One of the many things that llama people do is to take their llamas to shows to have them judged in relation to the llamas that other breeders are producing. We believe that a breeder's performance in the ring can confirm his breeding program.
People breed llamas for many different reasons. At llama shows, llamas are judged on most of the things that breeders breed for: Conformation, Personality, Wool, Intelligence, Willingness to Work and so Forth. This is done in several ways as shown in the pictures and explanations below. There are classes for youth, where the young person showing the llama earns awards and points and there are classes where the llama being shown earns awards and points towards future awards.
Showing is one of the really fun things about raising llamas.
"JOG NOHEA, JOG!"
You can either
choose below the type of show class you want to learn about
or
You can scroll down through them all!
To Find out "What every Llama Should Know" (Click Here)
"It‘s Show Time"
Wayne and Konotoga waltz through the halter class. In these classes, the llama is judged for it’s confirmation (structure) usually based on the way it moves. In addition, personality, fiber, body condition and other factors may play a part in the final placement. The showman usually walks the llama around the ring and then toward and away from the judge. Most judges like to put their hands on the llama to help them compare llamas against one another.
Brian and Konotoga negotiate stairs and a bridge in am Public Relations Class. In Public Relations classes, the handler and llama encounter situations similar to those they might see when out visiting in public places. This may include climbing stair, going through gates and doors, being petted in a classroom situation, encountering other domesticated animals, doing "party tricks", putting on costumes, hats, having their picture taken, and so forth.
Brandon and Ali'i are participating in a weaving obstacle in a Pack
Class. Llamas carry weight-filled packs over a course which simulates what they might encounter while on a trek in the wilderness. They have to negotiate water, deadfalls, bridges, jumps, tunnels and so forth. The goal is to see how well the llama works with the handler to traverse the course safely and cleanly. Points are subtracted for bumping an obstacle, refusing to enter an obstacle, shying away from an obstacle, not responding to the handler. The handler usually has to pick up a foot and check it, put trash in the pack while the llama stands quietly, take the pack off and get the llama to enter and exit a trailer safely. This is an important class since this is a primary use of llamas in the real world. 
Patrick and Frixos take a water obstacle in the Obstacle Class. The llama and handler must work together in negotiating a variety of unusual obstacles and tasks. This measures the personality of the llama and working relationship between the handler and the llama. The team must negotiate water, jumps, narrow bridges and ramps, tunnels and other such obstacles. There are usually 8 to 10 obstacles in an obstacle course. The list of difficult and unusual obstacles is endless and varies greatly from show to show. Llamas do best in this situation when they have absolute trust in their handler! Such trust is developed by spending a lot of time together. The team shown here have been National Champions in "YOuth Showmanship" and in "Public Relations" and have won numerous Performance Championships at shows for the past 7 years. A Performance Champion has the highest number of points accumulated in a show from the performance classes, pack, public relations and obstacle combined.
In
Showmanship" classes handlers are awarded for their ability to show their
llamas in the best way they can, so that the qualities of the llama are
emphasized to the judge and provide
the judge with the best opportunity to view the llama and access its quality in
relation to other llamas being shown. In these classes, the handler
usually dresses in neat black and white attire, insures the llama is groomed to
its best and presents the llama to the judge usually in a classes that is
similar to the Halter. But it is the handler who is judged not the llama.
The team to the left, Patrick Coussens and Moser's Frixos, are National Champions in Showmanship
In "Driving
Classes", llamas which have been taught to pull carts compete in classes
which measure the skill of the driver and the llama to perform certain
skills together. Driving classes include, pleasure driving, obstacle course
driving, and sometimes public relations driving. Driving classes can be
single hitch using one llama or team hitch using two or more llamas. These
classes are generally pretty small, but the use of llamas as cart animals is
rapidly catching on and class sizes at shows is growing accordingly.
Most Shows also include "Wool Classes" also know as fiber or fleece classes. In these classes, fiber which has been shorn from the llama is examined by judges who compare the fibers and score them against a set scale and then against each other. In addition to ribbons or other awards for placements by the judges awards are usually also given on the basis of things like "best crimp", "best luster", and "cleanest". Often the public is given the chance also to select their favorite fibers by handling them and scoring them on the basis of "best hand", "favorite color", and so forth.
In all types of Performance classes, except Driving Classes, there are both youth classes, junior and intermediate, and llama classes. In Youth Classes, the points are earned by the Youth who compete for ribbons in their classes and for Championships based on points from the combined classes entered. In the llama classes, the llama earns points towards future awards on a national level or regional level as well as ribbons and championships based on places in the combined performance classes.
"Group Classes" include classes in which sets of offspring by the same sire compete with offspring of different sires to see which produces the most uniform cria, usually referred to as "Get-of Sire" classes, and classes in which sets of offspring by the same dam and at least two different sires are compared with other such sets, usually referred to as "Produce of Dam". These halter classes are highly prized awards, as they speak to the quality of the sire or dam that the breeder uses as well as the quality of the offspring.
Other types of classes which often are seen at shows are the following: "Costume classes" where both the llama and the handler wear costumes relating to a theme. "Bred and Owned" classes which are Halter Classes which include only llamas which were bred by the breeder and still owned by them. "Sheared Llama" classes which is a halter class in which sheared llamas are judged for the degree to which the shearing job maximizes the appeal and positive qualities of the llama. "Dam and Cria" classes in which the Dam is shown with her current cria and the pairs are compared.
What every llama should know before going into the show ring!
Basics- If a llama does not know these things it should not be considered trained!
1. Stand quietly while the handler approaches
2. Stand quietly while the handle picks up and checks feet
3. Allow handler or strangers to pet and touch
4. Never to spit or threaten
5. Never to kick
6. Stand quietly while the handler checks ears, eyes and mouth
7. Stand quietly while the halter is put on and fastened and then while removed
8. Follow the handler with a minimal cue of the lead
For Halter Classes - Knowing these things helps the llama place better in a halter class, look better and makes showing much more pleasant
1. Stand still, preferably square, as long as the handler does not provide a cue to move (ie., pull on the lead), no matter what else is going on around.
2. Move when a cue is given (i.e., slight movement of lead in the direction of desired movement).
3. Continue to move until cued to stop and stop immediately when cued.
4. Allow the back to be touched/rubbed down by the handler or anyone else.
5. Stand quietly while someone approaches from the front or back or circles around.
6. Allow the teeth to be shown by the handler
7. Pay attention to the handler, not the llama in front, in back or on either side.
8. Move out at a good pace when entering the ring, moving around the ring and approaching the judge
9. Walk up to the judge without shying or stopping until cued to stop
10. Stand with the tail up, ears up and head held high
11. Move around the ring smoothly with head up, ears up and tail up
12. Back in a straight line with the handler to the front left side so that the judge may look at the leg movement while backing.
For Performance Classes - If your llama can do all of these things when it enters the ring, it will not only place well, it cannot help but win some Championships along the way.
1. Follow the handler on a slack lead anywhere the handler goes
2. Allow the handler to pick up any foot and show it to the judge
3. Jump any kind of barrier without balking or hitting the barrier
4. Back in a straight line or a curve as directed by the handler using only the lead as a cue, including backing into, between and around barriers and other obstacles.
5. Load and unload from a vehicle (truck, van, wagon, trailer) when led in, or, in Advanced classes, on command, without being led.
6. Follow the handler up and down various kinds of stairs or ramps by walking and touching each step, and without jumping up or down or off the sides.
7. Follow the handler across any surface, bridge or platform, or, at more Advance levels without the handler crossing the obstacle.
8. Load and unload from any platform or raised surface.
9. Follow the handler through any kind of barrier (tires, deadfall, water, mud, gates, doors)
10. Allow the handler to place different items on the head, neck, or back without display (such as moving away, ears back, etc) and walk with item on for some distance. At advance levels, allow things to be tied to or put on the tail, legs, feet and so forth.
11. Stand in one spot as the handler moves a distance away to get something and returns.
12. Allow a stranger or group of strangers to approach and place hands on the neck, head, back and sides (petting) without moving or display.
13. Pass by or through a group of people without display and stop and allow petting
14. Run and stop at the handlers command (Change of Pace)
15. Weave in and through various objects without touching them
16. In pack classes, all of the above, plus stand quietly while the saddle and pack is loaded and cinched and while the pack and saddle are removed. Allow the handler to rub down the saddle area and underneath to check for saddle sores.
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Wayne and Patricia Coussens
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31069 Email:
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