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Llama Breeders in France, Llamas for Sale in France, Llama Livery in France, Llama Trekking in France & Llama Training Courses in France |
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Llama Trekking Training At Border Llamas we use only gentle, non aggressive methods to train trekking llamas for our customers.
We must stress
that the training method that are detailed on this site is based upon our own
personal experience in training llamas and what works for us. Other llama
trainers may utilise different methods which work for them. At the end of the
day it is all down to personal preference and no particular method is right or
wrong with the exception of any training method which utilises fear or
unnecessary force in order to get a llama to perform any particular action. Whenever we are training the llamas we constantly monitor their body language and use this to gauge their readiness to advance the training to the next stage. When sourcing suitable llamas for trek training we look for strong male llamas which are at least 2 years old, have good conformation, medium or short fibre and are alert and show interest. If not already gelded the males are gelded as soon as they arrive with us. Most of the adult llamas we use have had little or nothing in the way of human contact when young and so are highly unlikely to developed undesirable behavioural (berserk male llama syndrome) problems later. This also tends to ensure that the llamas have not been taught any bad habits which would then need to be corrected.
Training the llamas starts with basic familiarisation when they first arrive with us unless the llamas have been reared on our farm. This part of the training all takes place in a large open barn in which they are initially confined and ensures that they become comfortable with:
The initial Lead training is conducted within the confines of a safe area and again things are done very slowly. When we are sure a llama is quite happy on the lead and starts and stops when we want him to, we then simply open the gates of the barn and the llama is lead outside for the first time (but only for a very short while). After the llama has been lead outside and behaves well we then start to lead the llama further away from the barn and walk him over a number of different surfaces so that his pads become used to the different feelings he will encounter. As the lead training progresses we start to introduce a whole range of different sounds and sights, quad bikes, dogs barking and running around, low flying aircraft, tractors, cows, sheep etc. On each outing the llama is taken slightly further and is also given less and less commands so that they naturally start and stop when the walker starts or stops. They are also given time to stop and investigate, but only for a reasonable amount of time before moving on to the next stage. As the lead
training progresses, the llamas start their desensitisation training. We
find this one of the slowest parts of the program and one which we take small
steps at a time but ends up with the llamas being brushed and empty packs being
placed on them. This part of their training also teaches them to allow the owner
to pick their feet up for checking and trimming. During the final stages the llama moves onto packing training so that they get used to the feel of the saddle and different weights of the packs. We use the Flaming star pack system. When we are happy that the llamas and quite comfortable and can walk out nicely we start their trailer training so that they are happy being loaded into and exiting a horse trailer which is essential if they are going to be transported without stress. Once the llamas have happily master the art of entering and exiting the trailer, their training then progresses to them being taken on short trips away from the farm area to the local woods and rivers. There are numerous small sandy and shingle islands reached by shallow pools of slow running water where the llamas are taught to ford streams, many of these walks are accompanied by our 5 dogs which are used to condition the llamas to dogs running around and playing in the water close to them. Just before or on delivery of the llamas, we spend 5 days with the new owners providing them with in depth hands on training.
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Llama Breeders in France, Llamas for Sale in France, Llama Livery in France, Llama Trekking in France & Llama Training Courses in France If you require any information or advice about buying & keeping Llamas please contact us. Address: Mike & Sue Longhurst Border Llamas Prends-Y-Garde, Le Grand Champs, 03240 Tronget, France
Copyright © 2010 BorderLlamas (The content of this web site may not be copied or reproduced without the express permission of the owner).Last modified: Dezember, 2011 . |
We personally do not use female llamas for
trekking training as we find that for most people this tends to be financially
unviable ,because of the female is being used for breeding as well, she will
only available for trekking for certain periods of the year. You really do not
want to try and get a heavily pregnant female llama to go walkies. We have
also found that male llamas are more easy to train than female llamas. We
also steer away from using male llamas (even once gelded) that have been used as
a stud as the behavioural patterns are normally quite set by that time, although
they can be trained. You would not want to take an entire male llama trekking
with a female llama that may come into season as that could pose quite a few
problems and more than likely embarrass your fellow trekkers!!!
After
a period of familiarisation we move onto halter training which is conducted in a small
catch pen area. Again the message is slowly but surely and
after the llamas happily accept the halter (we normally conduct the putting on
and removing the halter exercise some 20 or 30 times before moving on) we move
onto basic lead training. 
