Lost Creek Ranger Taos
ILR # 245245
gelding b. 12-13-2002
Ranger Dusty x Snake River Molly
click on the photo to see more pictures of Taos on flickr®
Taos is 42.75” at the withers and tends to run around 280 pounds when his pasture is restricted adequately.
Taos was “spoken for” several times, but everybody failed to follow through. We figure the universe is doing this to us to keep him here for the partner he’s meant to be with … and also to complete an important packing project with us in the interim.
All males born here are presumed to be future geldings unless they prove to be highly superior, and indeed, all but two have been castrated to date. Taos passed our very tough and thorough scrutiny for conformational and biomechanical traits and we would have liked to have kept him intact, but he did not quite come up to “stud quality” in classic-breed-specific coat traits — his coat, although adequately shedding, would not improve the offspring from marginal females. We also noted immediately that he has a strong personality, which can be difficult to deal with in a stud llama … and thus Taos is a much happier gelding.
Taos is currently involved in a packing-specific project with us that will keep him busy through at least summer’s end in 2012. After that time, we will make him available as an experienced, trained packer to an appreciative working home (we will consider joint ownership/use from now until his project is complete). We know he’s not going to impress the insecure macho dudes that want a giant “trophy llama” to show off … but Taos can take you twice as far into the backcountry in half the time. You know who you are and why that matters to you … and also how difficult it is to find a llama who is proven to meet your real-world requirements (and how it costs just as much to feed the llamas who can’t cut it on the trail).
Taos will come with his own Flaming Star pack saddle and is fully guaranteed as long as he is not mistreated or misused (which includes using any pack saddle on him other than his own).
“Taos” means “place where the red willows grow” in Tewa. Taos is red, of course; his maternal grandmother is Snake River Willow. We hope he continues developing his flexibility to be like the willows. We already know that, like willow, he’s very strong!