Eventually, I'd love to take our llamas to parades, shows and events.
Both of our llamas have already won oodles of ribbons and awards competing in state and county fairs even before they came to live on Laughing Orca Ranch and they are both registered with the International Llama Registry and are both young. Catlinite is under 4 yrs old and Cataleya is under 2 years old.
The other afternoon I took them both out separately for a hike around the 'Back-40" behind our neighborhood. Cataleya was first up and patiently wore her backpack and enjoyed our time out. On the way back home we even stopped by my neighbor friend's house and Cataleya surprised her by peeking into her kitchen window! hehe
Llamas are really great with kids. They are gentle and non-spooky. Jenna enjoys taking our llamas for walks, too.
Catlinite was second up, though he didn't wear the backpack. He's not as social and calm while out, though he does seem like he enjoys going for a walk. He really prefers doing his job of guarding the 'woolies' and hanging out on the ranch. Hopefully with time he'll calm down more and be ready for hiking and packing farther from home. I think he'd be a popular llama in a parade or at the fair, too.
When we returned from our llama hike, we came up to the back of our property so we could cut through our neighbor's land, past her horse barn. I was greatly amused at how worked up Baby Doll was at seeing the 'scary llama' walking towards her paddock.
Keep in mind that she shares a barn with both llamas, and often shares hay over the pipe fencing, even nose-to-nose. I wouldn't say that llamas are something she loves, but she does tolerate them and doesn't act afraid or spooky while near them.
Even my neighbor friend's 3 horses acted alarmed about the llama. It's as if they enjoyed acting scared. And then they all fed off each other's fear.
Maybe this is what is meant in the horse world as "Llama Drama"??
"Aaaaghh! The llama is coming! It's going to eat me. Run for your lives!"
9 comments :
Llama Drama - I suppose that's the equivalent to Alpaca Angst? In my old 'hood, there was a small herd of those little creatures and Hank and Lyle got western every time we went by.
Oh, the things one sees looking out the kitchen window. What a pleasant surprise to find a llama looking in!
They're so cute! And hairy! lol.
Love the llamas. They are so pretty. Do both of them do well with the younger kids?
Stopped by from Dan and Betty's blog. Lovin' the llamas! I wish we could have one. Your pictures are great!
Thanks for stopping by and seeing Sienna, the Garbage Gut Pony! I am glad that you "got" my one post. I was worried that people would think that it was strange :)
Your family--both the human ones and the animal ones!!--are too cute. Your little ranch reminds me of my parents farm when I was growing up. We had chickens, ducks, peacocks, goats, and of course...horses! Zuni is beautiful too :)
This post is just classic. Why do horses act like something that they see daily, and in your case LIVE with, is going to eat them???
My son and I went for a ride this morning, and we had the same problem, only it involved a large rock that someone had placed in the middle of a trail that we ALWAYS ride on. You would have thought it was a crouching cougar by the the horses reacted to it ...lol...I think!
"Yeah Llama"!! :) That is so funny. It makes me think of The Emporer's New Grove. "Yeah I'm a Llama again!"
You do have very nice llamas. We got donkeys to chase the dogs away from our horses, but they are broken and don't care about the dogs. I think we need a llama!!
It's neat to see them being walked. Are they hard to train?
That is so true. I think horses actually LIKE to be scared of things. Makes their lives more FUN!
Horses do have a fear of llamas. I heard from someone recently (but do not know if this is true, surely you can enlighten me on this) that llamas do not have a scent? So that is what bothers the horses, they can't smell them? Who knows. I know some horses have a fear of camels, too. My aunt went to a trail competition once where they had a camel the horses had to walk by. Now how do you desensitive and practice for that one?! ;)
Hey 7MSN, Funny terminology, eh?
It's weird how my Baby Doll tolerates and isn't bothered by our two llamas when they are in the pen right beside her. But if she sees them out and about or off-property, she freaks. Maybe she doesn't recognize them as her own llamas when they aren't in their typical place?
Hey Val,
I was happy to make your day. And so was Cataleya. :)
Hi FrugalMom,
Yes, both are fine with young kids. They are very gentle and usually calm. Our female is more social, though and enjoys being around people. Our male would rather just stay on the property guarding his sheep and goats than go out for a walk and visit with people. ut they are both very easy to handle.
Hi Wades,
Thanks! You should get two (they do better if they have a buddy or two). I can't imagine our ranch without our llamas. They are wonderful creatures, for sure. :)
Hi Knutson's!
Thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you liked my blog and our ranch reminded me of your parent's farm growing up, too.
Silly horses! Funny about the horse-eating rock. My Baby Doll is also nervous around large rocks. haha!
Hi Andrea!
Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting, too. Yes, we do love our llamas. And they are gentle, easy to care for and also quick to learn things. You should get a couple! You'll fall in love. They are also so versatile. Besides using their fiber, you can pack and hike with them, drive them, show them in parades, visit schools and nursing homes and show them. And one of the best things?
No manure all over the place like horses, to clean up.
Llamas only poop in communal dung piles. They are simple to scoop up, and can be used directly in a garden without burning plants, or their manure can be soaked with water and turned into a manure tea, which plants are seem to thrive on.
Llamas are fabulous!!
Val!.
I think you're right!
Gosh that bites, Pony girl! Where does one find a camel to practice with? Yellow pages? Seems a little unfair they'd use camels when a horse would be more likely to run into a llama on the trails or in a parade.
I don't think horses are frightened of llamas because they have NO scent. Because llamas definetly do have a very unique and prominent scent, actually. Sort of reminds me of being in a zoo. haha
Also llamas breath is quite pungent, like fermented, very ripe hay. Llamas also have scent glands on their legs. Maybe that is what makes horse scared of llamas: that they have such an odd, strong smelling scent?
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