his head 180 degrees behind.

Sisu is the only one of our goats who bravely comes alone without others for a walk.

Word Sisu is called the “primal power of the Finns”. But what does it mean concretely? If you go to Wikipedia and enter the word there, you will find terms like “endurance”, “strength” and “perseverance”. Also “intransigence” and the “fighting spirit in seemingly hopeless situations” are mentioned. Sisu is a quality that most Finns consider an important part of their identity.

All this matches also for our Sisu.

Into

Goat babies Into & Tähti, fruits of Mama Donata’s own family planning, were born in March 2022. We actually planned a baby break for Donata, but she decided otherwise, and independently visited a buck. And that gave us two new wonderful, unplanned, herd members.

Into is a small quiet & friendly boy who is always with his sister. They both get to spend all their youth with their mama Donata.

Into means in finnish “lively” and “to be enthusiastic”.

Tähti

Tähti, the other one of this year’s Goat babies, is a pretty lovely girl who likes hugs. She is like a mini Donata by her look and character.

Tähti as a young girl is the smallest of the whole group, but she is loud. She moans loudly when she has something to say. I think that she will be a very strong personality with her own opinions.

Tähti means in finnish a star. It is not a common female name in Finland, but as she is the only young girl among the wild boys, she has to be a star!