Lost Creek Ranger Olallie
ILR # 131298
female b. 12-10-1994 . . . d. 10.18.2015
Ranger Dusty x Hyder Llamas Sahalie
Olallie originally looked like she would surpass our expectations as an outstanding young pack and performance prospect. She reached 45.75" and averaged about 300lbs.
Olallie had a number of good placings in performance classes, and earned one Grand and two Reserve Championshipts at halter despite the distinct political disadvantage of having a classic coat during that time.
Olallie began her packing career in 1998. As her maturity allowed packing and driving demands to increase, a problem emerged — bilateral patellar laxity (her "kneecaps" were loose on both sides).
Based on the circumstances, we thought Olallie had acquired the problem in a winter accident, just as we assumed maternal half-brother Jack's patellar luxation was strictly trauma-induced. But when Kilchis started showing the same reluctance to negotiate steeper terrain and we confirmed one of his patellas was looser than normal, we knew we had uncovered a genetic issue. We castrated Olallie's only offspring and retired her from breeding, packing, and driving. Harness work is particularly stressful to any llama's patellar ligaments, and that's probably why Olallie's condition became more significant than Kilchis, who never progressed beyond ground driving in his training.
Olallie, Kokanee and Calliope spent a number of years together in semi-retirement, and when their new humans moved back to the east coast, Olallie and Kok returned home to us. We were stunned how much Olallie had become like her mother, bossy and taking NO guff!
Olallie spent the remainder of her days getting more scritches and eating as much as she wanted. Although she had been getting thin, we were shocked and saddened when we found her dead in the pasture. Surprisingly, her full brother Kilchis died the same way at exactly the same age — 20 years and 10 months.
Olallie means "berries" in Chinook jargon, and the popular name has also been applied to many Oregon natural features — a butte, several creeks, a natural area, and an individual lake within the surrounding Olallie Scenic Area.
Meet Olallie's offspring
- 2001 gelding — Lost Creek Ranger Skaikeek [sold]