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!"
