Llamas and horses? Llama drama!?

Llamas and horses DO get along as a rule. Of course, there is always an exception. Introduce them gradually...say over a fence a few times. Llamas are 'bonding' animals. They need a companion of some sort...another llama, a goat, a horse, etc.

Llamas do not 'get' any communicable diseases that we know of. In a few rare instances, they have died from West Nile. They need to be vaccinated for tetnus...that 3 in 1 and then once a month for menegeal worm (a gift from white tail deer). This worm is fatal to llamas and they get by ingesting it in grass where deer have been.

If you have no intention of breeding, of course you can geld a llama. It usually makes them a little more docile. Llamas a great guard animals. You CAN teach them to pull carts (drive). I have seen some that just love it! They are great for parades and therapy animals in nursing homes. Get in touch with your local llama/alpaca group for more questions and answers or email me at ljsllamas@yahoo.com.

1. Typically the llama will not mind the horse at all as llamas are not afraid of much of anything, but horses are naturally very fearful of anything new. They must be kept separated by a fence at least at first because a frightened horse kick could seriously injure a llama. Do not introduce them in the same pasture.

2. Disease transmission is very unlikely. There are a few significant common diseases between the species but I wouldn't be concerned about it. On the plus side and of greater concern the intestinal parasites are not shared between horses and camelids.

3. Geld, assuming he's not a youngster. If still growing wait until he's reached full size. Find a vet that is knowledgeable about llamas as the best gelding technique is not the same.

4. Rehoming is dependent a lot on location. Parasites, diseases and nutritional issues are also regional. It would help to know where you are located.

Llamas are wonderful creatures but are quite different than anything else in many respects. They are incredibly tough but have unique needs; nutritional, environmental, emotional, physical. I recommend finding some local experience and perhaps contacting regional llama rescue organizations that may be of help in locating someone nearby. There's also lots of resources on the web, including newsgroups and forums.

And yes, llamas do pull carts (drive), and pack and guard and produce great fiber. Ours do all of that. They learn remarkably fast and among large animals are probably the easiest to care for (but it requires knowledge).

Thanks for making the effort to fill in for the irresponsible current owners!

1. Possibly. Depends on the horse, depends on the llama.

2. Yes, depending on the disease.

3. I would. In any species, a breeding animal is much more dangerous then one that can't, personality-wise. He would just be calmer gelded. Depends if you want to invest in that, though.

4. Llamas are less common, but there are still people looking for inexpensive horse companions and there are llama farmers out there, so it's possible.

If you really want to take this llama under your wing, you'll need better professional advice then random people on the internet. Books are a start, but see if you can find some llama breeders or owners in your area to discuss the situation and see if you are up to it.

Fist and for most all animals will have a pecking order if they live together. Yet other the the normal friendly fude to find out who is on top if your horse has never seen a lama and is scaired of it there is a large chance it will lash out at the lama to fight it of and invesigate this "strange new beast". But ushualy a lama can hold its own againt a horse and they will work it out in a day or 2 just check on them offten and if either seem to be getting to battered sepperate the into pin where they can still see (best another area with the same fence on one side so the can get close and even touch without hurting eachother). I had a minature donkey that our horses hated when we fist got it that shrill bray scaired them half to death so they chaise this poor thing around for half a day till we took it out and made a make shift pin right next to the horses. Within a few days my horses wouldn't leave the fence next to the donkey they loved her so much and we put her back in and all was pefect. Now a lama is a little toughter then a mini donkey though so a little chaising won't kill it eather.

With all animals being kept with other animals there are health risks and binafits. For example horses kept with donkeys are likely to have 4 times more worms then if they where only with other horses but horses with cows actouly have less worms. Now I can't say I know all the health risks between lamas and horses but you should get the lama checked by a vet and look it up on google. I do know lamas and horses can both get and shair hpv (equine hurpise viruse).

When gelding any animal you are bringing down it price to some people and bringing up its price for others. If the next buyer wants a pet they will want a gelded lama. It the buyer wants to breed they will want an intack lama. Given the cercomestance though I would geld it just to calm its tempore cause a "wild in tack adult lama" is gonna be hell to train.

The number of lamas in this world is much less then horses but there are also less people who want them. If you are willing to put in the time and effort though u should be able to find a home. Advertise on cregs list and you local 4-H office or clover connections. ( a 4-H monthley update)

I hope this helped!!

Im not a fan of Llamas either but I couldnt leave him there either.. Have you tried finding a llama or alpaca breeder in your area who could help? Or maby find the Llama association in your state they may beable Once you take him get him off your hands.

Horses and llamas Thrive well togther BUT i would keep them seprated at first Just so they can get used to eachother and if the llamas weak from lack of feed And care could get hurt if the horse decided to Kick.

heres the Llama Assc.or North america

http://www.llamainfo.org/

We have 3 llamas and 5 horses that co-exsist just fine in a pasture together. but Geld the llamas!! ungelded they can be mean and spit! ours are really sweet and only spit at each other, teehee. our llamas are on the bottom of the pecking order tho, not sure what your dianamics will be with only one llama and multiple horses. I would set up a situation of isolating the llama in a pen inside your pasture so they can be introduced safely.

Llamas and horses do fine together. I have four horses and a gelded llama and a male alpaca. They get along fun. The colt and the llama even play together, its adorable!! You would love it if you got one I hated llamas until I got one, and now I want more :O

I bought a horse years a go and there was a Llama in the corral with the horses. The L. would just have to look at the horses and they would run. He must have been very mean in some way because they were very afraid of him.

The L. Must have been mean and old his lower teeth stuck way out and he was very shaggy and saggy.

I have driven by a field that had horses and llamas turned out together. They appear to co-exist by ignoring each other. But I have no idea how they were introduced.

"My first instinct is to chop the balls off of anything," - THAT made me LMFAO!

Animal control/RSPCA/ASPCA are just about useless.

We will never know if your horses and the llama get along until it's there. Try putting him in a seperate yard/paddock and see how they interact.

..poor lad.