Events + Classes FAQs

We have tried to compile answers to the questions you might have about what to expect when visiting our farm, and to make your experience here as amazing as possible! Some items are specifically related to Goat Yoga classes, but many of the items below apply to any of our events, private visits, or public visiting hours. Please feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions.

COVID-19 UPDATE:

We are currently offering private farm visits by appointment and will be starting to schedule some public dates for those who just want to drop-in (coming soon). The private visits have been great, as your group can come out for some personal “goat time” – so we’ll continue with this format too. Please contact us to book your appointment.

We are also happy to announce that Goat Yoga (GOGA) classes are back! We will only be able to offer selected dates for the classes (although we may add more depending on interest), so reserve your seat early! You can register online at the following link: Goat Yoga Registration

For all visits at the farm, please bring your face masks (they will be needed in certain areas). We will provide sanitizer and hand washing stations at the farm.

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What is Goat Yoga (GOGA)?

Goat Yoga is… well… a yoga class with goats! These adorable little animals interact with the participants, and although uninterrupted meditation is probably not possible, the class is a fun, therapeutic, and totally unique way to exercise and relieve stress.

What should I expect during a Goat Yoga Class?

Please arrive at GottaGoat Farm no earlier than 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to start. We’ll get everyone settled into the class area, give you an overview of the class format, and provide some instructions about how to interact with the goats. Depending on the class and the instructor, you may have some time to first perform a few yoga exercises before the goats are introduced, or they may participate right away. The goats might walk under you, over you, or even lay down beside you. Our staff will be there the entire time just in case you need assistance with any of the goats. Smile, laugh, pet and cuddle with the goats, and let the stresses of your everyday life just slip away. And above all else – expect to have some fun!

What should I bring to a Goat Yoga Class?

You should bring a large (beach) towel/outdoor blanket or yoga mat (one that you don’t mind if it gets a little dirty or if a goat decides to chew on it), as the sessions take place outside on the grass or inside the barn if the weather doesn’t cooperate (PLEASE NOTE: Due to COVID-19, we are not currently loaning out our yoga mats or towels; please make sure to bring your own). You should also bring some water, sunscreen during the day, and insect repellent for morning or evening classes.

What should I wear?

Goats love to nibble! They test everything with their mouths, so wear comfortable clothing that you don’t mind if they happen to nibble on. However, try to avoid anything with dangling strings or pulls, and it is a good idea to keep your jewelry to a minimum. For any of our events and activities you will be walking through the barn and barnyard, so we also recommend closed-toe shoes, such as sneakers.

Where do I pay/register?

For our Goat Yoga (GOGA) classes, registration and payment is done online using the following link: Goat Yoga Registration. For private appointments, public visiting hours, and other events at the farm, the fee is payable by cash only upon arrival at the farm, or by e-transfer in advance (please contact us if you would like to make arrangements to pay in advance). Rates for private and public visits, and other events are provided on our GottaGoat Farm Schedule page.

Can I bring my own animals?

Although we love all animals, we kindly ask that you do not bring your animals to our farm.

Where do I park?

We have parking available at our farm for all events, but it is limited, so we do recommend carpooling whenever possible. For farm visits, we will assist you with where you can park when needed. For larger groups and classes, we will have our staff helping direct you where to park.

Can I pick up the goats?

For the well-being of our little animals, we request that you do not pick up the goats yourself. We are happy to bring a goat to you to hold for a photo or just to cuddle, but we want to make sure all of our animals are handled safely.

Should I wash after petting the goats?

We care greatly about your health and that of our animals, and have several biosecurity polices we would like you to practice. If you have been to a different farm in the last few weeks, we ask that you do not wear the same footwear or clothing when on our farm property. We also request that you wash up and use hand sanitizer both before and after handling our animals. We do have a sink in our barn for just that purpose.

Can I take pictures?

Of course! We encourage you to bring your camera or phone, and there will be time set aside for taking pictures if you are attending a class (as you won’t want to leave your equipment in with the goats during the entire class). We will also take a number of photos during most classes and events, and they will be available on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GottaGoat/

Are there refreshments available?

We have a limited selection of refreshments/water available for purchase.

Are towels/mats provided for the Goat Yoga Class?

We ask that you bring your own yoga mat or a towel/outdoor blanket to use for the class; one that you don’t mind getting dirty or nibbled on (PLEASE NOTE: Due to COVID-19, we are not currently loaning out our yoga mats or towels).

Can we just come and play with the goats and other animals?

You are welcome to come to our farm during a private visit by appointment, or to our public visiting hours (when available)! All other activities and events including Goat Yoga Classes are scheduled for specific times, and require individuals to register in advance. This helps us ensure we have enough parking and that you get a chance to read through our farm policies before coming out here. As we are an operational farm, for your safety and that of our animals, we are not able to have visitors just drop by outside of these times, or have additional people visiting the farm who are not registered in a class, or here for a specific event or activity.

Please note that during public visiting hours, there are certain areas of the farm that will be “viewing only” and entry to these areas is strictly off limits! For your safety and the safety of our animals, we do not allow people to wander through the property, especially in those areas where there are large animals present. We will provide you with that information upon arrival. We also ask that in the areas where you can interact with the animals, you are aware of keeping all gates closed behind you so that our animals remain safely in their separate spaces! All children who visit our farm MUST be supervised by their parent/guardian at all times! We also require that all of the animals at our farm are treated kindly at all times: no rough playing, chasing, or picking up animals is allowed. We can advise you of the best ways to pet the goats and other animals so that everyone is able to enjoy the visit!

Are there restrooms at the farm?

Yes, we will occasionally have porta-potties, but otherwise, the restroom is located in our home. Our staff will be happy to guide you there when needed.

What kind of goats are there?

We have two breeds of miniature goats that participate in the Goat Yoga classes: Nigerian Dwarf Goats and Miniature Silky Fainting Goats. We also have a few other goat breeds who are part of the farm, but don’t participate in the classes, but will certainly be happy to visit with you!

Are there only baby goats?

Nope. We allow our entire herd of goats to interact with everyone, except for our bucks (the full-grown males), and our large goats during our Goat Yoga Classes. The herd includes all the goat moms (does), and all their goat babies (kids), and possibly even some pregnant does. Depending on the time of year, we may have a number of goat babies or they may be a little older. Any of our really young babies will not be allowed to participate in any events for their own safety, but they are usually close by!

What are the age requirements?

For our Goat Yoga (GOGA) classes, we require the participants to be at least 13 years old and comfortable around animals. They will require parental consent on their Liability Waiver Agreement if under 19 years old. If you have a larger group attending, we also have a Group Liability Waiver that you can use instead of individual forms. All of our visitors should be able to make it through the entire class or activity, and we ask that no one wanders around the farm unless they are on a guided tour.

For our public visiting hours, all other events or tours, any younger children must be closely supervised at all times, for both their safety and the safety of our animals.

Will the goats poop?

The goats are in their natural environment and may occasionally poop close by (or sometimes on) your towel or mat if you are attending a class, but not usually on a person (although you should consider it lucky if it does happen)! We will be there to help clean up after them as needed, but rest assured, their poop does not stink and those little pellets are easy to just brush away. And they make great fertilizer!

Where is GottaGoat Farm?

We are located about 20 minutes west of Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. It is a beautiful, scenic area where you can appreciate the joys of nature and the environment. Even the drive here is amazing! If you are participating in a class, you will find a map to our farm located along with the registration information. However, please let us know if you would like specific directions to our farm.

Is there a smoking area?

We can’t have any smoking in our barn, or generally around the farm property, as the Penticton area is usually at a high risk for fires, especially where we are located. We can certainly provide you with a safe place to smoke if needed though – please just ask when you are here.

Do you offer private classes or tours?

Yes! We offer private Goat Yoga Classes as well as Educational Farm Tours. These make amazing corporate activities or team building events! We would love to have your group attend, so please contact us for more information.

One last piece of information:

There is no cell phone service at GottaGoat Farm! Don’t panic – just think of this as your opportunity to really “get away from it all!” We do have a land-line that can be used in case of emergencies, and WiFi is also available.