Llama Walk-About

 

On Sunday afternoon, after our traditional Easter festivities, I decided to spend some time with Apache and with our llamas. The llamas have been rather neglected since I slipped in the snow and hurt my knee several weeks ago. And I’ve not even haltered either of them and taken them out for a walk for more than five months. Catlinite, our gelding llama doesn’t much seem to care whether he leaves his paddocks. He takes his guard job over the goats and sheep seriously and likes to keep them in his sight. Cataleya, our female llama, on the other hand thoroughly enjoys heading out for a walk and exploring new sights.

  

When I first went out to visit the woolies I noticed that Luna, our Angora goat was limping and holding up one leg. Darn. Did she break her leg?

No. She was just reminding me that she is overdue for a shearing. Her mohair is so long, that she must have gotten a rear hoof stuck in a curly loop when she was scratching herself. Oy!

After I got Luna’s leg untangled, I got both llamas haltered and led them out for some hand-grazing on some of the green tips that are peeking from the ground. They both did well, but Catlinite was a little more antsy and I decided he was too much for me to deal with trying to lead both llamas, so I put him back in the main paddock and Jenna joined me and Cataleya for a walk down the road. We did a full circle around the back-40 and came up behind our property to Apache’s paddock.

I was interested to see what Apache would do when she saw us coming towards her from this unusual direction because, even though Baby Doll was used to the llamas in her environment, once we left their usual locations, the llamas were strangers once again. When we would come up from behind her paddock, Baby Doll would snort and gallup and buck all over the place as if she had never seen our llamas before.

Apache was very interested.

But she wasn’t spooked or worried at all. She was just curious and stood at the fence to say Hello to us.

I got the impression that she wished we had taken her along with us on our walk. Sweet girl.

On the way back home we decided to stop by and say Hello to my neighbor friend, Val’s herd. They galloped down from one end of their arena to visit.

Scout loves to nuzzle Cataleya and Yalla! was very excited about meeting a llama nose to nose.

    

Yalla’s Mama, Annie acted more like Baby Doll did and took off galloping, snorting and bucking when Cataleya got close to the fence. And Nadia, although she came over for petting, usually pins her ears at the llamas and won’t get too close to them. She’s not afraid of llamas at all but she reminds me of the way cutting horses act with cows. I bet she would herd llamas with much enthusiasm. lol!

But sweet little filly Yalla! seemed to enjoy getting up close with Cataleya.

  

(Sorry about the terrible photos. My camera was facing directly into the setting sun. I thought they were still cute, though. I like Cataleya’s relaxed look in the last photo and Yalla’s adorable perky, ears)

After our llama/horse visits, I put Cataleya back into her paddock with the rest of the woolies and went up to play with Apache.

  

She’s such a patient, willing girl and seems to enjoy any attention we give her. Isn’t she cute?!

Don’t you just want to hug her?

Jenna and I did!