Our panniers are made of 1680
denier nylon coated with urethane. They are extremely water resistant
and durable. The center space on the aluminum pannier bar is used as
a carrying handle and a load scale weight point.
All panniers are interchangeable between the Sopris
Saddle, the Sopris Roughy and the Ralide saddle. Our Day panniers are
perfect for lunch hikes and for use in the performance show ring.For
overnight packing you will be using either our Deluxe or Standard panniers;
these panniers are equipped with accessory straps on top of the pannier
lids for strapping on sleeping bags, tents and other gear. Vertical
compression straps (1 1/2" x 70") run over the top of the
load, while the pannier stabilizing straps attach to the front and rear
cinch on both sides to hold the panniers down. Raincover rings are located
at the lower sides of the pannier for the raincover connecting hooks.
To clean your panniers, remove the aluminum pannier
stabilizing bar at the Velcro closure (located at one end) and observe
the placement of the horn straps in order to return them as they were
after you have washed your panniers. Machine wash warm, gentle cycle,
and dry (only partially) on low heat.
INTRODUCING THE PANNIERS
When your llama is comfortable with the saddle and
the chest strap and breeching, you are ready to add the panniers.
*
please note step 4 at this time
1. Begin with empty panniers. Detach the VERTICAL
COMPRESSION STRAPS for now.
2. Attach one pannier at a time and secure by tightening
the HORN STRAP CAM BUCKLE. Go easy during this step because the noisy
pannier will make him nervous at first.
3. Attach the PANNIER STABILIZING STRAPS. (I keep
these straps attached to the panniers when not in use because they
are easier to keep track of and they get in the way of the cinching
if left on the cinches.) All these straps may seem a bit overwhelming
at first. Be patient and you and your llama will soon have them mastered.
Later, even though you may choose not to use certain straps, you will
know how to use them if you need to.
4. After the panniers have been secured, walk your
llama around. If he is going to panic during this whole process it
will probably be now. The panniers are foreign and the noise from
them may frighten him especially if the pannier happens to hit or
hang up going through a gate etc. *Stay in a fenced in area during
saddle training process and avoid obstacles and other challenges until
your llama gets used to the pack outfit.
5. When your llama has gotten used to the panniers,
add a couple of pillows to each pannier and go through the process
again.
6. When you feel comfortable, take him through some
obstacles such as a series of small jumps, or a slalom course where
the panniers can rub without hanging up. Run him around a bit. Rub
the panniers with your hands. Allow straps to touch his legs. Anything
to prepare him for what lies ahead.
ON
THE TRAIL
1. Double check your cinches to make sure the tension
is correct before loading the panniers on your llama.
2. Weigh and balance your panniers before you load
them on your llama. If you have help, load both panniers at approximately
the same time to avoid having the unbalanced load on the llama and
saddle for any length of time.
3. After you have loaded the panniers and top load,
connect the VERTICAL COMPRESSION STRAPS to the pannier on the left
side, take them over the top of the entire load and connect them to
the opposite pannier. Lift the panniers to the desired height and
tighten the compression straps. These straps will help keep the load
up and in toward the center of gravity for the ideal riding load.
You may choose not to use these straps depending on the nature of
the load you are packing.
4. Connect the four PANNIER STABILIZING STRAPS to
the front and rear cinches and snug them down.
5. Unload your panniers in the opposite direction.
Remember to disconnect the PANNIER STABILIZING STRAPS from the cinches
and the VERTICAL COMPRESSION STRAPS from the panniers before you take
the panniers off.
