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Ruminations
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“This
is the spot where I’ll be sending out my observations…
on a wide range of subjects.”
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This
is the spot where I’ll be sending out my observations,
thoughts, speculations, opinions, etc., on a wide range of
subjects. I will include herd management, behavior and
interactions, clever (or not so) husbandry practices, training
blocks and breakthroughs, to what constitutes a well-trained
llama, or trends in the market. It’s
very discouraging to see what passes for an accepted level
of training in llamas and alpacas, particularly those going to first-time
owners. How many people would go out and buy an untrained
two-year old horse? I mean one that has to be corralled into
a corner by two or three people in order to have a halter
wrestled onto him, after which he refuses to lead, pulling
back on the lead rope and jumping wildly all over the place,
endangering everyone within forty feet of him… One that
goes ballistic if you try to pick up a foot or handle his
ears and requires three men, a stout rope and two hours to
get him to load into a trailer. Sound crazy? It is, but that
doesn’t stop llama or alpaca breeders from selling this kind of
llama or alpaca to people who have no idea how to handle them.
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“When
folks get their new llamas or alpacas home, they are unable to
safely handle them, so toenails and routine husbandry
are neglected out of fear of getting hurt.”
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When
these folks get their new llamas or alpacas home, they find that they
are unable to safely handle them, so toenails and routine
husbandry are neglected out of fear of getting hurt. Veterinarians
have a negative perception of llamas and alpacas because these are the
ones they are most often called out to deal with, and are
justifiably reluctant to take on new llama or alpaca clients, making
the problem worse.
Once the neighbors, in-laws, and friends see how difficult
it is to handle llamas or alpacas, they put away any thoughts of having
some of their own, and people who see llamas or alpacas at shows and
fairs that are kicking and spitting at their handlers also,
walk away with a bad feeling about llamas or alpacas.
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“Those
of us who live with well-behaved llamas or alpacas know how truly
wonderful these gentle animals can be…”
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Those
of us who live with well-behaved llamas or alpacas know how truly wonderful
these gentle animals can be, with a little training, and how
important it is to get nice, easy-to-get-along-with llamas or alpacas
into the hands of first-timers, but the rest of the world
may need a little convincing. We’ve talked for years,
as an industry, about the need for this, but nothing really
seems to change, so, rather than address the breeders, I want
to talk to the new buyers.
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“Get
a llama or alpaca that you can get along with, one that you can
take proper care of and enjoy being with.”
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If,
on your farm visit, you cannot walk up to and halter the llamas or alpacas
you are interested in; if s/he won’t walk, on a slack
lead, with you around the barn and driveway; if s/he won’t
step quietly in and out of a trailer; if you can’t touch
him/her all over (including head, ears, udder, tail, and mouth)
and pick up all four feet, DON’T BUY THAT LLAMA! There
is absolutely no good reason why you should have to deal with
such an animal when there are so many good ones available
out there. Get one that you can get along with, one that you
can take proper care of and enjoy being with. Save yourself
some time before going to the farm by asking whether the llama or alpaca
is safe and easy to handle. Be specific. You may pay a little
more for such a llama or alpaca (this degree of training takes some
time), but you will never regret having gotten a good one! Good
luck, happy hunting, and Happy
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