Re: [Alpacasite] Misbehaving Alpacas at Shows

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@voyager.net
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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