A mature llama is capable of carrying up to 25 percent of its body weight, which can be anywhere from 250 to 450 pounds. (Photo courtesy of © Mkopka/Dreamstime)
May 12, 2025
By Matt Church
I was feeling surprisingly spry after the 8-mile backcountry hike, with just my bow, camera and water on my back. The llama I led up the craggy wilderness trail, one of a train hauling the rest of our hunting and camp gear , may have felt differently but showed no signs of weariness. Arriving at this juncture, however, was not easy. Training llamas to be reliable pack animals can be frustrating … but not impossible. If you’re a do-it-yourselfer and up for the challenge, here’s an overview on what it takes.
THE BREAKING PROCESS Assuming you have space and resources for livestock, the primary objective is to befriend your new llama. A lariat rope is useful for catching them when they are young and is also helpful for older “project” llamas that are generally dubious of humans. Buy a llama-specific halter (Weaver Livestock makes a good one) and a lead with a quick release.
I’ve had success tying out my llamas with a 30-foot check cord tied to a ground stake. Start by catching them first thing in the morning, then tying them out in the pasture. Check them periodically throughout the day to ensure they have ample water and grass. All the while, talk calmly to them, haul them in via the check cord slowly, lead them in circles and work around them. Fifteen minutes two or three times a day is all that’s needed to assuage their temperament. The key is to build trust and get them used to people.
Llamas don’t appreciate having their faces and ears touched, so pet them gently on the neck, withers and back when they allow it. At night, lead them back to their stall and remove the halter and lead rope. It’s easier to practice donning and doffing a halter in a stall, which is another extremely important step in winning a llama’s trust. Working with them every day possible will build trust that much quicker.
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Next, take the llama for brief walks by leading it around the confines of a fenced pasture or yard. Keep the lead firm and the llama close to your back shoulder, not letting him crowd you or hang too far behind. It may occasionally buck or plant its feet, but a little muscle will get it moving again. I’ve had llamas lay down in defiance, and that is difficult to break. Staying calm is easier said than done, but it will help in winning the battle. A treat, like sweet molasses or apple slices, can coax a sitting llama off his duff and back into the program and prove you are a safe ally. Leading the llama around other adults, kids and pets (at a safe distance), as well as livestock and equipment, all within the protection of a fenced area, will help to prepare it for whatever may be encountered in the wilderness. If you intend to break and train multiple llamas, start by walking them individually. Handling more than one llama at a time in the early stages of halter breaking can lead to disaster.
Once a llama is halter-broke in the confines of a fence or stall, move on to trailering and trailing. Make sure to use a helper when trailering llamas, especially for the first few outings. If you don’t have a helper, work on loading and unloading from the trailer solo before a trip. Then, plan some day hikes to acclimate them to the trails and learn trail dynamics.
HYGIENE AND CARE Llamas are fairly low-maintenance, but there are some things to keep in mind. For instance, if you have a male and its fighting teeth have erupted and he is intact (that is, not gelded), make sure to have both the teeth and the testicles cut by a professional. This should be a once-in-a-llama-lifetime event and will mitigate potential aggressiveness, especially around other llamas.
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Breaking a llama can be a long process. The more time you spend working with the animal, the faster it will grow to trust you. (Matt Church photo) Otherwise, the only periodic maintenance are their nails, fur and annual illness and parasite checks. Trimming their nails quarterly is critical for their foot health, especially if using them to pack. Shearing a llama is not imperative, but I liked to trim their fur in late spring to keep them cleaner and easier to saddle.
PACK TRAINING To saddle a llama, start by safely snubbing the animal to a panel or post, then place the saddle on its back, letting the cinches drape over each side. (The most durable pack system I have found for packing and trailing llamas is the Flaming Star Wrangle r). As the llama allows, bring the cinches under the belly and buckle the straps. It may take several attempts to get the straps from under the llama, as their underbelly is sensitive, but maintain composure and don’t put your face near their hind legs, as they can kick forward.
Once the saddle is cinched, break for a cold one and let the llama become acquainted with the saddle. Next, lead him on a walk to get used to the saddle’s weight. Work on saddling for a few days, then add panniers, initially with no added weight. Incrementally add weight (equally distributed in each pannier), keeping in mind that llamas can carry no more than 25 percent of their body weight. Young llamas should not pack until around 3 years of age. I’ve never packed my llamas with more than 60 pounds during training or trailing, even though they may have been able to carry more.
If you have multiple llamas, now is the time to tether them together and lead them as a string. It’s been my experience that the lead llama stands out among the rest because he’ll always want to be in the front, so experimenting with the lead order prevents crashes on the trail. To condition them to the trail, take test hikes with saddles and loaded packs before a big trip.
If you’ve got the gumption and determination, breaking llamas for backcountry travel can be a highly rewarding experience. Llamas are low-maintenance and can help you stay mobile and fresh on long backcountry trips. And they’re more than willing to haul those extra luxury items you wouldn’t otherwise put in your own pack.
LOOKING FOR A LLAMA? Things to keep in mind when shopping. Pedigreed llamas can cost $2,000 apiece, though “project” llamas can often be found on online marketplaces. (Matt Church photo) I should state that I have never purchased pedigreed llamas from a dedicated dealer. Instead, I scour Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist to find “project” llamas, which are far less expensive. However, if you’d prefer to spend more to get more, there are many reputable sources. Places like Lander Llama Company (Wyoming), Redwood Llamas (Colorado) and Lost Creek Llamas (Oregon) are quality breeders that occasionally sell stock. Prices for llamas with good lineage range from $2,000 per animal and up, but understand that they will still need to be halter-broke and pack-trained.
This article was featured in the April 2025 issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe .
