BARBER COUNTY, Kan. — Since the days of the Comanche, Kansas’ Gyp Hills have been horse country. Many ranchers still depend on steeds to access rugged land for both business and pleasure.
BARBER COUNTY, Kan. — Since the days of the Comanche, Kansas’ Gyp Hills have been horse country. Many ranchers still depend on steeds to access rugged land for both business and pleasure.
But recently a different domestic animal traversed the red trails, their long, feathery coats rippling in the hard wind while their nimble hooves barely left a track on soft, bare soil.
Llama aficionados came from three states to let their animals do what they were raised to do — be beasts of burden.
Lauren Sill, of rural Hutchinson, was in the lead with Paco, one of her 10 llamas. She described the pack trial as a qualifying event where llamas compete against a standard rather than each other. Once they pass required tasks, pertaining to things like maneuvering obstacles, endurance and elevation climbs, llamas can move up to another classification.
All 13 llamas completed the 5-plus mile course. Nobody was surprised.