Reminiscing - An Old Llama Guy by Ron Shinnick Paddock Pointers, excerpts from

Reminiscing - An Old Llama Guy

by Ron Shinnick

Llamas by the Lakes • Cohutta GA

Reflecting back over our many years in the llama world (almost 30 years), I realize now it has been a lot longer than I sometimes would like to think about. Time, memories and some wonderful friendships have been forged and now have past all to quickly. Somehow I have now become an “old timer” in the llama world or so they tell me.You see back when Pam and I started in llamas there wasn’t any such thing as an “old timer.” We were all new to the “Llama Biz” just trying to figure it out. So we needed each other and leaned on each other for help and advice.

Just as an example, one of the burning issues back then wasn’t some critical medical malady that llamas might get, but of all things, heat stress! It seems like at every llama get together, meeting or conference there were endless discussions and opinions on how to prevent heat stress. There were pamphlets written about it and even a book about how to prevent it. The problem of course was we all loved that beautiful long bushy fiber on our llamas. And why shouldn’t we love it, we were paying thousands of dollars for it and in some cases, tens of thousands of dollars. So who in their right mind would shave it off! Well, we finally figured out with the magic of electric shears we could give those llamas some really stylish haircuts to keep them cool, plus maintain those good looks and most importantly keep them alive. Of course, fans and the trusty water hose were helpful too. Hey, we were all new and learning back then.

Our first few llama events we attended made quite an impression on me, especially since I can still remember these events after nearly three decades or one score and 10 years, if you choose. The very first one I recall was at Chastain Park in downtown Atlanta, Ga. Not many people had seen llamas back then so they always drew a large crowd. They had an obstacle course, a show ring and, the coolest thing was, you could lead a llama around the facility. That was awesome since I didn’t have a llama yet. It was a great introduction to llamas for everyone that attended.

The next two llama events we attended were both close to our home. In fact, one was in our front yard. The first one was a llama conference just outside of Chattanooga, TN. It was a whole weekend of llama learning and sharing of ideas and discoveries about these wonderful animals. The next llama get together I volunteered to host was at our place. That was a brave move on my part since I didn’t know anything about llamas. But why not! The old saying might apply here; “fools go where angels dare.” Well that’s me. Fortunately for us we were living on the 65 acre Cohutta Fish Hatchery at that time. It had all the elements for a great llama event including streams,

Ron and Tracy Pearson with Prisom. Photo by Jack Pearson

hills, lots of water, wide open spaces and woods which could only mean one thing....A llama Festival! The entire weekend consisted of llama fun including obstacle courses in and around fish ponds, wading in streams and hill climbing. There wasn’t much about heat stress or other lama cerebral type things, just good old llama fun. We had llamas and people camped out all over the facility. There was music and great food for everyone. I often refer to that weekend as the “Llama Woodstock Event.”

In those early years there were other great events and llama gatherings in the South. The South has always been a real happening place for llama events. Two really big conferences were hosted by the International Llama Association (the ILA is no longer in existence) in Atlanta and Lexington, Ky. These were always mega llama events hosted in large convention centers and attended by well over a thousand attendees with dozens of vendors and suppliers of all types. The Atlanta conference was our first one and was an incredible event. The Lexington ILA conference I attended with Jack and Tracy Pearson and rode in the “Llamazine.” As part of the conference there was a llama parade in downtown Lexington. Of course, the first one ever and likely not to be repeated anytime soon. I got to lead the parade driving a llama cart pulled by that wonderful llama, Prism.

Not long after that, llama shows became extremely popular and was the thing to do with your llamas. Llama shows soon sprung up in almost every state in the South. But the Perry Show in Perry, Ga was always the big one in the South and not only attracted llama folks from the South, but from all over the eastern United States. The first few shows in Perry the fair management wasn’t exactly sure what to do this bunch of wild and crazy fun loving llamas folks. At times we were housed in a large tent away from the other farm animals which was fine with us unless..... You guessed it, it rained. One year, was particularly memorable when the rain came down like we were in a Hurricane. (As a side note, there was a hurricane at one of the Alabama shows in Montgomery one year. The metal roof was blown off the barns where we stalled the llamas. But we carried on and had a great show in spite of it.) Anyway, we all got soaked, the water under the tent was 4”or 5” deep. But we all had fun literally splashing and wading through a very wet llama show. At least there was no need for a water obstacle in the obstacle classes. Now after all these years it’s fun to sometimes slow down and reflect on these events and the experiences that brought us all together along with all the wonderful llamas and most importantly, the remarkable people. This llama thing is really so different from anything else I have been involved in. We all came from such different backgrounds and experiences, but these wonderful llamas brought us all together in spite of those differences like nothing else could have. We all helped one another, we all worked together, celebrated together, learned together, encouraged one another, cheered for one another and sometimes even cried together.

Keep Hummin! I will. Thanks everyone

About the author: Ron Shinnick has been involved with llamas for thirty years, which has included raising, training and driving llamas. He has written for several llama publications, both domestic and international and is author of the book “Llama Driving, A Basic Guide To Training and Driving Your Llama.” He has served on the SSLA Board of Directors, including a term as President. In addition to his “day job” he serves as the Mayor of a small town in Georgia. He and his wife Pam were some of the original members of SSLA.

Making Holes in Nylon

To make extra holes in a nylon halter use a hot ice pick. Heat the pick by placing it on the kitchen stove burner, being careful to touch the pick only by the handle. The pick makes a hole that’s just the right size, and the heat seals the nylon and prevents fraying. After using it, let the pick cool down on a heat-proof surface. A piece of wood makes a perfect working surface.