MATTAPOISETT — In pre-pandemic times, passing by Cedar Rock Farms often meant getting a glimpse of a riding lesson, but these days, the farm has a little less activity going on. But, there’s still life there.

Especially in the case of Pepper, a baby nigerian dwarf goat who joined the family a little over a week ago.

Cedar Rock Farms owner Veronica Brockwell said she got the goat when she was just 12 hours old. 

“She’ll probably start propelling off the furniture in a week or so,” said Brockwell. 

Not many can say they’ve raised a goat from birth, but this isn’t Brockwell’s first time doing so. 

After a fast, vigorous feeding, Pepper, dressed in a cute sweater, chased Brockwell around the house, hopping all along the way with rescue dogs Baxter and Tacobella trailing behind the goat. 

A name didn’t come right away to Brockwell and her husband, so she put an open call for suggestions on “Mattapoisett Life,” a Facebook group she helps run. After seeing the goat's personality and looking at the possible names, they decided upon Pepper.

She falls in line with the 10 full-sized goats, eight full-sized horses, three mini horses and seven mini pigs at the pet-only farm.

Kelly Jarabek oversees the animals as barn manager and is also an instructor for the farm’s equestrian program.

She said that “it’s been pretty rewarding to teach people” riding and she misses interacting with riders both young and old.

Equestrian centers are an essential business, but they can’t hold lessons.

Still, Jarabek makes sure that the horses are still worked out and taken care of so that they’re in top shape once riders return.

She is also making sure her riders return in top shape, giving out yoga and stretching exercises to work the muscles used in riding that aren’t generally used day-to-day.

The horses also miss their riders too. Jarabek said they love attention and can recognize their riders when they arrive for lessons.