What is the origin of "Getting Your Goat !" meaning to irritate,induce frustration, confound. anger some one

Question

I have sought this answer at various places online but there seems to be no one claiming any explanation plausible or not !

Answer 1

Well I think I know the answer to this one...

Many years ago before the mass production of paper money, and the hand forging of coins goats were seen as the most valuable animal alive.
Indeed goats were never eaten (hence the prior expression 'don't get my goat' being so popular) and were only used as walking sources of wealth.
As I was saying the goat (or indeed 'value animal') were kept in secure surroundings, and were protected by lock and key. This lock and key combination, was also somewhat confusingly referred to as a goat.
So in conclusion "getting your goat" could either refer to I am getting your currency or I intend to unlock your wealth.

Answer 2

Supposedly it is an American saying from the early 20th century. Goats were often used as companions to race horses, especially nervous or highly strung ones. Sometimes people would try to upset the horse by stealing the goat & this led to the popular saying.

Answer 3

Here's an implausible suggestion:

King Saul claimed that he had taken no man's goat, ie that he had upset no one. So if someone was upset with the king his neighbours might surmise "He's got your goat"

Answer 4

here's a theory.