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Anonymous
07-28-2005, 07:20 PM
Marty,
Wanted to drop you a line and request whatever you have available for new/young cria training. I also wanted to share a recent experience with you regarding catching, haltering and leading an 8 month old male I have. He was born on the sellers farm back in January. I doubt that he ever had a halter on, because he was sure a challenge. It started already with the rope catching. He was easy to catch in a controlled area but he jumped and fought the rope for what seemed like forever. I did manage to get a halter on him to after a fashion and once on and out of the rope he was fine. Today I thought I'd try a lead on him. WOW!!!! We were out in his normal pasture and he bucked, cushed, jumped 5 feet in the air and landed on his back, YOU NAME IT!! I know that I'm new but this was elightening to say the least. When I review my scenario it seems like I should have started in a much smaller area. His halter fit fine as I left it on from last week and he eats, drinks, etc. and never even attempts to remove it so I have to believe he is comfortable. Got any ideas? Normally, besides acting like all boy, he stays laying when I come in the barn and I think he trusts me fairly well. I guess where do I start with trying to address this young guy. I had hoped to show him in the spring, if possible. Do I go back at the catching and do that mulitiple times, then the haltering? Do I go back to tryin and establish trust. This was a very dramatic experience for the both of us and I want to do whatever I can to avoid anything similar in the future. I think with his previous handling being minimal prior to his arrival, the wide open pasture and my inexperience made a terrible combination. Sorry it took so long to get this said, but I think you get the drift.Hope this finds you and your enjoying all that life has to offer. Your reply is anxiously awaited.

Marty McGee Bennett
08-02-2005, 02:33 PM
Hi, Thanks for your email. You have been to a clinic correct? Or have we just talked at a conference or something. Sorry I have been on the road so much my memory is getting fuzzy.
I don't think you are gaining anything by leaving a halter on and it sounds like you need to back up a bit and address haltering and get that sorted out before trying the leading thing again. A properly fitting halter is not something an animal needs to get used to once it is on for about 30 seconds the animal should forget he is wearing it. What does take some time and effort and handling skill is haltering an animal so that you don't create resistence to the process and THAT is a huge issue, one that I have spent years working on and one that my entire training and handling program addresses. There are many many articles about the haltering process that offer great detail in the library.
As far as leading goes ...
You hit the nail on the head regarding leading. I don't take a youngster out of a small pen until I am pretty sure they understand what leading is and are unlikely to panic- which is what your guy did. If you have my book there are many suggestions in there for avoiding this again. I usually lead youngsters with a very long lead the one I sell is about 17 feet long and lead in a long narrow pen so that if the alpaca panics I can just give him line instead of having him throw himself around. You are right you don't want to repeat it again. Not only is it scary for both of you but I don't think it is good for the animals spine. So stay in a small area for awhile. If you have any more questions let me know.

good luck. marty