What To Expect
Prior to receiving the llamas, you will be expected to understand the basics of pack llamas, how they’re transported, how the packs should be loaded, and things you shouldn’t do with them. If you have any other questions about renting llamas, please give us a call. We’d be glad to answer any questions you might have.
Orientation Course
For insurance reasons, we require all of our customers to participate in a 2-3 hour long orientation course that introduces you to the basics of packing with llamas. We will teach you how to lead, load in a trailer/truck, saddle, fill panniers, feed, and water the llamas. We charge a one-time fee of $50. If you have rented llamas from us in the past or have rented llamas from another credible pack llama business, you will not need to take the training course or pay the fee again.
The orientation course may be done the day you pick up the llamas, or at an agreed time prior to your trip.
Transport
All customers are required to have a way to safely transport the llamas with a trailer, van, or stock rack. We currently have (3) bumper pull trailers and (1) 5th wheel trailer available for rent (first come, first served). Trailer rentals are $30/day. We are usually willing to travel and meet you at a predetermined location if our schedules allow. We charge $1/mile to transport the llamas to the prearranged meeting place.
If you are going to be using your own trailer to transport the llamas, your trailer must be approved by us prior to taking the llamas on the trip!
Pack Setup
Each llama will come with the necessary packing equipment: saddle, 2 panniers, blanket, halter and lead rope, stake, stakeout rope, orange neckband, scale, supplemental feed pellets, and a collapsible water bucket. Each pannier is big enough to hold the equivalent of two 5-gallon buckets (use this as a size reference for the amount of gear you should bring). Bulky items like sleeping bags, sleeping pads, etc., may be tied to the top of the saddle.
While loading your gear in the panniers, you should weigh each pannier separately with the scale. Both panniers should be within 1-2 pounds of each other and be as close to the same size as possible. As a general rule, the entire load should never be over 60-80 pounds of total weight depending on the llama (including the saddle and blanket which are roughly 5 pounds).
To learn the basics of saddling and loading up a pack llama, watch the video below.
Things To Not Do
Don’t expect to rent just 1 llama. Llamas are very social animals and work much better together when they are in groups of at least 2 llamas. For that reason, we require a minimum of 2 llamas to be rented.
Rental Deposit
All reservations are made on a first come, first served basis. In order to reserve the llamas, we require at least a 25% deposit. The rest of the money must be paid on or before the day you pick up the llamas. No exceptions!
If a cancellation is made for any reason, the 25% deposit will be forfeited. If you would like to rent llamas again in the future then you may transfer the 25% deposit to your future rentals.
Rental Contracts
All customers are required to sign our 2 rental contracts. After agreeing on rental dates, you will receive an email with the invoice and two contracts. You must scan/email or take a picture of the contract and send it to us. No rental agreement is final until we have the (2) Rental Contracts and a 25% deposit.
Early Returns
Please be aware that we commit to renting the llamas out for the dates that we have agreed to. If the client returns the llamas early from a trip due to illness, hunting/fishing success, weather, or other factors beyond our control, there will be no refund for early returns.
Remember, llamas are animals and not machines. We do everything we can to make sure the llamas are in shape, healthy, and ready to go on your adventure but crazy things happen. Each llama has its own personality and quirks. If you follow the training given in the orientation course you are sure to have a great trip!
