RULES

General Procedures, Regulations & Guidelines For
PLTA Pack Llama Trials

CONDENSED VERSION

The Pack Llama Trial Association, Inc. (PLTA) is a not for profit corporation who's principal purpose is to preserve and promote pack llamas by educating the public in the safe and humane use of llamas as packing companions. This is done by coming together in a social, non-competitive atmosphere and testing the pack llama against a written standard in a realistic packing environment.

The PLTA’s objective in promoting this concept is to discover and recognize llamas that can fulfill the llama packers needs on the trail by performing in a manner consistent with the demands of actual packing conditions. The intent is not to confront the llama with unrealistic or trick problems, but rather to test the llama’s natural ability and acquired training and conditioning. PLTA tests utilize natural and man made obstacles in a manner found in normal packing conditions. While realistic packing conditions are subject to variations in different parts of the country, pack llamas are expected to possess a defined set of abilities which enable them to serve as useful packing companions.

The PLTA was created in 1998 as a successor to the WILA Pack Performance Llama Trials that were first held in 1995. This was the beginning of the concept of testing pack llamas against a written packing standard. The PLTA continues to test and recognize the pack llama and to maintain computerized records of those llamas and their working accomplishments. Llamas are placed in three levels based on a minimum age and the llama’s ability. Llamas do not compete against one another for placement, but rather their performances are evaluated individually against a standard.

ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION
The PLTA is the organization responsible for sanctioning Pack Llama Trials, maintaining records from these trials and conferring the titles of Basic Pack Llama (BPL), Advanced Pack Llama (APL) and Master Pack Llama (MPL). Any individual or llama organization is eligible to conduct a PLTA sanctioned trial after its application has been approved by the PLTA.

An individual may become a member of the Pack Llama Trial Association, Inc., by paying annual dues of $30. Membership entitles individuals to a quarterly newsletter, voting privileges, and member discounts. PLTA membership is required of the owner of llamas entered in PLTA Sanctioned trials for those trials to count toward Basic, Advanced or Master Pack Llama Certification.

PLTA COURSE CERTIFIER
Individuals, clubs or organizations that offer Sanctioned PLTA Trials must have their course certified, each time a trial is held, by a PLTA approved Course Certifier. When the Basic level only is offered, the course may be certified by the group’s Trial Chairperson with guidance provided by the PLTA. This is done to make the Basic only trials less expensive to run and to promote first time participation by groups and llama owners.

ELIGIBILITY
PLTA Trials shall be open to all llamas, with one llama and handler per entry. The owner of the llama does not have to be the handler at a trial, however, he/she needs to be a member in good standing (dues paid) of the PLTA for that llama to participate. Handlers under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult chaperone hiking within the same group. This chaperone may participate in the trial as a handler as long as that llama is also entered in the same trial level as the youth's llama. All llamas entered in PLTA pack trials must be registered with the PLTA for a one time fee of $10 per animal, to have the trials count toward certification.

AWARDS, CERTIFICATES AND TITLES
The total number of Trial completions required for award of Certificates and titles in the Basic Pack Llama, Advanced Pack Llama, and the Master Pack Llama are established by the Board of Directors of the Pack Llama Trial Association, Inc. Llamas do not have to proceed in a sequential manner from Basic to Master level if they have extensive trail experience, training, and conditioning. While, llamas routinely used in this manner are likely to successfully complete Advanced and Master level trials, less experienced pack llamas should expect to participate in the Basic level course.

At the Basic level the llama must successfully complete two Trials in a Basic course. Upon completion of these requirements the llama will be recorded as a Basic Pack Llama (BPL) by the Pack Llama Trial Association, Inc., and, where appropriate, may display the title Basic Pack Llama or the initials BPL after its name.

In the Advanced level the llama must successfully complete four Trials in an Advanced course; unless the llama already has a BPL title, then only three are required. Upon completion of these requirements a llama will be recorded as an Advanced Pack Llama (APL) by the Pack Llama Trial Association, Inc., and, where appropriate, may display the title Advanced Pack Llama or the initials APL after its name.

In the Master level the llama must successfully complete four Trials in a Master course; unless the llama already has an APL title, then only three are required. Upon completion of these requirements a llama will be recorded as a Master Pack llama by the Pack Llama Trial Association, Inc., and, where appropriate, may display the title Master Pack Llama or the initials MPL after its name.

REGULATIONS FOR BASIC PACK LLAMA TRIALS

SECTION 1: The Basic level is designed to evaluate the llama’s natural ability and beginner level of training and conditioning, and to encourage participation by new and aspiring llama packers.

SECTION 2: To enter the Basic level a llama must be a minimum age of 24 months. Llamas 24 months to 30 months of age will carry no weight other than the saddle and filled-out packs. Llamas over 30 months of age will carry 10 percent of their body weight including saddle and packs.

SECTION 3: The tests will start with the following Manageability Tasks: The llama shall have the halter removed and then put back on, be loaded and unloaded from a trailer or vehicle, negotiate a picket line for five (5) minutes, be saddled properly and have the packs attached (the handler may have assistance to saddle and attach the packs). These tasks must all be successfully completed and, if necessary, performance points may be deducted.

SECTION 4: Basic level llamas will negotiate a minimum of five (5) obstacles. They must include the following three mandatory obstacles; one water, one jump, and one deadfall. The remaining obstacles used will be determined by the Trial Committee.

SECTION 5: Basic level llamas must cover three (3) miles in the prescribed time window with an elevation gain of 250 feet to 500 feet. (Elevation gain can be cumulative; example, if a 100 foot hill is climbed three times that would equal 300 feet.)

SECTION 6: At a trial where only the Basic level is held, if the minimum elevation gain of 250 feet can not be accumulated, one mile must be added to the length of the course.

SECTION 7: Basic level llamas meeting all other requirements of this Chapter, and having no more than five (5) performance points deducted, will successfully complete the Trial.

SECTION 8: Llamas that pass this written standard at a PLTA Sanctioned Trial will be awarded one completion toward the two required for award of the Basic Pack Llama (BPL) Certificate. To be awarded the BPL Certificate at least one completion must be achieved after the llama is over 30 months of age and while carrying 10 percent of its body weight.

REGULATIONS FOR ADVANCED PACK LLAMA TRIALS

SECTION 1: Llamas in the Advanced level are tested at a more advanced stage of training and conditioning and against a moderate packing requirement.

SECTION 2: To enter the Advanced level a llama must be a minimum of 36 months of age and carry 15 percent of its body weight including saddle and packs.

SECTION 3: The tests will start with the following Manageability Tasks: The llama shall have the halter removed and then put back on, be loaded and unloaded from a trailer or vehicle, negotiate a picket line for five (5) minutes, be saddled properly and have the packs attached (the handler may have assistance to saddle and attach the packs). These tasks must all be successfully completed and, if necessary, performance points may be deducted.

SECTION 4: Advanced level llamas will negotiate a minimum of ten (10) obstacles. They must include the following mandatory obstacles; two water, one jump, one deadfall, and one rock rubble. The remaining obstacles used will be determined by the Trial Committee.

SECTION 5: Advanced level llamas must cover five (5) miles in the prescribed time window with a elevation gain of 750 feet to 1000 feet. (Elevation gain can be cumulative and doesn’t have to be the beginning elevation subtracted from the highest point on the course.)

SECTION 6: Advanced level llamas meeting all other requirements of this chapter and having no more than three (3) performance points deducted, will successfully complete the Trial.

SECTION 7: Llamas that pass this written standard at a PLTA Sanctioned Trial will be awarded one Advanced completion toward the four required for award of the Advanced Pack Llama (APL) Certificate. Llamas that already have a Basic Pack Llama (BPL) Certificate will only require three Advanced completions.

REGULATIONS FOR MASTER PACK LLAMA TRIALS

SECTION 1: At the Master level the llama is tested at a well developed stage of training and conditioning and against a stringent packing requirement expected by the experienced llama packer. The difficulty of tests in this level will reflect the superior abilities expected.

SECTION 2: To enter the Master level a llama must be a minimum of 48 months of age and carry 25 percent of its body weight including saddle and packs. No llama shall be required to carry more than 90 pounds. (This is a realistic amount of weight for a large llama to carry on a typical trip and it discourages the overloading of llamas that may be overweight.)

SECTION 3: The tests will start with the following Manageability Tasks: The llama shall have the halter removed and then put back on, be loaded and unloaded from a trailer or vehicle, negotiate a picket line for five (5) minutes, be saddled properly and have the packs attached (the handler may have assistance to saddle and attach the packs). These tasks must all be completed and, if necessary, performance points may be deducted.

SECTION 4: Master level llamas will negotiate a minimum of twelve (12) obstacles. They must include the following nine mandatory obstacles; three water, two jumps, one deadfall, one rock rubble, one brush (one of these obstacles must require the removal of the pack bags to simulate a situation that would require the bags be removed for performance reasons), and one foot inspection conducted when there is minimal weight being carried by the llama. The remaining obstacles used will be determined by the Trial Committee.

SECTION 5: Master level llamas must cover eight (8) miles in the prescribed time window with an elevation gain of 1000 feet to 2000 feet. (Elevation gain can be cumulative.)

SECTION 6: Master level llamas meeting all other requirements of this Chapter and having no more than two (2) performance points deducted, will successfully complete the Trial.

SECTION 7: Llamas that pass this written standard at a PLTA Sanctioned Trial will be awarded one Master completion toward the four (4) required for award of the Master Pack Llama (MPL) Certificate. Llamas that already have an Advanced Pack Llama (APL) Certificate only need three (3) Master level completions .