Winter - Classical Mileend Alpacas

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Health and Welfare Showing Off steward knows that the movement will likely be away from the judge’s body so he assumes a position on the right side of the animal. The handler forms the third side by standing directly in front of the alpaca about a foot away from the nose – right hand on the lead close to the halter fi ngers of the left hand lightly on the neck (see photo below) The handler focuses on the feet and works to keep the animal’s weight evenly distributed over both front feet. Remembering to release when the animal is in balance. Balancing can always be ‘Plan A’. If it is obvious that the animal needs more support the handler and ring steward are both in a position to move to ‘Plan B’ and add more restraint but remember… LAW OF CAMELIDYNAMICS: Alpacas get better at what they practice. Fight with your alpaca and he will get better at escape and evasion! Alpacas generally fi ght restraint to one degree or another. Try to hold an animal still and his fi rst response is to fi ght that restraint. There are generally two kinds of alpacas; the kind that give in easily to restraint and the kind that don’t. The kind of alpaca that gives in easily really doesn’t need to be restrained and will quite happily stand in balance when he learns that he can. The kind of alpaca that won’t give in just gets worse and becomes more and more determined to fi ght his way out of what he sees as a dangerous situation. I have seen big strong athletic people end up on their keister in the ring when they tried to fi ght one of these alpacas. Not only does this look unprofessional but it 42 Alpaca World Magazine Winter 2004/05 can also result in injury to animal, handler or both and renders the animal unshowable by all but the strongest of handlers. The good news is that a majority of the animals that fi ght the hardest when restrained, respond the most positively when given an opportunity to stand without restraint. The trick is that most people do not know how to fully release pressure on a lead and put an animal in balance. † Most handlers feel more secure with pressure on the lead and that pressure is what pushes the panic button and actually causes the problem. I want to leave you with just a couple of examples of how the principals of balance and containment can help problem solve for ring stewards and handlers. Scenario 1: An exhibitor is having trouble showing the animal’s bite. The animal rears and twists away from the handler before he can show the bite. In my experience the handler is likely taking the animal out of balance by pulling the animal into his body thereby causing the animal to carry all the weight on the left front leg. This pushes the fi ght button. This problem happens to lots of people but is really common with shorter handlers. Solving the problem. The handler concentrates on lifting the elbow of the right arm so that it is higher on the neck as he shows the bite. With the arm up high the handler has more leverage and control over the head. The handler also concentrates on putting more weight on the animal’s right leg. The ring steward can also help out by moving up next to the right side of the alpaca near the front of the animal. This builds the catch pen-handler on the left, ring steward on the right and judge in front looking at the bite (see photo right). Scenario 2: the alpaca swings his body away as the judge approaches on the left to fl eece check. In my experience this is often caused by the handler applying steady pressure on the lead rope. An alpaca pivots around his front legs where most of his weight is naturally borne. Holding steadily on the lead while standing on the animal’s left the natural tendency is for the alpaca’s butt to swing in the opposite direction. Solving the problem: As the judge approaches the animal from the left the handler uses his lead rope to move the animals weight to the right front leg and moves to the front of the animal. This will help prevent the alpaca from swinging his butt to the right and closes the ‘front door’, the ring steward moves to the animal’s right side to form the third side of the catch pen as the judge walks up on the left. Notice in both of these examples the ring steward can help immensely without touching the animal. Many people object to the ring steward grabbing their animal. The job of ring steward is a tough one. The judge expects the ring steward to help him inspect the fl eece the exhibitor quite often wants and needs help. A ring steward that learns where to stand without reaching for restraint fi rst off, can do a good job of helping both the judge and the exhibitor – a win-win! What more could you want at a show! * You can just as easily use these techniques standing on the right side of the animal checking the fl eece on the left just remember the ring steward will always stand on the side opposite the judge. † Learning to balance an animal is a handling skill that requires practice. I have written many articles about the concept of balance and my book “The Camelid Companion” has entire sections devoted to the topic. Reading this material and practising the exercises will help you learn the technique. Part Two of Marty McGee’s Showing Off! follows in the Spring issue of Alpaca World Magazine
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Page 1 and 2: M A G A Z I N E Winter 2004/05 £4.
Page 3 and 4: Issue 12 Winter 2004/05 ISSN 1477-7
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Page 7 and 8: DOGS ATTACK AGAIN Dear Editor, Furt
Page 9 and 10: Classical MileEnd Alpacas Outstandi
Page 11 and 12: Not all breeders will be looking fo
Page 13 and 14: BOZEDOWN WEST at WESTWAYS ALPACAS N
Page 15 and 16: Continued on page 18 Alpaca World M
Page 18: Special Feature Boys and how to cho
Page 21 and 22: mating have been reported as low (S
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Page 27 and 28: liaise with the breeders, arrange t
Page 29 and 30: Search or Advertise Alpacas for Sal
Page 31 and 32: “The highly decorative costumes t
Page 33 and 34: to colonise and breakdown plant mat
Page 35 and 36: 40% NDF, or 25% CF, of which 25% is
Page 37 and 38: THE FEED FOR SHOW CHAMPIONS Bob Raw
Page 39 and 40: defecate. The list is long, the mes
Page 41: LAW OF CAMELIDYNAMICS: When an alpa
Page 45 and 46: One point worth mentioning is that
Page 47 and 48: Violet is a two-year-old alpaca wit
Page 51 and 52: crinkly type fl eece with high curv
Page 53 and 54: smiling face. The AOBA infomercial
Page 59 and 60: Wessex Rural Alianza Don Pepe Plant

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