This is done in humans to select for male babies in those cultures where males are more highly valued…just trivia and not to turn this into a political discussion.
Before the era of AI (and sex-selection) farmers needed to figure out what to do with male baby calves…thus animal husbandry produced little veals as a by-product of milk production.
I am a meat eater. I have actually been inside a slaughterhouse. So I like to think that I make fairly informed choices. My hypocritical self is glad that I dont like the taste of lamb since it is so cute and that I have not been fond of the hogs I have known since I really like pork. 
I try to buy local and humanely raised, but I admit that sometimes my budget rebels. I will eat veal but not “milk fed veal” since I saw the inhumane conditions to produce it. Fortunately I have local egg producers since I also hated the conditions at the huge layer operations.
I am going to assume the barn workers are Hispanic. I say that because as a former horse professional myself, a disproportionate number of barn workers are of Hispanic descent.
Goat roasts are a huge part of Hispanic, particularly Mexican, culture. It’s what you do to celebrate major life events, not unlike how some people in the United States might have a pig roast.
There is ritual and tradition in selecting and butchering your goat. Plus, it’s not like you can run to the local grocery store and pick up pre-packaged goat meat anyway.
Should the workers given their employer/landlord a heads up? Sure. I think most landlords want a heads up any time you bring a new live animal onto the property.
But this is something that happens a lot in some places, including much of the United States. It makes me bristle to read the lack of understanding or the implications that this is some barbaric anomaly. It’s a common cultural practice. If you have friends from Mexico, I hope you are invited to try goat with them and see the process.
I’m raising a 4 year old city boy. I grew up in farm county choosing our roaster chickens from the farm down the lane, receiving gift beef from the ranch on the other side etc etc.
My husband is beyond himself when they have the sheep that tour the city parks here for ‘outreach’ 
Therefore, I try to include the idea of where our food comes from in everyday language. When we see a chicken, I say something about how we ate one this week, or talk about beef and cows and pigs and pork etc. He knows about fishing and whaling enough to say he doesn’t like it and to ask lots of questions about why someone would hunt a whale. We explain that there are cultures that still hunt whales for food.
We also don’t shelter him from the National Geographic moments and explain everything needs to eat. Circle of life.
Of course, we are scientific and not religious, therefore he gets the complicated scientific answers, and takes what he needs from them. We are constantly surprised how much he understands if given the chance.
OP wasn’t concerned about any implications of bringing an outside farm animal onto the premise though, I could understand concern there. OP is upset they are going to eat the goat.
All I can think about is Jurassic Park and the TRex. And Sharknado
Hey, I totally get this…but I lost my appetite while dismembering a beautiful whole Maine lobster beautifully presented at a restaurant…legs…tail…claws…etc.
I was working in the kitchen at this restaurant watching the chef wring the tails off whole lobsters…and the front half of the lobster went jumping down the counter.
You want lobster tails…they come from a lobster which is usually dismembered alive for the tail to be served to you.
It’s interesting that my opinions and reactions to these things have changed since I became a parent. I grew up shucking oysters on the beach. Now I think I’d likely cry if someone shucked a life oyster. I’d definitely have a big problem with a live lobster being torn apart.
That said… lions making a kill is not exactly the most ‘humane’ event.
I am realistic but not cruel when describing to my son. He already has expressed not liking that a fish is hooked and reeled in. He knows the fish feel pain. It’s not like this is a huge topic of discussion, but I also don’t want to raise a child that thinks meat magically appears in the grocery store neatly packaged.
There’s a whole YouTube channel devoted to Leon the Lobster who came from a supermarket to become a beloved “pet” to a guy well versed in lobster care. Watching the transformation from almost a catatonic lobster to a lively and interactive crustacean is really remarkable.
My hubby is fascinated with Leon the Lobster!
I’m chuckling that they were going to transport the goat to somewhere “suitable” - some of y’all are precious, and I mean that as kindly as I can muster.
You mean, the BO needs to come to this arrangement on your behalf? You are crossing your fingers rather than asking the BO for how she will handle it?
Sounds like a set up for the next big drama.
Everyone is welcome to their own preferences. Sometimes our life preferences bump up against someone else’s life. Since it is the BO’s place, it is up to you to move elsewhere, or to stay and shut up.
You could calmly tell the BO that you hadn’t anticipated this situation and would like to respectfully ask what you can expect in the future. If the answer is that there will be goats and goat slaughter on the premises, just say that you hope they understand that you need to move on. If you had known ahead of time you would not have boarded there.
So are you going to clear that up with the BO now? If not, why not?
That’s what I was thinking a well. What if the goat had rec’d medication that required no food/water for X time to work properly? A lot of what if’s.
On finding a surprise goat, the best solution is to leave the matter with the BO as it is their property. Why assume that some sort of rescue is needed? The BO will sort this out.
If the BO wants help, the real personal effort is taking the time and trouble to hunt down the animal’s owner. Ask the owner “I was surprised to see a goat and just wanted to be sure everything is ok. Can I help you with water and food while the goat is here?” The owner may be a bit startled, but reasonable people will respond reasonably.
On the one hand I can appreciate having a heart for animals and wanting to help.
On the other hand I can’t imagine that a horse owner would interfere with someone else’s animal without asking. What if someone found owner’s horse and decided to make some changes in the horse’s immediate situation without asking her? It’s the same thing.
I too would not want to witness goat slaughter. Even though I fully accept humane slaughter and am a meat eater. I’m sure most boarders don’t want to see it, either.
But I’m sure the BO has the same wish for the boarders and if asked will readily reassure them.
Yeah I’m with you, for the first few seconds I thought the whole farm was underwater from flooding from the sea (hurricane flooding?) and the shark swam in, and a hungry boarder thought “aha!”. But just for about 5 seconds.
When I was a kid growing up in the suburbs, every year my folks were given half of a processed calf from my maternal grandfather’s ranch, his annual gift to a growing family. (Along with a bottle of bourbon for my dad. The other half went to my uncle’s family.)
It came in large parts wrapped in white butcher paper that needed to be carved down even further to the amount needed for single meals. Then repackaged and put in the big chest freezer.
Mom did the honors at the kitchen counter. My mom explained everything to us little kids while she was doing it. Including the parts and which were the finest cuts. Plus Mom had a small garden in a corner of the yard. When Granny visited she had us shelling snap peas.
We were growing up in the burbs and knew perfectly well where food came from.
Where I am it used to be that even in the suburbs almost every kid in school had grandparents and possibly aunts & uncles who lived on farms.
That just isn’t the case any more. We not only have generations that don’t know where food comes from, most of them have never seen a horse, cow, chicken, pig or other farm animal in person. Never petted one.
Had my horse and a friend’s horse at a state park that allowed trail riding one weekend. Kids came from everywhere wanting to pet the horses, saying “this is the first time I’ve even seen a horse!” They were so excited to “see” a horse and pet one. So amazed at how large they are. They were thinking the size of a really big dog, these two were 16.2h OTTB’s.
They know farm animals only from youtube or stories. Farm animals are almost as mythical to them as hippogriffs.
Do we need more petting zoos? With farm animals, not exotics?
Oh like I haven’t heard that one before 
just kidding, it gets me every time
Some people keep saying this and don’t get it. What makes you(g) believe that the OP or any other boarders were going to be witnessing a goat slaughter?
How do you make the leap from “a goat is tethered in a shed on the far side of the property” to "We’re going to be forced to watch it be slaughtered?
Oh stop. You are trying to make a big drama where there is none.
The barn workers live on the property. If they are in possession of a goat destined to be eaten, there is a reasonable question as to if they are planning to slaughter it there. Where I live the answer is probably ‘yes’.
OP said she doesn’t want to be associated with a premise where slaughter takes place. Everyone has the right to make such a choice.
It’s just a question, not an inquisition.
What bothers me as well is the OP’s lack of understanding that their ignorant reaction probably really messed up the timing and perhaps the fun, of a family (and their friends) Christmas dinner.
I see no cognizance, no realization, no regret and no remorse from the OP, that they have wantonly intruded into other peoples lives, and on a holiday no less.
It’s on the menu in many fine dining restaurants in Mexico.
What you initially said was:
“Witness” is a far cry from just concluding that the goat will be slaughtered someplace on the property.
And your reply completely sidestepped my issue. If you and the OP want to fuss about being forced to know that the barn help are going to slaughter a goat and roast it to celebrate Christmas, go ahead. My issue is people going on about not wanting to witness the slaughter, which is just inflammatory hyperbole to try and make the situation more dramatic than it is.
Neither the OP nor the BO seemed to care a bit about any hazard the goat posed as apparently they went straight to the goat, retied it, and fed/watered it. If they were so worried about the goat posing some sort of health threat to the horses on the property, they shouldn’t have done this.
This was purely about finding a goat tied up in a shed with no food and water and being confused and upset by that, and then being even MORE upset when they found out why the goat was tied up in the shed with no food and water.
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