Living the Llama Lifestyle!

Llamas are wonderful. They are beautiful, graceful, serene animals with an insatiable curiosity and remarkable intelligence. After a stressful day at work, there is nothing more soothing than spending some time with your llamas. Watching them romp and play, nuzzle, munch on hay or sleep in the "tea kozy" position makes your stress melt away. They are so peaceful and calm that it's contagious.

And they are fun, too! Llamas are the ultimate pack animal, and you don't need to go to the Rocky Mountains to use them. When you are working around your farm carry your tools in their pack. If you dig up trees in the woods to transplant, let your llamas carry them for you (and the shovel, too). Take a picnic lunch on a hike with your llamas. Deliver packages in your llamas' packs to nursing homes at Christmas time (llamas are used very successfully in pet therapy). Go golfing and let your llama be the caddy. Adopt a highway and use your llama to pick up litter. The list of things that llamas can be used for is endless.

Llamas are wonderful for children because they are so gentle. Small children can easily learn to handle llamas- what a boost to their self-esteem! Llamas are the perfect family activity. Many families, both children and adults, love to show. The whole family will pack up and take off to a show with their llamas. Kids show in the youth classes and adults in open. Choices of classes include halter, costume, obstacle, driving, showmanship and packing. There are also 4H llama groups for llama enthusiasts.

Small children can ride llamas short distances either using a saddle or riding on a pack. What a great view! (Llamas can carry up to a third of their weight.) They are also used as driving or draft animals, easily pulling a small cart.

Llamas are frequently used as guard animals for sheep or goats. A mature gelded male is able to guard a flock against coyotes or a dog. However, a pack of dogs could easily overpower a llama and kill it. Llamas can use the same shelter and eat the same feed and minerals that sheep or goats do. They are easier to maintain than a donkey or dog, but in an area with heavy predation by packs of coyotes or dogs, wolves or big cats, a livestock guardian dog would be a better choice. Not all llamas can be guard llamas. Make sure you get a llama that has experience.

Llamas are marvelous for meeting people and making friends. The world is divided into two kinds of people- llama owners and "others". Llama owners are a wonderful, friendly group always willing to help you in any way they can. You'll meet them everywhere- at meetings, conferences, and shows, on hikes, at workshops, on the phone. You'll discover that there are a lot more llamas and llama owners around than you ever imagined. And you'll make some very good friends.

Want to know more?
Contact us, we'll be glad to answer your questions.