It's Training Season (finally)

[codym]

Man Ive been trying to get a couple llamas for 2 years but can't get anyone to part with any. Looks like im back to the mule horse nonsense. Great looking animals.

 

[weatherbow21]

There is no true set answer to your question it is a function of pounds/miles/difficulty of the trail. But the price of over doing it is severe, always ere on the side of less is more and bring them slowly, you will thank me later.

Perfect first trip would be a level mile or two on a trail with the llamas carrying a load of clothing-sleeping bag-top pack of pillow/sleeping pad Total weight of 10-15 lbs of payload (3 yr olds)

Stake them out have some dinner sleep the night and retreat next day. Increase miles more than pounds on subsequent trips. Loads of more than 30 or so pounds should be for fully grown llamas (4)

Thats a perfect answer, thank you!

 

[weatherbow21]

Man Ive been trying to get a couple llamas for 2 years but can't get anyone to part with any. Looks like im back to the mule horse nonsense. Great looking animals.

I just adopted 2 young males this past weekend. They're off to a great start with already having a lot of handling from 4h kids. I was in your shoes the beginning of the year but now have 4 great young males, I'm learning more than them so far but its been fun, you just need to keep an eye out. Where are you located? I've learned there are entire llama communities and they seem to be pretty tight knit, once you learn where to look I bet you'll find they're easier to find.

 

[codym]

I'm in Southern New Mexico. I think i've all but given up, I need some animals for a couple wilderness hunts this fall so I think Im gonna have to go the horse mule route. maybe someday down the road as I still think they would be better for me.

 

[squirrel]

Guy in AR is selling a couple or three trained boys. Not sure on his price, having dinner with him next week I'll bring it up.

Personal referral is EVERYTHING in llama "circles" Prices get slashed, deals get done, but you gotta pay your dues like any club. tell the truth and do what you say you will, pretty basic.

 

[squirrel]

Took the four 3yr olds on their first trail hike with some friends. 7 llama in total. Good times around a fire with the raging spring runoff river right next to the tent to put you to sleep. Tons of deadfall but can't fool this guy twice, Mr. Husquvarna was there to open her up.

Moose and elk only on this trip, but it wasn't about any of that it was about the guys on their first trail run. They did quite well in spite of poor two legged leadership choosing the worlds worst trailhead. A couple of minor mishaps like going on the wrong side of the tree, typical of young dum ones. No llama blood was spilled in any way and none by the worlds greatest leader either.




Of course any bloodshed by someone else is "minor". Especially when it has a substantial blood/alcohol content/ratio, it was definitively proven that even sitting on a log around a fire can be hazardous given enough wine.

 

[squirrel]

Decided to take a pre-zoo trip before the masses descend upon us for the 4th. 3 days, 3 lakes, 3 3yr olds and about 15 miles (the techno devices all lie differently). Caught lots of brookies, told lots of lies, had lots of fun and only saw a couple people until the last mile or two of the last day as the hordes were starting up the trail for their "wilderness adventure" The terrain was advanced but still with a decent trail. The boys need work on water crossings and dog encounters, the mileage and poundage they did fine on, trail manners were pretty good with the noted exceptions.

Took along a few friends who led some of the older boys for some much needed trail conditioning, we ended up with 4 people 2 dogs 8 llamas and with the exception of falling a tree on my dog everything went very nicely.

 

[squirrel]

Decided to take a pre-zoo trip before the masses descend upon us for the 4th. 3 days, 3 lakes, 3 3yr olds and about 15 miles (the techno devices all lie differently). Caught lots of brookies, told lots of lies, had lots of fun and only saw a couple people until the last mile or two of the last day as the hordes were starting up the trail for their "wilderness adventure" The terrain was advanced but still with a decent trail. The boys need work on water crossings and dog encounters, the mileage and poundage they did fine on, trail manners were pretty good with the noted exceptions.

Took along a few friends who led some of the older boys for some much needed trail conditioning, we ended up with 4 people 2 dogs 8 llamas and with the exception of falling a tree on my dog everything went very nicely.

 

[Paul M]

That sounds like a Awesome trip
lets see some more pictures

 

[squirrel]

 

[squirrel]

Dipped into the expense account money pile for a flat tops run. It was very pretty country. Snowflake and Bruiser accompanied so that I had some protection from bears and pretty girls.

 

[Explorer]

My daughter taking my llamas for a hike.

 

[Explorer]

My hunting buddy bought 3 llamas this past year. A 6yr, 2yr, and 8 month old. Got them all halter trained and been putting saddles and paniers on the two older ones. The 6yr old should be going with us in a month. The 2yr old might come along too.
Here is the 6yr old.

Here he is with my two.

 

[Blueticker1]

[QUOTE="Explorer
That looks like its gonna be a whole lot of fun in the next year or so. My kids and I took 2 of the llamas and overnighted last night, it was the first time my llamas have been highlined overnight. It was pretty uneventful which was nice.

 

[Explorer]

Started hiking once about once a week. Crossing a river here.

 

[MTN BUM]

Any trouble with the first river crossing experience? Im about to take mine across for the first time.

 

[Explorer]

Any trouble with the first river crossing experience? Im about to take mine across for the first time.

Well, I guess it comes down to the nature individual llama. Most of the ones we have will follow you through most small streams and don't mind water. We started them by walking through big puddles (they couldn't jump) that were an inch or two deep and expanding from there. One of the older males, who didn't start his training till he was at least 6 years old (maybe 8 or 10yr), still wants to jump every stream he can. To the point he could hurt himself or someone else. I have been working with him but it seems like it is pretty ingrained in him. When I walk him into a river that he can't jump, he leads surprisingly pretty well into it. I have to watch him when we near the bank because he wants to rush out of the water.
I would just start small, working up to bigger water, and keep the lead short in the beginning.

 

[squirrel]

and so it begins yet again with the spring weather. (delayed by a 7-1/2 week turkey season). Took 6 of the old geezers for an 8 mile trip which was suppose to end with a campfire and adult beverages but instead ended with a pecker deep whitewater river crossing. There was no compelling reason to brave the crossing and at least a couple reasons NOT to cross dangling 'tween my legs. We tucked tail and retreated without even setting up the tents. A heavy laden day hike is all it turned out to be. Beautiful trail with HUGE trees and riverfront the whole way. We had first tracks except for moose and a few elk. Lots of trees needed to be cut off of the trail and it will be worthy of a do-over when the run-off recedes in a bit.

 

[squirrel]

Sometimes you just have to declare victory and call it good. After 3 very good performances these 4 4yr-olds are officially trail ready llamas, ready to be "thrown -to-the-wolves" as rentals this year. In a perfect world they wouldn't go out commercially till 5 yrs old but this ain't no non-profit operation and hay is looking hard at $300/ton for the second year in a row... Took some of the old "steady-eddies" to try to win a ribbon at the 4th parade but seems the "patriotic ducks" out-performed us.

 

[squirrel]

Well its that time of year once again. Deep green and fires are legal this year. Took my only trainee out for his first trail run along with 10 other llamas 4 dogs and 6 friends. Should be out right now on round two but came home to be handed the covid by the mrs... wiped me out.