SPRING 2010
The sun is shining !
Spring has burst forth especially here at Llama Lland with lots of stunning babies arriving on the farm.
Here is a selection of pictures of the cria (baby llamas) for 2010 :
It's amazing when llamas are born.
They start off looking stoggy and fragile, yet within hours they are up and running as if they were several days old.
Here are two pictures of Eclair who was born on 17th April 2010
at 1.30pm (first photo) and the second photo is 2 hours later !
A new kid on the block has just arrived. We are now the proud owners of Big Ben (below left) who will be one of our new studs of the future - with Goliath (below right), a home bred boy.
Ben won SUREME CHAMPION at Newbury Show 2009.
What's New on the Farm ?
The season has started for trekking on the farm,with two students enjoying and afternoon getting aquainted with our llamas !
We cater all our treks/experiences to peoople's individual needs.
AUTUMN 2009
Newbees to Newbury
The British Llama Society seems to be going from strength to strength, thanks to the hard work of the committee and stalwart volunteers. Although Llama Lland is situated in Cornwall, we felt that we wanted to do our best to support the society by going to the Newbury Show, where llama classes have been shown for many a year.
It was no easy task getting to the show a 250 miles journey which lasted for 9 hours being delayed in road accidents and volume of traffic; we made it with relief by 7p.m.
The evening before the show and were greeted by follow members. Now finally it was the opportunity all those people I had heard of but never met.
Everybody helped us unload our 7 animals and put them in their pens for the night.
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King Kong and Julie at Newbury Show
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One of our llamas which we brought along was one of our stud males called King Kong, I really was not sure whether I should take him because there where plenty of girls llamas around to take a fancy to, but I felt he deserved to be shown because he his 10 years old now and still looks totally in his prime.
I was so glad I did he behaved impeccably and seemed to be enjoying all the fuss.
The Saturday was the “Serious” judging day which all went really smoothly with the help of the steward’s and everybody helping each other to make sure we all went out on order.
We have only ever been to one other show, simply because there are not any in our area, so we are not exactly sure what we are doing, but everything went like clock work, we seemed busy all day, taking one animal out and getting the next ready for the up and coming class. Day two were the fun classes and obstacle courses and where the public had the chance to judge the classes.
This for me was the most important day because the public got to see what llamas could do and just how gentle they are, so educating the public in a fun way.
The finally of the show was going into the Grand Parade of animals with our llamas, I took King Kong and kept him down wind of the girls, although Vivienne did say” she wouldn’t mind a free mating for her llama”!
Michael Balchin gave a fantastic commentary, whilst in the main ring and throughout the weekend. It was wonderful walking into the main ring and listening to comments of “how cool” “what beautiful creatures” and not hearing all the usual negative comments.
This was the ultimate highlight of the show for me.
Ask me whether I would do it again.
The answer is yes, look forward to meeting up with everybody next year and hope this article will encourage more people to come along and support the show and enter if they wish to make it bigger and better.
World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms
Llama Lland this year as had many different volunteers from all over the world, some just to experience farming other more specific to learn about llamas and animal husbandry.
We always welcome potential vets of the future to come and learn about these fascinating animals.
Other volunteers come to experience life working on the farm and the whole Tripp family would like to thank all the volunteers we have had in helping build shelters for our animals, planting trees, and all the other jobs that come with being on the farm.
The volunteers are worked particularly hard by the children !!!
As you can see by the photos.
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Ai and Tamsim being organised
at our 2009 Open Day
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Our youngest son finding important jobs for the volunteers !!!! |
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JULY/AUGUST 2009
Llama Heaven
The summer time is always extra busy with all the events taking place on and off the farm.
This year the llamas have led me to extroadinary places.
The North American Ccara Association invited me to train to become a screener for the organisation, because of my particular interest in breeding short coated (Ccara Llama).
This was too good an opportunity to miss, so I packed my bags and jumped on a plane to spend my time immersed in llamas.
The training programme was very intense, but very worthwhile, looking at conformation of 200 llamas at Highline Trail Llamas in Wyoming.
The screening programme culminated in a three day trek into the wilderness with fellow screeners and llamas of course carrying all our camping equipment.
We climbed from 7000ft to 9000ft in an afternoon, I felt like my heart was going to pop out of my body with the difficulty in breathing.
I was very grateful of my llama companion, he was very patient and kind and definitely a veteran of many a trek.
He took tremendous care of me, never knocking into me once when we had to climb over tree trunks, or crossing rivers.
For me it was an experience I will never forget, so here are a few pictures to share.
Llama Lland Open Day
I arrived home from my adventures in America the day before our open day in July.
Again this year the sun did manage to shine on the day, allowing around 700 people to enjoy meeting the llamas down on the farm.
British Llama Society Gather
On the 12th July members of the British Llama Society met up on the farm for a social gather and Trek.
We took 10 of our llamas out on the trek on the farm up a hill to see the views of Truro Cathedral then over fields in to our woodland, then back for lunch and a good old natter !
Llama Lland are now offering half day llama experience sessions which include a trek on the farm, learning about them and a farm tour, these are available at £25.00 per adult, minimum of two booking, also family and group bookings are now being taken.
Beautiful Babies
Share in our delght at some of our gorgeous babies of 2009 :
MAY/JUNE 2009
Show Time
May Bank Holiday began with an early start of 4 a.m., five llamas were loaded and we were off to the North Somerset Show.
With trepidation
we arrived at 8a.m. to find our pens and ask the other competitors what the procedure was for showing.
From the day we came away with 5 rosettes and feeling quite proud of our animals.
Maisy came home with Reserve Champion of show, not bad for first timers!!
Next was the Devon County and we had a lovely spot next to the Lady Clifton Ring watching the natural horsemanship and the beautiful Pasa Fina horses. We took all our young boy llamas to this show for their debut.
Llamas always surprise me, they had the option of going into the trailer if they wanted to get away from the crowds, but they never did instead they were curious the whole three days.
Back home for a couple of days then off to the Bath and West Show, where we were stationed next to the Sports for the disabled.
The llamas did not bat in eyelid when the odd stray ball landed in their pen. From both shows we sold all our 2008 boys, feeling sad they have gone, but happy knowing that they have found super new homes.
The owners came down for a days training course.
Bookings are now being taken for our 2009 babies.
We have had some new arrivals, Tangerine who looks like his Dad Prince Charles and Princess who is simply beautiful, plus two new guanaco baby girls.
The rest of the pregnant females all seem to be keeping their legs crossed.
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Maisey.
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Pasa Fina horse and our llamas
at the Devon County Show.
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Guanaco Bay - with mum, being all protective of the new arrival.
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Tangernine and Princess (on the right)
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APRIL 2009
The Tripp family on holiday
While away on holiday, we could not resist the opportunity of spending some time with Camels, the Llamas cousin.
Two days after we left the farm Hazel gave birth, it made a change for our friend the sheep farmer to see a baby llama arrive.
He wishes birthing could be so easy in his sheep.
Mother and baby are doing really well on the sunshine and grass, she had to be named Holiday.
The same sheep farmer lost a lot of lambs to the foxes last year, since purchasing two guard llamas from us he has not lost any.
Within a week of returning we had two more delightful cria, the first being Danny named by Tamsin.
He his very curious and friendly, just like his mum Daisy.
Two days after Danny was born, another baby boy cria was born.
All the children chose his name, ”Ed” : apparently after the CBBC presenter.
I watched his birth and he arrived on the 31st March at 12.45 p.m. precisely, unfortunately never a camera handy when you need one.
Everything is bursting into life on the farm and the children are watching a Blue Tit that looks like it might be taking up residence in a bird box that Joe made at Scouts.
JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2009
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The months of January and February have merged into one with all the daily activates of looking after animals in winter.
With the extreme weather this year, this added a few extra tasks, like going around with a sledge hammer to break the ice on water troughs and giving out extra portions of hay and generally checking that everybody was well and coping with the weather.
The one day of snow was thoroughly enjoyed by everybody, the llamas rolled and kicked up the snow in delight, and they were quite perplexed by us sledging down the hill side on their feed bags.
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At the beginning of January the last of the 2008 babies were weaned from their mothers, so now begins their regular handling, socialising and training.
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On the 27th January Gwinny gave birth to Goliath, a most handsome confident boy who I am sure will live up to his name.
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Goliath at one day old !
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