LLII Judging Conformation

How would you place these llamas? Examine the pictures then click on "results" to compare your placement with the judge's placements.
View Past Conformation Clinics: Issue No. 46 - Issue No. 47 - Issue No. 48 - Issue No. 49

Conformation Clinic - Issue #47, Autumn 1998

8 month-old male 5 month-old male 6 month-old male

Results - Judge: Carol Hicks

Conformation Clinic Results - Issue #47, Autumn 1998

First
By comparison, this dark-colored juvenile male and the lighter male in second place are very close in placing. In the show ring the correctness of their movement would be a deciding factor. However, this stylish youngster has been give the advantage due to a more level appearing topline and a slightly higher tailset. While it's impossilbe to determine much about the lower portion of the legs because of the tall grass, the angle of the hock appears to be correct. The front legs appear to be straight as shown by the lines of their silhouette and the ever so tiny space between the knees. Worth noting is this guy's overall smoothness in the way his body parts blend together. Second
It's apparent this young male has a lot of eye appeal and substance. The wind is blowing his silky fiber which tends to make his topline appear less level and his tailset appear slightly low. In the ring a hands-on inspection would clarify these questions. Of particular note is the pleasing shape of his ears, particularly the curve on the inside edge. In the photo his nicely-shaped neck appears to be slightly short. Again, this may be due to the wind positioning the fiber at his withers upward instead of flat. From this view his legs seem to be properly aligned with correct angulation through is hocks and pasterns. Third
Here is a good example of a llama that is "out of balance". Although this 5-month-old male's topline is quite level and his tailset is high, the length of his back is too long when compared with the length of his neck and legs. Limb angulation seems to be another concern. His hocks have too severe and angle to them when viewed from the side and, if you look closely, his left front leg appears to be crooked both at the knee and at the fetlock joint. Tip: front leg problems can sometimes be best viewed by looking at the back of the legs.

Disclaimer
Animals in this column are judged strictly on conformation as it appears in the photo. The way the animals moves and information gathered from a hands-on inspection would influence their placements in the show ring.

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Conformation Clinic - Issue #47, Autumn 1998

8 month-old male	5 month-old male	6 month-old male

Conformation Clinic Results - Issue #47, Autumn 1998

First By comparison, this dark-colored juvenile male and the lighter male in second place are very close in placing. In the show ring the correctness of their movement would be a deciding factor. However, this stylish youngster has been give the advantage due to a more level appearing topline and a slightly higher tailset. While it's impossilbe to determine much about the lower portion of the legs because of the tall grass, the angle of the hock appears to be correct. The front legs appear to be straight as shown by the lines of their silhouette and the ever so tiny space between the knees. Worth noting is this guy's overall smoothness in the way his body parts blend together.	Second It's apparent this young male has a lot of eye appeal and substance. The wind is blowing his silky fiber which tends to make his topline appear less level and his tailset appear slightly low. In the ring a hands-on inspection would clarify these questions. Of particular note is the pleasing shape of his ears, particularly the curve on the inside edge. In the photo his nicely-shaped neck appears to be slightly short. Again, this may be due to the wind positioning the fiber at his withers upward instead of flat. From this view his legs seem to be properly aligned with correct angulation through is hocks and pasterns.	Third Here is a good example of a llama that is "out of balance". Although this 5-month-old male's topline is quite level and his tailset is high, the length of his back is too long when compared with the length of his neck and legs. Limb angulation seems to be another concern. His hocks have too severe and angle to them when viewed from the side and, if you look closely, his left front leg appears to be crooked both at the knee and at the fetlock joint. Tip: front leg problems can sometimes be best viewed by looking at the back of the legs.