Halters: Proper Fit and Function

Lamas (the term for both llamas and alpacas) have very short nose bones. To be safe and comfortable, the noseband should sit high on the nose and be loose enough for the lama to chew and yawn with ease. 

Over the years, as our own lama activities expanded, we developed halters especially suited to every activity, including packing, cart driving, showing and just hanging around with their people.

Llamas and alpacas are sensitive about the head, and well-trained animals respond easily to a light hand on the lead rope. Their halters should be reasonably strong and should fit well so that no discomfort or abrasions will be caused. Lamas do not need super heavy halters with bulky hardware, which weighs on them and hides the beauty of their faces. Our halters are adjustable and proportioned to give the best fit and comfort for the lamas, and control for the handler. They are also designed so that it is never necessary to have excess, ugly straps hanging around the lama's face.

When we have caught our lama in order to undertake some activity, the halter is our main means of communicating signals which direct the lama's movement. While we can and do talk to our lamas a lot and can teach voice commands as well as gesture commands, the lead rope and halter still remain the most direct two-way communication connection we have with the animal while it is haltered. In fact, a well-trained lama will go wherever you carry your end of the lead rope.

In training, the more directly and subtly the signals are passed to the lama's head, the more quickly he learns to respond. With a well-fitting halter like that illustrated above, signals initiating forward movement are passed directly from the lead-ring under the chin in a straight line through the throat latch to the crown piece at the back of the head. The function of the noseband is to convey signals for turning to the right or the left, for stopping forward movement, or for backing. A properly designed and adjusted halter need not be tight on the lama's head in order to convey signals directly and subtly.

Download our complete Halter Fit & Function in PDF format.

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llama and alpaca halter selection.

Did you know...
We sell our alpaca halters to dog owners! Dog handlers have discovered the same benefit of good fit and exceptional control!