Llamas and Alpacas?

hummingbird · 10-25-2011, 09:51 PM

I know you can use llamas and alpacas for pack animals, but can you ride them? I've never seen them ridden but I wondered about the possibilities. I was down in the Smokey Mountains once and they used llamas to transport supplies up to a group of cabins up on one of the mountains. It's beautiful up there too, BTW.

ponderosa · 10-26-2011, 01:56 AM

Llamas typically can carry only about 60-80 lbs for any distance, so no, an adult should not ride a llama. I assume the same is probably true for alpacas.

**CozInCowtown** · 10-26-2011, 08:02 AM

Why would you want to ride one?
They are the most nasty critter that hauks lugies the size of softballs.
I will never have one on my place ever again!!
I originally bought one to run with the goats, traded the idiot off and bought a donkey. much better critter!!
DC

Tubby · 10-26-2011, 08:18 PM

@ Coz! Yep, I've had the luggie bath from a llama before. Not one of the most pleasant experiences I've ever had. My cousin also had ostriches. They are some of the most nasty tempered creatures I have ever had the misfortune to meet up with.

**CozInCowtown** · 10-31-2011, 05:22 AM

Yeah, I like the donkey much better than the llama.
Very friendly, loves the kids and doubles an alarmclock for the entire county.
6 am every morning she lets us know it is time for breakfast.
DC

ppine · 12-07-2011, 01:46 PM

Donkeys are tough to beat. The camelids are gentle creatures that do not take well to being manhandled. Treat them kindly and they are really easy to work with. I will be at a party on Sun with 18 alpacas. There are usually crias (babies) this time of year. None of them can be ridden. Ride a good donkey and you will never ride anything else according to a lot of old timers.

My wife had a saddle donkey that was a lot of fun, but hard to manage on the ground as a young jenny. I have been a mule man since about 1980.

calanta · 12-07-2011, 04:51 PM

If you can get a donkey which is not (highly) stubborn its the best bet, I had the chance to do this and I totally understand what pine here is talking about. It is like the difference in car when you are comparing a smooth ride that feels like you are floating to one that needs some serious shock work setup.

catspa · 12-07-2011, 05:50 PM

I once kept a pair of alpacas for fur, and found them much more gentle and mellow than llamas. They mowed my lawn and produced fertilizer also. However, I couldn't see riding one, as they were only about 300 pounds or so. I don't think they could pack enough to justify the hassle of camping with them.

Parker

ppine · 12-08-2011, 12:56 PM

Llamas are the only real pack animals out of the 4 Camelids. Elk hunters are starting to use them regulary to pack out meat. They are much easier to handle than horses and mules for novices.

Camels are great pack animals but the hardest to handle in the group.

In the Andes they haul everything.

The stuborness portrayed in movies about donkeys and mules is related to their intelligence. They are much smarter than horses. They do not suffer fools. They can be negotiated with, but manhandling them creates real problems. A mule trainer is always good with horses. Most horse trainers have a hard time with mules and donkeys.

Grandpa · 12-08-2011, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ppine

They are much smarter than horses. They do not suffer fools. They can be negotiated with, but manhandling them creates real problems.

Exactly.....