[Alpacasite] Re: Misbehaving Alpacas at Shows

Laurel, the reason this method works is that by turning the alpacas
head over your shoulder, you are putting it off balance...the
variation I prefer is to have handler in front, ring stewart on one
side and judge on the other side. This creates a mini pen in which
the alpaca is boxed. The handler holds the alpaca by the halter on
both sides of the face and balances the alpaca...if they are in
balance, they are often less freaked out.

I agree that part of the trick is teaching your alpacas (especially
the males) to allow handling, especially their privates, but you
also have to understand (and I'm sure you men understand) that some
judges grab the balls and give them a good squeeze to gauge the
evenness of the size of each. I dare say this will cause most males
to object in some fashion.

Joyce

Joyce Judy
Alpacas del Oeste
pacajoyce@sbcglobal.net
Bay Point, CA

--- In Alpacasite@yahoogroups.com, "Shouvlins" <bluebirdhills@v...>
wrote:
>
> Hi Lance,
>
> I did not explain this well in my first post and so to clarify...
As you stand and face the alpaca, you are hugging it with your left
arm so that you are actually standing a bit to its left side. If
the animal does decide to try to overcome the restraint, its path is
through your arm and left hip which can pivot easily out of the way,
not through your body, which I agree would be dangerous.
>
> While I agree that this is not a method of restraint for llamas,
it works very effectively for alpacas due to their smaller stature.
This technique prevents injury by controlling the animals in a safe
way for animal and handler, and was never used unless the alpaca had
already tried to go over everyone. A picture would be far better
than my words, but alas that's not allowed here. Hopefully my
description is making better sense now.
>
> Laurel
>
> Tim & Laurel Shouvlin
> Bluebird Hills Farm CSA & Alpacas
> 3617 Derr Rd. Springfield, Ohio 45503
> www.bluebirdhills.com
> bluebirdhills@v...
> 937-390-6127 or 937-206-3936 (cell)
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Lance Hardcastle
> To: Alpacasite@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2005 9:22 AM
> Subject: Re: [Alpacasite] Misbehaving Alpacas at Shows
>
>
> I have to admit that this behavior on a human's part sounds to
me like
> THE most dangerous way that you could attempt to calm an alpaca
down.
> You are putting yourself in a very disadvantageous position
holding on
> to the neck of an animal that wields it in battle. Facing any
animal is
> an offensive position and then subsequently holding on such that
they
> cannot move will likely get you hurt badly. I am glad that this
works
> for you as I must assume that your animals are trained for it.
For an
> owner of a less trained animal to attempt this might likely get
them
> killed. The more you brace against their attempts will only
encourage
> them to make a greater attempt. Any animal that finds itself so
> restrained as to not be able to move, will, when given the
opportunity,
> to somewhat disastrous results
> There are far better ways to accomplish this, in my humble
opinion that
> do not risk injury. They, of course, start long before the show
ring
> but there are some less dangerous methods even after you are
already
> there.
> Respectfully,
> Lance Hardcastle
> On Dec 1, 2005, at 8:46 AM, Shouvlins wrote:
>
> > 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.
> >
> www.southeastllamarescue.org
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

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