We don't want the pool. Having each grown up with a pool and a sister-in-law who is back to competitive swimming at fifty, it's almost surprising how much we don't want a pool. So, our offer to purchase included the seller returning in the spring to remove the pool. The seller has decided to sell the pool and a couple came by recently to view it.
When the couple arrived, Henrietta the llama eyed them carefully from the barnyard. The seller soon arrived and the three worked out their stuff regarding the pool. The couple left and the seller stayed, stating she wanted to see the animals. I realised Henrietta had been watching the entire time, fully alert, ears forward, taking in everything.
As we walked to the gate, Henrietta pranced on down from the yard, followed by the sheep. This prancing was the most activity I had seen from Henrietta. When she got to the fence she landed hard on her front feet, posturing at the seller. Familiar with alpaca and horses, the seller knew that Henrietta was setting a defensive tone. We chatted at the fence - we humans - and spoke softly to Henrietta, rubbing her chin, hoping she wasn't getting ready to spit.
After some more human chatting and llama stroking we entered through the gate. By this time the sheep had returned up the hill to the barn. Sheba, Henrietta's mother, had not put in an appearance. As we humans chatted we walked up toward the barn and Henrietta manoeuvred her way between us. And then Henrietta postured some more, neck upright and then went up into about a quarter of a rearing posture followed by turning in front of the seller and stopping. The seller understood immediately that Henrietta did not want her to go any closer to her flock - or her mother or her barn or whatever.
It was a very interesting event. The best of all was that the seller is so experienced with similar animals and behaviour. I felt that Henrietta had had a test drive.
This afternoon, hubby and I made a quick entrance through that same gate. Now, hubby hasn't been in the barn a lot in the last week or so. He hadn't even seen the chooks yet. We were about to go into town and so we weren't wearing our barn clothes. We looked different. He was different. And he was carrying something. And there came Henrietta prancing on down from the barn as before.
Llamas will "pronk" like deer. Think of the movie Bambi and the dancing of the deer in the clearing. They pronked, hopping so to speak, on all four legs at once. And we saw this in Africa while on safari as deer and gazelle do this. So, here came Henrietta prancing or pronking toward us. She eased up as she got closer and we spoke to her. She gave us a good going over. She gets right in your face with her beautiful, soft muzzle. So, if she's going to spew you're in for it!
She didn't spew or spit. We gave her some pats and spoke soothingly to her. She came along with us up to the barn. She did not bar our way. We did our errand there and everyone returned to their previous activities and we were on our way. Meanwhile, Henrietta continues to monitor that gate; after all, that's part of her job as a guardian animal.
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