Goats               

Notes on Goats:  While all of our goats are used for educational purposes, goats are normally production animals.  Boers are raised as a source of meat, while Alpines are raised for milk and cheese. Nubians are used for either meat or dairy, but more often for dairy.  And Pygmies?  Well, they're just cute and are generally kept as pets!

Copper

I am the “baby” of the barnyard here. I love to be loved. I have been known to doze off when being held by a human friend, and I’d love it if you would scratch my head when visiting.  Like my best friend Lucy, I came to GHF in May of 2005 when I was just a few months old. If my belly didn’t already give it away, my favorite thing to do is eat! I am not getting any taller, but I’m still growing: even though my legs aren’t getting any longer, I seem to keep getting wider.

Lucy  

Even though my name is Lucy I am a wether, which is means I am a boy goat. I was born in Kentucky in the spring of 2005 and came to GHF with my best friend Copper when I was just a few months old. My nickname is “Houdini” because I can magically escape any pasture I am put in. To tell the truth, I am not really magical, but I am really good at finding little spaces to squeeze though when no one is looking. I will stay small because I am a pygmy goat and our breed is known for our small stature and huge hearts.

Horses

Huckleberry

I am a miniature horse who was born 1983. Miniature horses like me cannot be taller than 34 inches at the shoulder or we get classified as a pony. I am proud to tell you that I am only 28-and 1/12 inches high, and secure in my miniature horsedness.

Another thing I am quite proud of is fact is that we “minis” were first bred as pets for European royalty over 400 years ago. But all of us were not pampered pets of kings. Some of my breed were used to haul coal in low, dark mines. I am related to the big horses that were used on farms, like this one, to do the heavy work until tractors and combines took over. That is why I am here, to represent the older way of farming.

In spite of my small size, I am a full-fledged Stallion, or intact male horse. I can be quite a handful, especially if a lady horse, or mare, is nearby. Here in my stall, however, I am quite friendly, and you can pet me if I come near. But don’t make loud noises or move fast. I startle easily.

Please, don’t feed me. It takes very little food to make me sick.

Shorty

I am a ten year-old dwarf miniature horse. Both of parents were Huckleberry’s size, but I have different proportions because I am a dwarf—which means I have a genetic mutation. My coat is strawberry roan with a flaxen tail. I was born on May 4, 1997 at the Heart Farm in Bethel, Ohio. I came to Gorman in the spring of 2005 with my best friend Stormy.

My favorite place to be is out in the pasture eating grass. Though I may act timid at first, I sure do love attention, especially if someone scratches between my two front legs.

Stormy

I am a 16 year-old miniature donkey. If you think I’m handsome now, you should have seen me in my youth! I won blue ribbons in halter and showmanship classes when I was just a youngster.

Now I spend my days hanging out with my long-time pal Shorty and new friend Huckleberry. My favorite time of the day is feeding time and I let everybody know with a loud bray.

Rabbits

Lappy

I am a female French Lop who came to GHF early in the spring of 2006. My owners love me very much, and knew that I would be much happier on a farm than in an apartment. I had surgery before I came, so I can’t have any babies. I had to stay in a hutch for a week or so until I healed, but I got to meet my new friends, Cookie and Bernice, through the fence. Now we spend all day hopping around munching on grass, digging holes and taking naps together!

Chickens

Stay tuned for new pictures coming soon!

Sheep