While trolling through Pearson’s Magazine from July, 1910 I came across an article entitled The Prize Ring, discussing the mental confidence of boxers. From there, I learned a bit about the origin of the term “Get his goat.” Enjoy.
Freddie Welsh, the present lightweight champion of England, a vegetarian with puny hips, watery eyes and a weak mouth, who has never been knocked out, puts is advice to aspirants in three words, ‘Get his goat!’ Originally this phrase was racing slang. To keep a racehorse from going stale a trainer frequently quarters with him a goat, for the pet relieves the thoroughbred of his loneliness. But intriguers have found that by stealing a goat from a horse a day or two before a great race he can be thrown out of his condition. The loss of his favorite companion annoys the horse and he goes into the big event in a highly feminized state of nerves. So, to ‘get his goat’ is to remove his confidence.
These days it is a little political incorrect to describe a high-strung, nervous horse as feminized, but now you have a bit of trivia that you can use at cocktail parties.
Forgotten Stories 
J. G. Burdette
/ April 5, 2013How funny you should mention this. Just the other day I was wondering about the origin of the expression.
rogersachar
/ April 5, 2013That’s because I absorbed the lessons from my post “Thought-full Voters” – https://forgottenstories.net/2013/01/10/thought-full-voters/ – We here at Forgotten Stories come up with story ideas simply through telepathy.
J. G. Burdette
/ April 5, 2013Haha! I’ll bet. I shall have to guard my thoughts more closely now. 😉
rogersachar
/ April 5, 2013Use a tinfoil hat. We’ve found it quite effective.