Alpaca show 2026 in Mullingar Equestrian Centre this weekend

The National Halter show is returning to Mullingar Equestrian, this Sunday, March 29, and it will have a whole new competition on offer.

“We have about 110 animals entered in our book for the Halter show,” said Paul O’Brennan, an organiser of the event. “The Halter show is where you walk around and judge the actual animal.

“This year, for the first time, we are judging fleeces the day before and they’ll be judging the animals’ fleeces from last year.

“So they’re judged early and then they’re displayed at the same time as the Halter show – people will see the animal in the pen and the fleece will be displayed with different rosettes.”

A lot that goes into the judging and competition process, and for the fleece competition, female and male alpacas are judged together; however, for the Halter show it’s different.

“You always judge males and females differently because they evolve over years at different ages.

“You know a working female that is giving birth to six, eight, 12 babies in her lifetime and obviously she’s still holding a good fleece, that’s a high end animal.”

The criteria in the males section is quite different. “The male would produce a lot of good produce and an animal that is still in good condition at 16 to 20 years of age, would be amazing.

“Then the fleeces are all judged together.”

Amanda VandenBosch (see flyingdutchmanalpacas.com/aboutamanda/) is a guest this year: “We have a judge from America who judged the World Conference two years ago in Germany. We were lucky to get her,” said Paul. “This is one of the best judges in the world.”

There will be craft stands and a demonstration on DNA testing and wool testing.

Paul says alpaca farming is environmentally friendly. “They’re not hard on land. They’re really protective animals of sheep, and of fowl.

“They are brilliant for therapeutic work with special needs, which like another alternative treatment, because they have a calming effect on everybody.”

Their wool is also hypo-allergenic, and in demand. “They want to blend the alpaca cotton or do pure alpaca because the quality is so good and with no allergies. It’s ideal for children’s clothes even for bedding, pillows or duvets.”

But “there’s a world shortage of alpacas” says Paul. “There are only around three million. The UK has about 60,000, and Ireland has only around 6000.”

“The Alpaca Association Ireland is growing by 15% a year, both members of the organisation and the animals.”

The show has taken place in Mullingar Equestrian centre for five years, and this is the first time doing two competitions in one.

“We’re under a lot of pressure this year, especially as we had to double up the show, but we’re getting there, we’ll get it done.”

The event is on Sunday, March 29 at Mullingar Equestrian Centre, 10am to 5pm.