If you’re new to HSFGR or sorting out where your goats fit, you’re not alone. These are some of the most common questions we've been asked.
A: HSFGR is an independent registry with its own standards and focus. Some goats may be dual-registered with other organizations, and breeders are free to keep those registrations if they wish. What HSFGR emphasizes is:
- A Myotonic base – fainting heritage is treated as a defining trait.
- A mid-sized, functional frame – length, capacity, and overall soundness, up to and including reproductive soundness, matter as much as hair
- A silky coat on top of correct structure – coat should enhance, not hide, the goat
- Written, transparent rules – for breed identity, shows, conduct, and youth programs
We are not trying to redefine what other registries do; we are putting into writing the specific type and philosophy that many of us have been quietly breeding for from the beginning.
A. Not at all. Visitors are welcome to explore the site at their own pace. You can move room to room based on your interests, or begin with the sections most relevant to your needs.
A: It’s more specific than “just more hair.”
In HSFGR’s view, a Silky Fainting Goat should combine Myotonic foundation, recognizable myotonic traits, sound structure, body length, capacity, adequate bone, and a refined single silky coat with drape, texture, and sheen.
The coat is an important part of the identity, but it is an overlay, not the whole story.
HSFGR is not simply taking any Myotonic goat and adding hair. Our focus is preserving a recognizable silky-coated fainting goat type rooted in Myotonic heritage, with structure, temperament, usefulness, coat quality, and long-term breeder stewardship all considered together.
A. Heavens No. HSFGR does not require you to leave any other registry.
Our focus is on preserving heritage silky fainting traits with clear, honest records - not on forcing anyone to “pick a side.”
A: No. HSFGR is not anti-small or anti-mini. Size alone is not the problem. Our concern is when extreme smallness or trend-driven type begins to erase:
- Myotonic character
- Structural soundness
- Capacity and function
Within HSFGR’s standard, there is room for a range of heights and coat abundance, as long as the goat remains clearly Myotonic in heritage, sound in structure, and within a functional, heritage-type frame. Toy or novelty goat types are registrable, but not our goal.
A. The fainting (myotonic) trait is a key heritage trait for HSFGR. We recognize that some goats faint more obviously than others and some goats carry the trait but don't faint, however they have/give offspring that do. Age, condition, and handling can affect how visible myotonia is.
Herd history, pedigree, conformation, coat, and other signs of myotonic heritage all matter. A goat with no recognizable myotonic heritage or expression at all may need closer review
When in doubt, we may ask for video, a MIE visit, additional information, or treat the goat as Provisional until more is known.
A. You can absolutely work on moving a herd into HSFGR.
Your first step is to apply for membership. Once accepted start with your core breeding animals and then register kids and younger stock in relation to those foundation animals.
If you’re looking at a large number of goats, complicated pedigrees, or multiple existing registries…it may be helpful to email [email protected] with an overview. We can help you plan the most efficient and reasonable way to bring your herd into the HSFGR system.