I’m the first one to say, “My horses are terrified of llamas!”
And, it is true.
Whenever we walk past a llama, my horses (all of them) will perk up and walk on their tippy-toes past the aliens.
I’m sure they do this because llamas are very foreign to them – and to me… to be quite frank – especially the alpacas. They look like something out of a Star Wars movie…
Anyway, my horses have never lived with or around any llamas. So, they’ve never gotten familiar.
In fact, one of my worst trail rides with Finn was when we came upon 15 pack llamas on our trail. Finn almost melted on the spot. First he froze, then he started shaking. I was ready for him to explode or combust or something so we skeedaddled back up the trail and took another way out. On that day, I didn’t want to start the ‘let’s get to know a llama’ training. It didn’t feel right…
But, I figured that in time, my horses could get used to and come to love just about any type of neighbor. They have learned to live with pigs, dogs, cats, skunks, dairy cows, beef cows, donkeys, mules… how hard would it be to love a llama?
I decided to look on the internet to find out. Lo and Behold, most people had the exact same reaction as I did when you put “llama” and “horse” in the same sentence.
Nooooooooo!
But, there were several who contradicted the rest. On their farms, llamas and horses ran together in harmony.
Llama and Horse love.
Maybe similar coloring works…
WHY AM I CONSIDERING THIS?
Since Bodhi has returned to us, he is fighting with everyone.
Yes, we did have an animal communicator speak with him… and along with many other things, he did mention that he would like a goat or a sheep. White. Female.
Hmmmmmm.
Of course I want to indulge him. But a goat? Sheep? I’ve had goats before and they are always busy. Busy in the ‘how do I get out of my pen’ kind of busy – no matter what size pen, they spent all their time trying to figure ways to open the gates or rig an escape.
They also ate all of the good stuff first, like my flowers.
Now, I’m not saying I didn’t love my goats. I did. But, they were a handful and not easy to contain.
If Bodhi got a goat/sheep, we’d have to rebuild his paddock so the goat/sheep couldn’t get out.
We’d also have to create an area for the goat/sheep to live that was warm and dry inside of Bodhi’s shelter. But, since Bodhi is a General Contractor and has remodeled his shelter several times since he moved in, we are afraid he would take to deconstructing a goat/sheep house in no time flat!
Hmmmmm.
Getting to know you…
Or opposite coloring…
THE CALIFORNIA STATE FAIR – Angora goats
While at the California State Fair last Sunday, we always look at the animals. (Sometimes it is very sad for me since many of them will soon be eaten. Sigh.)
Hubby fell in love with the Angora goats. He wanted one. He wanted Bodhi to have one.
Yes, it was true… They had great, kind and quiet personalities… but they were still goats. They would still need everything a goat would need plus sheering. Twice a year.
I wasn’t sold especially because they weren’t cheap… Not that I need cheap animals. It is that I’d prefer to rescue someone for Bodhi.
Hubby fell in love with the Angora goats.
THE LLAMA LADY
Then we ran into the Llama lady. She was standing in the aisle with this very enchanting, doe-eyed exotic looking Argentinian llama. We petted her. That was a first. Every other time we’ve gone to pet a llama, it has run away. Or looked at us as if we were the devil. Or spit.
I thought llamas hated me.
But, this one was very personable. So I asked the owner about this llama.
Being the proud mama, she told me everything I wanted to know. Everything.
In the end, she said, “Heck, I live 35 minutes from you… c’mon over and see our pet quality llama (she wasn’t at the show – her ears flop down due to an early illness). If you like her, I’ll bring her over to you and you can try them out together for a week or so. If it doesn’t work, I’ll take her back.”
Hmmmmmm.
So, we are in the beginning stages of potentially bringing home a black (not white) female (good) llama (not a sheep or goat) for Bodhi.
Ahhhhh… this should be very interesting…!
DO ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY HORSE/LLAMA STORIES TO SHARE?! Oh please, do tell!
Love this one.
“Hey, wait for me!” (My personal fav.)
HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!
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Siyo,
I’ve had my llama, Llouie for almost 9 years, he’s best friends with one of my Mustangs, Mack and they are absolutely inseparable. I do an array of community involvement activities, reading goals and therapy with him and of course, Mack tags along too. The picture of the white horse & llama are doppelgängers to my two, I wish I could share pictures here!
?????
I AM A SENIOR WHO MUST DOWNSIZE TO A SMALLER HOME FROM MY RANCH..I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A HOME FOR MY ELDERLY INTACT MALE LLAMA(22 YRS)..AND MY VET SEEMS TO THINK LLAMA WOULD BE OKAY WITH HORSES..BUT I HAVE HEARD HORSES BULLY LLLAMAS. ALTHOUGH HE WAS HEAD LLAMA HERE..EL JEFE, I AM CONCERNED HE’S TOO OLD TO DO BATTLE WITH HORSES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS LONG LIFE.
MOVING SOON AND VERY CONCERNED..OTHER SHELTERS HAVE TOO MANY HOOVED ANIMALS OR OR DON’T TAKE LLAMAS..THIS IS SWEET, GENTLE OLD TIMER AND I WANT THE BEST FOR HIM
MY LAST LLAMA NEEDS A PROPER, SAFE HOME..WE ARE IN THE ANTELOPE Valley, Los Angeles CO, CA
The time varies… you will know. Don’t worry.
Ok so I came upon this question for a reason cause we just got one yesterday. Llama that is. We have him separate right now but where all 6 horses and llama can see,smell,touch what ever they need to do so they can (hopefully) get use to each other. Right now we have a big issue with most of the horses cause they are TERRIFIED of the llama. They are worst to separate them from their heard. Now my question is how long will it take for them to get use to each other so we can put them together? We can’t at the moment cause we tried and couple of the horses were so scared that they got cuts and scrapes not too bad but we did doctor a bit. But all are good now for the cuts. If anyone could let me know roughly how long or if we should let the llama go?
Thanks in advance
My horses hate my alpaca I need help if I should Separate them
Hi Elizabeth: This post is several years old. Our llama went to live with our neighbor
who has 2 horses and 2 donkeys. They all live together and the llama is 2nd in the pecking order.
So, yes, it does work. But, they are all individuals, which you know!
Any updates on how this worked out? We’re thinking about doing the same and are curious!
Please post an update (and pics too!) when you can.
Thank you!
Elizabeth
I brought Oliver (llama) home yesterday and almost immediately Misty (horse) was at the fence. They both greeted each other with sniffing and rubbing necks. And I thought instant friendship. Oliver has never been on pasture and he was (large) penned with other llamas with goats in the next pen. He went right into the pasture and he and Misty went for a run.
Today, Oliver was out in the far end of the pasture and Misty came up for breakfast. This evening though, Oliver followed me back up the fence by the house and Misty was right there. No issues, they just sniffed each other and were fine.
I’m sure it will take a week or two for them to fully bond. But, so far so good. I got the idea from a friend who also has a Llama with her horse for several years and they are best friends.
So far what I have been seeing about horses and llamas on the web are correct. The introduction is the most important part. On the other hand, it works both ways, llamas can be afraid of horses and are usually BULLIED by horses. We have an 18 year old llama that was with horses most of her life and I can see at feeding time that she waits until last and will shy away from bunk to bunk until she finds her place alone. Another small llama was at a farm where there were two horses. The horses would tease her and scare her and if she would get close to the fenceline they wanted to stomp her to death. Years ago some people had llamas and alpacas together. The horses would bully the llamas and if a llama tried to run past it would have taken one kick from the horse and the llama would be dead or have a broken shoulder or hip. Then, some guy took 3 free llamas and put them in with the horses, once again they were bullied. One of the horses kicked one of the llamas in the head and the llama had to be shot.
I have been working with llamas and alpacas fr 24 years and most people don’t like llamas. Why would they not like an animal that loves, kindness, gentleness, peaceableness and makes one forget about all of their woes. WHen a llama is mean or spits there is usually a reason. One just needs to rehab or have cranial work and homeopathy done to help that critter. Man had done this to most of them.
Thank you and I hope people will EDUCATE themselves and the funny thing is, it is horse people that started a lot of the breeding in the industry years ago. Now, Llamas are in sanctuaries all over and need homes, loving, forever homes. Char Hakes, Founder and President of Safe Haven LLama and Alpaca Sanctuary, 501c3 non profit
We have a guard llama for our colored angora goats. Most of our ten horses were fine when we got llamas. However, Apollo, our Appendix QH was certain it was going to eat him. It took a good three weeks before he would come into the barn at the same time as the llama. After that first three weeks he was fine. No big deal. Llamas are really special animals. I hope you get one!
I have three llamas, one horse and two mini donkeys and they all get along wonderfully, all in the same pasture together. The llamas weren’t thrilled with the donkeys when they came home but have grown to like them, took about three weeks. They were still in the same pen, they just stayed at the other end. The llamas actually get overly concerned when I saddle up Jax for a ride, they don’t like him leaving them. The llamas are great gaurd animals, they will alert us to a coyote in the field long before my dogs see it. Have fun with them.
PS Al was the idea and gift from my vet….
I have had both llamas and alpacas with my horses. The last and best was the alpaca “Al” (not long on creativity but it worked). Al and my foundered mare, who needed companionship, where an item. Al would hum for her when she was gone and she would look for him. I stalled them side by side (mesh in-between) for a few days before turning them out on a dry lot. Worked like a charm.
Good-luck!!!
We’re gonna need pictures of this…
And lots of updates. I really think it’s a good idea,but it’ll be an interesting few days