Llama & Alpaca
Llama & Alpaca Showmanship Clinic
Saturday, June 3, 2017 10am-12pm
Fairgrounds
Obstacle Course Clinic
Sunday, July 16, 2017 5pm-7pm
Myles Kimmerly Park, Maple City
Questions:
Kathy 499-7434
Renee 228-6128
Saturday, June 3, 2017 10am-12pm
Fairgrounds
Obstacle Course Clinic
Sunday, July 16, 2017 5pm-7pm
Myles Kimmerly Park, Maple City
Questions:
Kathy 499-7434
Renee 228-6128
Llama & Alpaca Guidebook 2015
Welcome to the wonderful world of llamas and alpacas! Showing and performing llamas and alpacas can be quite an interesting challenge.
By participating in this program, youth will develop knowledge and responsibility of the care, grooming, feeding, management, expenses, health concerns and maintenance requirements of llamas/alpacas. Youth will also establish or enhance their sense of leadership, team building, self-esteem and sportsmanship while performing with and showing in this project.
Opportunities for 4-H members, including Cloverbuds, in the 4-H llama and alpaca project include Showmanship, Obstacle, Pack and Costume. Open shows and some youth shows also include Halter classes.
You are required to have all sign-up paperwork and payment to the Northwestern Michigan Fair office postmarked by July 10th, 2015.
Welcome to the wonderful world of llamas and alpacas! Showing and performing llamas and alpacas can be quite an interesting challenge.
By participating in this program, youth will develop knowledge and responsibility of the care, grooming, feeding, management, expenses, health concerns and maintenance requirements of llamas/alpacas. Youth will also establish or enhance their sense of leadership, team building, self-esteem and sportsmanship while performing with and showing in this project.
Opportunities for 4-H members, including Cloverbuds, in the 4-H llama and alpaca project include Showmanship, Obstacle, Pack and Costume. Open shows and some youth shows also include Halter classes.
You are required to have all sign-up paperwork and payment to the Northwestern Michigan Fair office postmarked by July 10th, 2015.
SHOWMANSHIP
Showmanship is about the handler. It demonstrates the knowledge, based on age categories, of the handler’s ability to show his/her animal to its best advantage. The handler will be judged on basic skills in fitting, grooming, following directions, and style of presenting the llama/alpaca to the judge.
Handler - Handler should be neat, clean, properly dressed, prompt, alert, confident, and courteous. Proper clothing is black or khaki pants, or skirt with a white top.
Tips: Open toed shoes or tennis shoes will count against the handler. Be courteous of other showman. Listen, and as always in showing, keep your eyes and ears on the judge. Always know where the judge is in relation to you. Research the proper position of where you are supposed to be, relative to where the judge is. Never cross behind your animal.
Animal and Equipment - The animal the handler is presenting should be clean, brushed out, and in good condition with the toenails trimmed. Worming needs to be done one month before the fair with Ivomec or Dectomax (dosage according to the animal’s weight). The halter and lead should fit properly, not distract from the animal, be in good repair and be safe.
Tips: Color coordinate your halter and lead or use a non-distracting color such as black. Avoid looping or wrapping leads around your hand as your animal might take flight and take you with it.
Showing the Animal - This includes following directions (following what the judge or ringmaster instructs the handler to do), leading (if asked to move out of line, move in a straight line forward, turn to the right, go back through your space in line clear of the line, then turn to the right and enter your new place in line), changing pace (demonstrate change of pace from walking to trotting), backing (backing and leading forward a requested number of steps), posing (lead your animal from the left side, hold lead in right hand at least 8 inches from the halter), and positioning (when changing positions in line, or when lining up, stand or set your animal legs squarely and position yourself at a 45 degree angle off your animal’s left shoulder), showing to advantage, (position or pose your animal to increase its positive qualities and decrease its faults), controlling the animal on the lead and in place with other handlers (allow a safe distance between animals; do not crowd others) and attention to the line-up. In addition you should be prepared to answer questions on general llama/alpaca knowledge or confirmation (where animals originated from, animal classifications, animal parts, health risks to animal, uses of animal, etc.).
Tips: Practice with your animal frequently. Frequently working with your animal will allow it to feel less nervous and allow you to show it to the best of your ability. Practice backing and changing pace with your animal. Practice standing in one position with you by your animals head. Depending on the number in your class, your animal might not like waiting attached to the lead if standing and waiting is not something it has had to do before. Be patient remember it is difficult for you to stand and take turns also. Develop a relationship with the animal you are working with so that it learns to trust you and your animal will learn you will not allow harm to come to it. Handlers should encourage their animal to walk into the ring at a brisk pace and never have to drag the animal into the ring. Be natural; over fussing with your animal or continually moving and repositioning it will be counted against you. Always allow the judge to have a clear view of your animal. Remember, this is about you being able to show your animal off to the best of its abilities. Have fun because your animal can sense if you are nervous and uptight. Learn from your mistakes. Do your best. Ask questions if you don’t know.
Showmanship is about the handler. It demonstrates the knowledge, based on age categories, of the handler’s ability to show his/her animal to its best advantage. The handler will be judged on basic skills in fitting, grooming, following directions, and style of presenting the llama/alpaca to the judge.
Handler - Handler should be neat, clean, properly dressed, prompt, alert, confident, and courteous. Proper clothing is black or khaki pants, or skirt with a white top.
Tips: Open toed shoes or tennis shoes will count against the handler. Be courteous of other showman. Listen, and as always in showing, keep your eyes and ears on the judge. Always know where the judge is in relation to you. Research the proper position of where you are supposed to be, relative to where the judge is. Never cross behind your animal.
Animal and Equipment - The animal the handler is presenting should be clean, brushed out, and in good condition with the toenails trimmed. Worming needs to be done one month before the fair with Ivomec or Dectomax (dosage according to the animal’s weight). The halter and lead should fit properly, not distract from the animal, be in good repair and be safe.
Tips: Color coordinate your halter and lead or use a non-distracting color such as black. Avoid looping or wrapping leads around your hand as your animal might take flight and take you with it.
Showing the Animal - This includes following directions (following what the judge or ringmaster instructs the handler to do), leading (if asked to move out of line, move in a straight line forward, turn to the right, go back through your space in line clear of the line, then turn to the right and enter your new place in line), changing pace (demonstrate change of pace from walking to trotting), backing (backing and leading forward a requested number of steps), posing (lead your animal from the left side, hold lead in right hand at least 8 inches from the halter), and positioning (when changing positions in line, or when lining up, stand or set your animal legs squarely and position yourself at a 45 degree angle off your animal’s left shoulder), showing to advantage, (position or pose your animal to increase its positive qualities and decrease its faults), controlling the animal on the lead and in place with other handlers (allow a safe distance between animals; do not crowd others) and attention to the line-up. In addition you should be prepared to answer questions on general llama/alpaca knowledge or confirmation (where animals originated from, animal classifications, animal parts, health risks to animal, uses of animal, etc.).
Tips: Practice with your animal frequently. Frequently working with your animal will allow it to feel less nervous and allow you to show it to the best of your ability. Practice backing and changing pace with your animal. Practice standing in one position with you by your animals head. Depending on the number in your class, your animal might not like waiting attached to the lead if standing and waiting is not something it has had to do before. Be patient remember it is difficult for you to stand and take turns also. Develop a relationship with the animal you are working with so that it learns to trust you and your animal will learn you will not allow harm to come to it. Handlers should encourage their animal to walk into the ring at a brisk pace and never have to drag the animal into the ring. Be natural; over fussing with your animal or continually moving and repositioning it will be counted against you. Always allow the judge to have a clear view of your animal. Remember, this is about you being able to show your animal off to the best of its abilities. Have fun because your animal can sense if you are nervous and uptight. Learn from your mistakes. Do your best. Ask questions if you don’t know.
PERFORMANCE CLASSES
Obstacle Class This is a class in which the llama/alpaca is required to follow and complete a trail or course, possibly including bridges, ramps, jumps, stairs, walking in water or on other types of ground material, loading and unloading from a trailer, weaving, going under or over obstacles, change of pace, going through a gate or doorway, backing, flexibility and maneuvering, picking up animal’s foot, showing teeth, meeting other people and/or animals, tolerating touching or having something touch the animal, unexpected noises or distractions, narrow passages, etc. There are two classes of obstacles – novice and advanced. Novice consists of an animal shown in no more than three shows without taking a 1st place, otherwise they are considered advanced. Novice will have fewer obstacles than advanced. Handlers are judged on their ability to work with their animal as well as the animal completing the obstacle.
Tips: Practice with your animal in performing these various obstacles. Your animal will be less likely to balk or refuse if it is used to working with you and has done this before. Wear neat, clean clothes. For safety reasons, you will be required to have sturdy shoes or boots; not having appropriate footwear will be a disqualification. The judge will do a run though of the obstacle requirements and the order of obstacles. Listen to the judge, always know where the judge is, and what the judge is saying. Your animal may try or refuse an obstacle three times, then be required to move onto the next obstacle. Do your best and have fun. A llama/alpaca will not be allowed to be in both novice and advanced obstacle class.
Pack Class Pack has all the same possibilities as Obstacle, but requires your animal to perform while wearing a pack which may or may not contain items. Usually the course will vary slightly from obstacle and will generally be obstacles that your animal might encounter in actual packing experiences. Pack consists of two classes, novice and advance. Novice is for animals trying a pack course for the first time or shown in no more than three shows without taking a 1st place, otherwise they are considered advanced.
Tips: All of the tips for Obstacle are equally true for the Pack classes. In addition, practice applying and removing a pack from your animal. This can be quite the experience if your animal has never felt anything on its back before. Start out by laying a towel across your animal’s back and gradually move into laying a pack across their back before you actually strap it on.
Costume Class Costume class is also a performance class. It is entertaining for the public and the handler. It involves dressing the handler and animal in a costume, having a written story which you make up and is judged on originality, training, time, and energy involved.
Halter Class In addition you may choose to enter your llama/alpaca in the OPEN division of halter. In halter classes your animal is judged on the wool:
Llama Light wool - minimum body wool, short neck wool with smooth head, ears and legs;
Llama Medium wool - moderate to long body wool, minimum to moderate neck wool, smooth to moderate head and leg wool; or
Llama Heavy wool - abundant body and neck wool with minimal to abundant head and leg wool - leg wool at least to knee and hock.
In a division of sexes (females, males, non- breeders), competition is against other animals in their age group (juvenile - 5 through 12 months;
yearling - 13 through 23 months;
two year olds - 25 months through 36 months;
adults - 37 months and older).
24 month or older llama/alpaca males are not allowed in the program.
Alpaca classes are Haucaya or Suri.
Tips: Groom your llama/alpaca to the best as these classes are judged on the wool. Enter llama/alpaca into class for which they are most appropriate. Animals must be shown in the wool division in which they would have been shown prior to shearing.
Obstacle Class This is a class in which the llama/alpaca is required to follow and complete a trail or course, possibly including bridges, ramps, jumps, stairs, walking in water or on other types of ground material, loading and unloading from a trailer, weaving, going under or over obstacles, change of pace, going through a gate or doorway, backing, flexibility and maneuvering, picking up animal’s foot, showing teeth, meeting other people and/or animals, tolerating touching or having something touch the animal, unexpected noises or distractions, narrow passages, etc. There are two classes of obstacles – novice and advanced. Novice consists of an animal shown in no more than three shows without taking a 1st place, otherwise they are considered advanced. Novice will have fewer obstacles than advanced. Handlers are judged on their ability to work with their animal as well as the animal completing the obstacle.
Tips: Practice with your animal in performing these various obstacles. Your animal will be less likely to balk or refuse if it is used to working with you and has done this before. Wear neat, clean clothes. For safety reasons, you will be required to have sturdy shoes or boots; not having appropriate footwear will be a disqualification. The judge will do a run though of the obstacle requirements and the order of obstacles. Listen to the judge, always know where the judge is, and what the judge is saying. Your animal may try or refuse an obstacle three times, then be required to move onto the next obstacle. Do your best and have fun. A llama/alpaca will not be allowed to be in both novice and advanced obstacle class.
Pack Class Pack has all the same possibilities as Obstacle, but requires your animal to perform while wearing a pack which may or may not contain items. Usually the course will vary slightly from obstacle and will generally be obstacles that your animal might encounter in actual packing experiences. Pack consists of two classes, novice and advance. Novice is for animals trying a pack course for the first time or shown in no more than three shows without taking a 1st place, otherwise they are considered advanced.
Tips: All of the tips for Obstacle are equally true for the Pack classes. In addition, practice applying and removing a pack from your animal. This can be quite the experience if your animal has never felt anything on its back before. Start out by laying a towel across your animal’s back and gradually move into laying a pack across their back before you actually strap it on.
Costume Class Costume class is also a performance class. It is entertaining for the public and the handler. It involves dressing the handler and animal in a costume, having a written story which you make up and is judged on originality, training, time, and energy involved.
Halter Class In addition you may choose to enter your llama/alpaca in the OPEN division of halter. In halter classes your animal is judged on the wool:
Llama Light wool - minimum body wool, short neck wool with smooth head, ears and legs;
Llama Medium wool - moderate to long body wool, minimum to moderate neck wool, smooth to moderate head and leg wool; or
Llama Heavy wool - abundant body and neck wool with minimal to abundant head and leg wool - leg wool at least to knee and hock.
In a division of sexes (females, males, non- breeders), competition is against other animals in their age group (juvenile - 5 through 12 months;
yearling - 13 through 23 months;
two year olds - 25 months through 36 months;
adults - 37 months and older).
24 month or older llama/alpaca males are not allowed in the program.
Alpaca classes are Haucaya or Suri.
Tips: Groom your llama/alpaca to the best as these classes are judged on the wool. Enter llama/alpaca into class for which they are most appropriate. Animals must be shown in the wool division in which they would have been shown prior to shearing.
Llama and Alpaca Care Before Fair: Along with practicing and familiarizing yourself with your animal, a few things you need to do for your animal are:
• Shearing should be done for llamas every other year and for alpacas every year. This can be anything from a barrel cut, show cut or full body cut.
• Toes need to be checked often and clipped regularly. Pads and toes should be parallel to the ground.
• In addition to your farm worming schedule, worming should be done 1 month before fair with Ivomec or Dectomax (dosage according to animal weight). Annual CDT is recommended. For updated information on vaccination schedules, please reference vth.vetmed.wsu.edu.
Fair Week Expectations:
Saturday
• Llamas and Alpacas can arrive between 9 am - 4 pm. Please be sure they have a bucket filled with water in each pen, hay if you wish and halters on by end of the day.
• Decorate your assigned pens by end of day.
• Attend mandatory Barn Meeting at 5:00 pm in the new Llama and Alpaca barn.
• Attend mandatory 4-H meeting at 7:30 pm in the Grand Stands for all 4-H members, parents and leaders.
• Barn closes at 10 pm. Please check on your animals before then.
Sunday
• Barn opens at 7 am.
• Please walk and feed your animals and clean your pen by 9 am.
• Please be sure pen and area around your pen are presentable for the public throughout the day. Be sure to check your animals periodically for water and/or signs of stress.
• Afternoon walk with your animal is from 4 pm - 6 pm.
• Sign up for mandatory barn duty for the week. Each handler (Open and 4-H) will be responsible for 4 (two hour) shifts. Please know your show schedule for fair week before you sign up.
• Barn closes at 10 pm. Please check on your animals before then.
Monday
• Barn opens at 7 am.
• Please walk and feed your animals and clean your pen by 9 am.
• Please be sure pen and area around your pen are presentable for the public throughout the day. Be sure to check your animals periodically for water and/or signs of stress.
• Afternoon walk with your animal is from 4 pm - 6 pm.
• Barn closes at 10 pm. Please check on your animals before then.
Tuesday
• Barn opens at 7 am.
• Please walk and feed your animals and clean your pen by 9 am.
• Please be sure pen and area around your pen are presentable for the public throughout the day. Be sure to check your animals periodically for water and/or signs of stress.
• 4-H and Open Llama and Alpaca Costume, Showmanship and Halter classes begin at 5 pm.
Have animals groomed, be in show attire (black pants, white shirts and closed shoes) and be ready for a brief meeting with the judge at 4:45 pm.
• Barn closes at 10 pm. Please check on your animals before then.
Wednesday
• Barn opens at 7 am.
• Please walk and feed your animals and clean your pen by 9 am.
• Please be sure pen and area around your pen are presentable for the public throughout the day. Be sure to check your animals periodically for water and/or signs of stress.
• 4-H and Open Llama and Alpaca Obstacle Course and Pack classes begin at 4 pm.
Have animals groomed, be in show attire (presentable comfortable attire and closed shoes) and be ready for a brief meeting with the judge at 4:45 pm.
• Barn closes at 10 pm. Please check on your animals before then.
Thursday
• Barn opens at 7 am.
• Please walk and feed your animals and clean your pen by 9 am.
• Please be sure pen and area around your pen are presentable for the public throughout the day. Be sure to check your animals periodically for water and/or signs of stress.
• Afternoon walk with your animal is from 4 pm - 6 pm.
• Barn closes at 10 pm. Please check on your animals before then.
Friday
• Barn opens at 7 am.
• Please walk and feed your animals and clean your pen by 9 am.
• Please be sure pen and area around your pen are presentable for the public throughout the day. Be sure to check your animals periodically for water and/or signs of stress.
• Afternoon walk with your animal is from 4 pm - 6 pm.
• 4-H Dance 9 pm - 11:30 pm.
• Barn closes at 10 pm. Please check on your animals before then.
Saturday
• Barn opens at 7 am.
• Please walk and feed your animals and clean your pen by 9 am.
• Please be sure pen and area around your pen are presentable for the public throughout the day. Be sure to check your animals periodically for water and/or signs of stress.
• 4-H Grand Champion Showman Round Robin 10 am. 4-H Parade of Champions (for all 1st Place, Grand and Reserve Placings) Noon
• Afternoon walk with your animal is from 4 pm - 5 pm.
• 4-H Awards Program 5 pm (Please plan to attend).
• Barn closes at 10 pm. Please check on your animals before then.
Sunday
• Barn opens at 7 am (Earliest animals can be removed no earlier than 7 am).
• Stalls cleaned and animals heading home by 2 pm.
If you are thinking of adding Llama and Alpacas into your life or want more information on showing here are some excellent sources: Michigan Llama Association at michiganllama.org, Michigan Alpaca Association at mialpaca.com, Alpaca Owners Breeders Association at www.alpacainfo.com, International Lama Registry at secure.lamaregistry.com.
For more information on packing, training and pack systems please visit www.soprisllamas.com.
• Shearing should be done for llamas every other year and for alpacas every year. This can be anything from a barrel cut, show cut or full body cut.
• Toes need to be checked often and clipped regularly. Pads and toes should be parallel to the ground.
• In addition to your farm worming schedule, worming should be done 1 month before fair with Ivomec or Dectomax (dosage according to animal weight). Annual CDT is recommended. For updated information on vaccination schedules, please reference vth.vetmed.wsu.edu.
Fair Week Expectations:
Saturday
• Llamas and Alpacas can arrive between 9 am - 4 pm. Please be sure they have a bucket filled with water in each pen, hay if you wish and halters on by end of the day.
• Decorate your assigned pens by end of day.
• Attend mandatory Barn Meeting at 5:00 pm in the new Llama and Alpaca barn.
• Attend mandatory 4-H meeting at 7:30 pm in the Grand Stands for all 4-H members, parents and leaders.
• Barn closes at 10 pm. Please check on your animals before then.
Sunday
• Barn opens at 7 am.
• Please walk and feed your animals and clean your pen by 9 am.
• Please be sure pen and area around your pen are presentable for the public throughout the day. Be sure to check your animals periodically for water and/or signs of stress.
• Afternoon walk with your animal is from 4 pm - 6 pm.
• Sign up for mandatory barn duty for the week. Each handler (Open and 4-H) will be responsible for 4 (two hour) shifts. Please know your show schedule for fair week before you sign up.
• Barn closes at 10 pm. Please check on your animals before then.
Monday
• Barn opens at 7 am.
• Please walk and feed your animals and clean your pen by 9 am.
• Please be sure pen and area around your pen are presentable for the public throughout the day. Be sure to check your animals periodically for water and/or signs of stress.
• Afternoon walk with your animal is from 4 pm - 6 pm.
• Barn closes at 10 pm. Please check on your animals before then.
Tuesday
• Barn opens at 7 am.
• Please walk and feed your animals and clean your pen by 9 am.
• Please be sure pen and area around your pen are presentable for the public throughout the day. Be sure to check your animals periodically for water and/or signs of stress.
• 4-H and Open Llama and Alpaca Costume, Showmanship and Halter classes begin at 5 pm.
Have animals groomed, be in show attire (black pants, white shirts and closed shoes) and be ready for a brief meeting with the judge at 4:45 pm.
• Barn closes at 10 pm. Please check on your animals before then.
Wednesday
• Barn opens at 7 am.
• Please walk and feed your animals and clean your pen by 9 am.
• Please be sure pen and area around your pen are presentable for the public throughout the day. Be sure to check your animals periodically for water and/or signs of stress.
• 4-H and Open Llama and Alpaca Obstacle Course and Pack classes begin at 4 pm.
Have animals groomed, be in show attire (presentable comfortable attire and closed shoes) and be ready for a brief meeting with the judge at 4:45 pm.
• Barn closes at 10 pm. Please check on your animals before then.
Thursday
• Barn opens at 7 am.
• Please walk and feed your animals and clean your pen by 9 am.
• Please be sure pen and area around your pen are presentable for the public throughout the day. Be sure to check your animals periodically for water and/or signs of stress.
• Afternoon walk with your animal is from 4 pm - 6 pm.
• Barn closes at 10 pm. Please check on your animals before then.
Friday
• Barn opens at 7 am.
• Please walk and feed your animals and clean your pen by 9 am.
• Please be sure pen and area around your pen are presentable for the public throughout the day. Be sure to check your animals periodically for water and/or signs of stress.
• Afternoon walk with your animal is from 4 pm - 6 pm.
• 4-H Dance 9 pm - 11:30 pm.
• Barn closes at 10 pm. Please check on your animals before then.
Saturday
• Barn opens at 7 am.
• Please walk and feed your animals and clean your pen by 9 am.
• Please be sure pen and area around your pen are presentable for the public throughout the day. Be sure to check your animals periodically for water and/or signs of stress.
• 4-H Grand Champion Showman Round Robin 10 am. 4-H Parade of Champions (for all 1st Place, Grand and Reserve Placings) Noon
• Afternoon walk with your animal is from 4 pm - 5 pm.
• 4-H Awards Program 5 pm (Please plan to attend).
• Barn closes at 10 pm. Please check on your animals before then.
Sunday
• Barn opens at 7 am (Earliest animals can be removed no earlier than 7 am).
• Stalls cleaned and animals heading home by 2 pm.
If you are thinking of adding Llama and Alpacas into your life or want more information on showing here are some excellent sources: Michigan Llama Association at michiganllama.org, Michigan Alpaca Association at mialpaca.com, Alpaca Owners Breeders Association at www.alpacainfo.com, International Lama Registry at secure.lamaregistry.com.
For more information on packing, training and pack systems please visit www.soprisllamas.com.
Llama & Alpaca Specie Chair Contact Info:
Kathy Easter
231-499-7434
ndalpacas@aol.com
Llama & Alpaca Assistant Specie Chair Contact Info:
Renee Hobbins
231-228-6128
hobbins@centurytel.net
Kathy Easter
231-499-7434
ndalpacas@aol.com
Llama & Alpaca Assistant Specie Chair Contact Info:
Renee Hobbins
231-228-6128
hobbins@centurytel.net
