[Alpacasite] Misbehaving Alpacas at Shows

Hi All,

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of serving as color checker and then ring steward at the Alpacafest in Ohio. I worked with Jane Tellier and apprentice Kathy Klay in the female huacaya ring. It was a great learning experience and one I hope to repeat for that reason.

However, there were some challenges. Two things became very obvious, very quickly.

First, most folks know how to show an alpaca that is behaving well, but many many people don't know what to do when the animal misbehaves. We teach showmanship, but we don't teach folks what to do when things fo awry.

Second, by the time the alpacas got to the ring they were very spooked. Most had to walk through a tent tunnel from one building to the show ring and I think that the fear was in the air, for there was an inordinate number of alpacas freaking out. These same animals were fine being color checked, but were going ballistic a day later.

So... some pointers

If you are uptight...your alpaca will be uptight...take in some deep breaths. Try to loosen yourself up by standing relaxed. If you know Ray Rodriguez and have seen him show, follow his example (minus the duct tape over your farm logo on your shirt). Some times a deep breath softly exhaled into the face of your alpaca will calm it down some. Perhaps it conveys to the alpaca that you are relaxed, so it can be.

Do not hold the lead by the clasp or you might accidentally liberate your alpaca by pulling on the thingy whacket and opening it up to let them free.

If the alpaca starts to act up... face your alpaca with your left arm firmly holding the bunched up lead and wrap your arm around the alpacas neck. Position yourself so that your left thigh/knee is against its chest and the animal's neck is firmly against your left chest. Point its chin into the air with your shoulder. You are now hugging that huggable investment, but thinking less than affectionate thoughts! It is important that the alpaca does not feel as though it has any room to move. Brace yourself against any of its attempts by keeping your right leg back and firmly planted so that you can push against the animal if necessary. If it senses it has space...it will try to take advantage of it, so be gentle, but firm.

As if this isn't enough to confuse you, take your right hand and place it on the alpaca's back in the same spot you check for body scoring with your thumb on one side of the spine and your other fingers on the opposite side and push down firmly. This again tells the alpaca it has nowhere to go.

All of this will communicate to the alpaca that it ain't going anywhere. There were some doozeys, but everyone was thoroughly examined by Judge Tellier and apprentic Kathy Klay!

Now for the ring stewards out there!!! Your job of course is to help get the job done safely for both alpaca, handler, and judge, especially the judge. I never touched one alpaca tail and please don't touch my alpaca's tail if I am ever in your ring. Nothing will make an alpaca feel more threatened than you grabbing its tail. This is where predators attack them. I will never understand why folks do this, but I have noticed that guys have a tendency to, more than women do.

The ring steward should lay back unless the alpaca starts to act up. A bunch of people descending on an animal will cause even the mildest mannered alpaca to freak. So don't approach unless necessary. First you just stand at the side of the animal so that it can't move away from the judge. Often that will be enough. If it isn't, then you put your left knee under the animal's flank right next to the leg and if necessary actually lift the alpaca onto your knee, taking its vault away from it.

Now mind you this technique is only used on the alpacas who are not able to be restrained by the handler and should not be necessary. Usually this would only have to be used once per class at most, but as I said, there was something in the air at Alpacafest that had them all going, so that there were often 5 or more twits in the ring.

By the way, it was a great show from my perspective with many new faces in the show ring which was fun.

Hope this is helpful

Laurel

Tim & Laurel Shouvlin
Bluebird Hills Farm CSA & Alpacas
3617 Derr Rd. Springfield, Ohio 45503
www.bluebirdhills.com
bluebirdhills@voyager.net
937-390-6127 or 937-206-3936 (cell)

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