Halter Class

The basic class at an alpaca show is called a halter class. This event judges your alpaca and not you – thankfully!

The alpaca judge will evaluate the alpacas based on their conformation and their fleece characteristics. Sometimes the weighting of these two features is 50-50, and sometimes the weighting is 60-40, respectively.

When you register your alpaca for the show, you are placed in your class according to gender, color and age.

Sometimes there are so many alpacas that the show divides the class into two sections. This can happen frequently at larger shows especially in competitive white classes. Usually there are not more than 12 alpacas in a class.

Sometimes there are too few alpacas in which case two or more colors can be combined. For example, the light brown, medium brown, and dark brown classes could be combined into one brown class.

The age groups are usually juvenile (6 month – 1 year), yearling (1 – 2 years), and older (more than 2 years)

Male and female divisions make sense and should be easy to do. However, at one show, we saw someone leave the ring right after the individual judging which is highly unusual. The judge announced that it was a male in a female class. We know what that breeding male was thinking! Actually, the owner probably just got mixed up as to which class was up for judging.

So, it is important that you keep track of which class is your class!

Proper attire is usually a white shirt and dark pants. However, you will see variations. Some folks are way too casual in my opinion. Others are rather formal with suit and tie. My daughter usually wears a white shirt with brown quilted vest and brown pants.

The idea is to dress conservatively so that you do not draw attention away from your alpaca. Remember, you are also representing your farm. By the way, you absolutely must not be wearing the name of your farm anywhere.

It is a good idea to arrive at the gate a few classes before your halter class so that you and your alpaca can relax a bit.

You will line up for entry into the show ring from oldest in the class to youngest in the class. The lead rope should be in your right hand and your alpaca should be on your right side.

You enter the ring when the judge signals you and you walk directly at the judge along a diagonal.

Do not worry about the judge – he will move out of the way!

When you get to far end, turn and walk down the side so the judge can check the profile.

Then, join the others in the line-up.

Sometimes the judge will want you facing him, and sometimes he will want you in profile.


Even the best trained alpacas can be unpredictable in the show ring.

When Cinnamon was the oldest in her juvenile class, she refused to enter the show ring first. She had been adequately trained before the show, but she was scared. The harder I pulled, the more she refused to budge. I could hear her saying to herself, “I just ain’t goin’ in that thar ring by myself!” The judge finally put us in the back of the line where Cinnamon was much less fearful, and she entered the ring just fine.

You never know what your alpaca will do in the show ring even with training. So, it is a good thing that they do not judge the behavior of your alpaca in halter classes! Cinnamon earned a second place!

Let’s go back to the show ring.

The judge will come to each alpaca in turn.

First, she will evaluate the teeth which means that you need to know how to hold your alpaca and show him those pearly whites.

She will also check out various features including the precious jewels of your male alpacas. Again, you will need to control your alpaca during this maneuver!

If you need assistance, you can ask the ring steward.

Although the judge is not judging you, it is in your best interests to show off your alpaca as well as possible. The judge cannot evaluate your alpaca if she cannot get near it!

By the way, it is proper protocol not to speak to the judge unless he asks you a question.

If your alpaca needs to move around while waiting, it is OK to circle back and around.

Finally, the judge will be finished with her evaluation of the halter class. She will point you to the proper placings. If you want your ribbon, you should go where she directs you! If there is more than six in your class, the other alpaca owners “get the gate” and “take the walk of shame” back to their stalls.

The judge will take possession of the microphone and proceed to give his oral reasons for his placings. He is comparing the alpacas against each other. It is always educational to listen well to his comments so you can learn more about the quality of your alpaca.

Congratulations!

Earning a ribbon in a halter class is quite an honor! Your alpaca is among the elite alpacas!

If you won first or second place in the halter class, you will get to come back for the championship class!

The procedure is essentially the same except that the first places from each halter class enter the ring first and then the second places enter the ring second in the same order. The second place will line up behind the first place. If the first place is chosen as Grand Champion, then the respective second place will move up to the first place line. All of the other second places will leave the ring. Then, the judge will choose the Reserve Champion.

Grand Champion and Reserve Champion are awesome awards!

Now, give your alpaca a big hug, and take it back to its stall. Your alpaca will be glad to be back with its buddies.

Put the ribbon on the stall. Your alpaca will not care, but you will feel proud every time you see it, and you will be glad that you entered your alpaca in the halter class!

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