Well we have 1 week left before the Fort Wayne show. It is going to be interesting. I sure hope we have 1 that places in something! I'm really interested to see if they stay in the color selections we sent them in as because to me they all look white. We did the forms based on the ARI color.
All of our boys are ready to go for the show. Well, considering we did not attempt the skilled/showmanship events. We are really hoping to show for the quality of the animals, not really try the tricks, jumping and other things like that.
We had a last minute scare with paperwork on one of the boys and I want to think Roxanne, owner of Lands End for helping us try to get the information we needed together. I also want to thank Bret and Erica at WRF for the care they have given our animals and making sure we have what we need for the upcoming show.
Wish us luck!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
We are official!
Lots of things occurred this past weekend.
First, we are an official AOBA member farm now. "Shadyside Alpaca Farm" is the official name of our farm. The farm name comes from the name the farm has had since it was started by my wifes family over 120 years ago. Well without the alpaca part anyway. We are happy to be continuing in the tradition of keeping live stock as well as using the farms name.
Secondly, the boys are officially registered into the Fort Wayne show next month. This was a joy, not really, but it had to be done. A special note for those of you who might be new or do not pay attention, you can save a little money by getting in early! Anway, we have all the paper work done and the money sent for the show. Now only time will tell how things will go.
Last night was just another night of training but it was a good one. I took the 3 girls up and we are now constantly taking time to walk the alpacas, put them in lines, stand them side by side, showing teeth and playing judge each time we go. It really is amazing just how smart they are.
A special note to Roxanne, the boys are all doing GREAT! Coronado is probably the second best at dealing with everything now. Alexander is still the best but actually does not take the "judging" things as well as Coronado. Oddyssey is hit or miss and decides what he wants to do and how easily he wants to do it. However, considering that they are not supposed to be "pets" they are all pretty easy to deal with as things could be going.
Well, I have to get the new pics up on here, but that is for another time.
First, we are an official AOBA member farm now. "Shadyside Alpaca Farm" is the official name of our farm. The farm name comes from the name the farm has had since it was started by my wifes family over 120 years ago. Well without the alpaca part anyway. We are happy to be continuing in the tradition of keeping live stock as well as using the farms name.
Secondly, the boys are officially registered into the Fort Wayne show next month. This was a joy, not really, but it had to be done. A special note for those of you who might be new or do not pay attention, you can save a little money by getting in early! Anway, we have all the paper work done and the money sent for the show. Now only time will tell how things will go.
Last night was just another night of training but it was a good one. I took the 3 girls up and we are now constantly taking time to walk the alpacas, put them in lines, stand them side by side, showing teeth and playing judge each time we go. It really is amazing just how smart they are.
A special note to Roxanne, the boys are all doing GREAT! Coronado is probably the second best at dealing with everything now. Alexander is still the best but actually does not take the "judging" things as well as Coronado. Oddyssey is hit or miss and decides what he wants to do and how easily he wants to do it. However, considering that they are not supposed to be "pets" they are all pretty easy to deal with as things could be going.
Well, I have to get the new pics up on here, but that is for another time.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Learning to Lead
We have gotten our routine down to a pattern now of when we can go to visit our precious little boys so that the training can really get underway. We go every weekend and twice during the week. As Mike had said earlier, the training for Alexander is pretty non-required, it is more for getting Ashley used to what will be required of her in the show ring and how she needs to control the animal rather than vice versa. That is something that all three of the girls are working on right now...learning how to take the lead.
Oddyssey is a lot like Alexander in that Alli can walk up to him and put his halter on by herself and start working with him, leading him, trying to get him to take her directions, but every now and then you just see the ornery in his eye and he decides to take her for a run...we can't help but laugh.
Coronado, for never having been away from his momma until we brought him home with us is proving to be a wonderful spirit. Haleigh still needs help with getting him haltered but once we have the gear on him, she can lead him where she wants him to go.
The girls and boys are making a fantastic effort at learning something new. It is really fun to watch and help. I think we would all agree that the most rewarding part is that all three of the boys now trust us enough to come up and eat grain directly out of our hands.
Oddyssey is a lot like Alexander in that Alli can walk up to him and put his halter on by herself and start working with him, leading him, trying to get him to take her directions, but every now and then you just see the ornery in his eye and he decides to take her for a run...we can't help but laugh.
Coronado, for never having been away from his momma until we brought him home with us is proving to be a wonderful spirit. Haleigh still needs help with getting him haltered but once we have the gear on him, she can lead him where she wants him to go.
The girls and boys are making a fantastic effort at learning something new. It is really fun to watch and help. I think we would all agree that the most rewarding part is that all three of the boys now trust us enough to come up and eat grain directly out of our hands.
Friday, January 30, 2009
And they are now here!
Well this posting is a little delayed but we do now have the boys local. Infact, we drove to get them last Sunday. We had some issues with the trailer and almost did not get them but we later found that we could use my covered truck bed to transport them. We have a great picture of the 3 boys when we arrived.
The boys are all in what seems to be great health. They also all have very good personalities. Our halter training is almost non-required on Alexander and Oddysey but there is some work to be done on Coronado. Though they have all been through a lot. I did want to thank Roxanne of Lands End and the owners of Alpha Omega Alpaca Farm for the care they have given the boys.
To continue on with our learning process, Michelle has actually already become a shot giving pro. I am a bit worried about doing it. I have never worked in fields like that and so I am worried I'll do it wrong and hurt one of them. I'll have to get over it some day though.
As it stands today, we will most likely visit them a couple times over the weekend and will continue to work on our halter training. Which is for us as much or more than the alpacas. We will try to help out with some of the chores at the farm. We get to introduce them to Michelle's parents this weekend too!
The boys will be seperate from the other alpacas for another week or a little longer while they adjust and we watch them for any issues.
The boys are all in what seems to be great health. They also all have very good personalities. Our halter training is almost non-required on Alexander and Oddysey but there is some work to be done on Coronado. Though they have all been through a lot. I did want to thank Roxanne of Lands End and the owners of Alpha Omega Alpaca Farm for the care they have given the boys.
To continue on with our learning process, Michelle has actually already become a shot giving pro. I am a bit worried about doing it. I have never worked in fields like that and so I am worried I'll do it wrong and hurt one of them. I'll have to get over it some day though.
As it stands today, we will most likely visit them a couple times over the weekend and will continue to work on our halter training. Which is for us as much or more than the alpacas. We will try to help out with some of the chores at the farm. We get to introduce them to Michelle's parents this weekend too!
The boys will be seperate from the other alpacas for another week or a little longer while they adjust and we watch them for any issues.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
The money is as good as spent!
Well, yesterday I mailed in the last payment for our three boys so we are officially alpaca owners. We hope to get them local in a couple weeks and then to our house in March some time.
I did pick up a trailer hitch for my truck today, so one more thing out of the way that I needed.
I did pick up a trailer hitch for my truck today, so one more thing out of the way that I needed.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
The new news!
Well, we still do not have a date for picking up our boys yet, but we did get our paperwork from the selling farm a couple days ago. It's nice to have the full ARI paperwork to look into. I'm very happy with the lines these alpaca come from. All 3 are Peruvian and 1 for sure has Accoyo in him.
Other than that, things are still slow giong for the moment. We have not yet signed up for ARI or AOBA, but we do plan to. Hoping to add some new pictures soon and get our full website up and running.
Other than that, things are still slow giong for the moment. We have not yet signed up for ARI or AOBA, but we do plan to. Hoping to add some new pictures soon and get our full website up and running.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
We have pictures!
Well I'm happy to say that I can still code enough javascript to manage a simple image slide show. I may change it a bit later to be more dynamic, but since we only have 8 pictures of our boys right now it's not a big deal. I will probably create thumbnail images too, instead of loading the full images. This will take a long on dial up, like at home.
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