Fun Classes Descriptions
Dressage Class
- Exhibitor and their alpaca demonstrate their ability to maneuver through a choreographed routine, with music if desired. All maneuvers are free form without the use of affixed obstacles.
- Suggested maneuvers are: change of pace, side passing either or both directions, backing, pivoting off the front quarters, pivoting off the rear quarters, and multiple directional changes. Other maneuvers can be used as long as safety for the alpaca is top priority.
- The routine is to be handed to the ring steward for them to give to the judge before the team enters the ring. The routine should be no longer than two minutes in duration. Judging will be on execution of maneuver and smoothness of transition from one maneuver to the next.
Gambler’s Choice
- It is suggested that all ages participate together.
- It is a timed event with each team getting 60 seconds to do as many of the obstacles in the ring as the time permits. Each obstacle is assigned a point value based on difficulty and the competitor with the highest score wins. Each obstacle in the ring can be done twice only and not in a row.
Costume Class
Separate youth and adult classes shall be held and never combined. When there is adequate youth participation, the show administration should consider separate youth classes for junior, intermediate, and senior.
- The Costume Class is a very entertaining class for the audience at a show. Exhibitors must actively participate in the development of a costume for themselves and the alpaca that follows the theme set forth by the show (optional, show may allow full creativity).
- The class is judged on originality and complexity of costume—does costume present some challenge to the alpaca to wear, e.g., does alpaca accept dangling cloth or objects around its legs or wear leggings.
- A short story to describe the characters the exhibitor and alpaca are representing is to be prepared by the exhibitor and handed into the ring steward prior to the class and will be read by the announcer while the exhibitor and their alpaca parade around the ring.
Egg & Spoon Race
- The exhibitor and their alpaca partner go through a short obstacle course as quickly as possible with the exhibitor holding an egg sitting on a spoon. The exhibitor may not be touching the egg.
- The exhibitor and their alpaca partner completing the course without breaking their egg in the shortest time wins.
Alpaca High Jump Class
- The exhibitor and their alpaca demonstrate their ability to maneuver OVER a lightweight pole that rests on two shelves of two vertical poles that allow for variable height horizontal jump (maximum height not to exceed 20”).
- It is suggested that all ages participate together.
- The height of the pole is set ON THE GROUND at the beginning to allow for all exhibitors to easily pass OVER the pole one time.
- After each exhibitor has passed over the pole one time, the pole is raised at the discretion of the Fun Class Coordinator and/or volunteer each time the participating exhibitors have completed that jump height. If the exhibitor OR the alpaca knocks down pole at any time, they no longer continue attempting to go over the pole as it continues to be raised.
- The last exhibitor and alpaca team that successfully completes the “highest jump”—NOT TO EXCEED 20”—without knocking down the pole is the winner.
- If more than one exhibitor and alpaca successfully jump 20” two times, then the tiebreaker is to move to a “limbo” style event OR offer a tie at the discretion of the Fun Class Coordinator.
- Once the exhibitor fails to pass over the pole successfully, they are directed to wait with their alpaca in a designated portion of the ring until the class is complete and a winner has been determined.
- Safety is encouraged at all times.
- Horizontal pole should be placed so that if knocked down by the exhibitor or the alpaca it falls on the far side of the jump so as not to trip the exhibitor or alpaca.
- Good sportsmanship is expected at all times.
Alpaca Limbo Class
- The exhibitor and their alpaca demonstrate their ability to maneuver UNDER a lightweight pole that rests on two shelves of two vertical poles that allow for variable height horizontal limbo.
- It is suggested that all ages participate together.
- The height of the pole is set at the beginning to allow for all exhibitors to easily walk under the pole one time.
- After each exhibitor has passed under the pole one time, the pole is lowered by the Fun Class Coordinator and/or volunteer. If the exhibitor OR the alpaca knocks down pole at any time, they no longer continue attempting to go under the pole as it continues to be lowered and they are directed to wait with their alpaca in a designated portion of the ring until the class is complete and a winner has been determined.
- The last exhibitor and alpaca team that successfully completes the “lowest limbo” without knocking down the pole is the winner.
- It is suggested that fun music be played during this event.
- Safety is encouraged at all times.
- Horizontal pole should be placed so that if knocked down by the exhibitor or the alpaca it falls on the far side of the jump so as not to trip the exhibitor or alpaca.
- Good sportsmanship is expected at all times.
Simon Says Class
- This is a fun class emphasizing listening skills and general alpaca knowledge.
- There are no obstacles in this class.
- The exhibitors and their alpacas all enter the ring together. The Fun Class Coordinator and/or volunteer will explain that ALL instructions that are given AND preceded by the words “Simon Says” should be followed exactly. Any instructions or questions asked that are NOT preceded by the words “Simon Says” should be ignored.
- Once the exhibitor fails to follow the proper instructions, they are directed to wait with their alpaca in a designated portion of the ring until the class is complete and a winner has been determined.
- The winner is the exhibitor that is the last one to follow the proper directions.
- It is suggested that all youth ages participate together and all adults participate in a separate class.
- A microphone for the Fun Class Coordinator and/or volunteer is helpful.
- Safety is encouraged at all times.
- Good sportsmanship is expected at all times.
- Examples of verbal instructions:
- “Simon Says, all huacayas circle left.” Complete.
- “Simon Says, all suri handlers show the bite.” Complete.
- “What’s your name?” Ignore.
- “Simon Says, complete a haunch turn.” Complete.
- “Stop!” Ignore.