As part of the Alpaca 4-H Project one of the classes of competition is the Obstacle Course. This competition is a way to train the handler and alpaca how to handle various obstacles that are a part of our daily lives on a farm setting or at shows such as fairs and parades. Many alpacas are used in parades and festivals in their native countries of Peru, Chile, and Bolivia in South America. By training an alpaca how to do these obstacles, they are not afraid and tend not to spook when in these types of environments. It also makes handling the alpaca on a daily basis easier for herd health maintenance and when transporting for various reasons.
Change of Pace: At this obstacle you must bring your alpaca to a complete stop at the first cone. Then with the handler “running” you are coaxing the alpaca to change its gait to a faster pace than a walk. You then come to a complete stop at the second cone. Backing Up: At this obstacle the handler leads his/her alpaca through a walkway (either poles or hay bales) and then proceeds to back the alpaca up the length of the walkway. This is successfully done without the alpaca jumping or stepping out of the area. It is done without using force to the alpaca. Tire: The tire obstacle is to try and get either the 2 front or 2 back feet into the center of the tire. This is challenging, as the alpaca does not like to step into small areas. Weaving: This obstacle is set up with 3 cones. The handler is asked to weave the alpaca through the set of cones. The goal is to do the obstacle without the alpaca knocking over any of the cones or touching them. With the Intermediate and Senior level handlers, they have to complete a figure 8 with their alpaca. Showing Teeth: To show the alpaca’s teeth, you come to a stop and place your arm around the back of the alpaca’s neck. With the same hand you calmly place your pointer and middle fingers against the lips of the alpaca. You then carefully lift the upper lip to expose the bottom teeth. This is important to learn, as you need to check their teeth regularly for bite problems and you may also have to give the alpaca medication orally. Picking up a Foot: This obstacle is done so that the handler is familiar with how to properly pick up an alpaca’s foot. You begin by bringing your alpaca to a complete stop and then run a hand down the proper leg you were asked to pick up (either front or back). You then speak “Foot” to the alpaca while lifting and bending the foot. To do this successfully, your alpaca should be comfortable with you touching any of its legs. This is called “desensitizing”. Sometimes this obstacle could be done while you have your alpaca on an unnatural footing – such as a tarp or blanket. Jump: This obstacle is to teach the alpaca that sometimes they may need to jump to get around something in their path. At the jump obstacle the handler leads the alpaca up to the jump and the handler proceeds to jump the jump. The alpaca should follow. This obstacle is successful if the alpaca does not knock the pole down. Turn Around: The turn around obstacle is a flexible pipe that makes a circle. The object is to bring the alpaca and handler into the circle and to get the alpaca to completely turn around while staying in the circle. The proper way to achieve this is to turn into the alpaca to make them turn instead of pulling away from them. When the turn is complete the handler and alpaca remain in the circle for a count of 10. Gate: The handler must lead the alpaca up to the gate and while holding the lead the handler must unlatch the gate and walk the alpaca through the gate and then resecure the gate. This obstacle is important so that the alpaca is not afraid of being led through any gates/fences. Bridge: At the bridge obstacle, the handler must get the alpaca to step up on the bridge and walk completely across without stepping off the bridge. This obstacle helps train the alpaca to walk up ramps for trailers, and other forms of walkways that are not natural for them.
