Well, after yesterday's post, I figured I better lighten things up a little before losing all my readers. So, today we examine one of the often overlooked uses for goats . . . transportation. The picture above was taken in 1915, and the little girl pictured is my Grandmother, Elizabeth Elder. She is pictured next to her dandy goat cart, and halter trained transportation goat.
In looking at this picture, I was wondering if it was unusual, or if other people halter trained goats to pull wagons and carriages. What I found was that at the turn of the last century, it was quiet common.
The picture above was taken in 1904, and shows children in Goat Carriages in Central Park, in New York City. Similarly, the image below was taken at Coney Island in about 1900, and shows goat-drawn Surrey Wagons.
I am really impressed with this goat mode of transport and am thinking that perhaps I should procure a team of wagon-trained goats, get myself a little Surrey, and be in the parade next summer. Perhaps then people would finally begin to take me seriously as a Gentleman Farmer.
