Does the idea of driving your llama sound like fun to you? Well, I can testify that it is. I went for a cart ride recently on some local back roads. It was wonderful. My first outing for a long time, but the rhythm was different. Different in two ways: The rhythm of the pace, and the rhythm of the training to get to this day.

This day, I drove my new pony, Shugyr Dahitt. For the past 20 years, I had driven my llama, El Duende. Before that it was horses again. The rhythm is different, but the training skills are the same.

I was asked to give a llama cart driving demonstration last year at StillPointe Sanctuary's Alternative Livestock Show with Duende. I had just made a promise to my llama that he was retired so I suggested that I give the demonstration with Shugyr. At the time Shugyr was at the ground driving stage. During my demo, I was asked to compare training a horse to training a llama.

"Horses are easier," I simply responded. "At least for me." Gary Kaufman was the one asking the questions and wanted specifics, of course. I did my best to respond with my ideas, methods, and experiences.

Gary says I do some very unique things and I have unique ideas. You will have to tell me if my methods and ideas are unique. They are just things I do that I have picked up, perfected, and developed through the years from trial and error, watching others, taking a few lessons, attending clinics, reading, and then back to the experimenting, observing, etc. The exploration continues.

Cart Driving is my passion. Do I consider myself an expert? No! Do I think I'm pretty good at it. Yes! It has been an ever-evolving adventure to get here, and I will continue watching, reading, learning, and applying techniques that I can feel will improve my communication with my animals.

I wish I could take every class, clinic, and workshop that is available on animal training, but I can't. I couldn't when I became involved with horses for the first time. Then, as now, I take advantage of every opportunity to improve.

I did not begin my equine experience with driving. That began almost 7 years later. My first riding lesson was just learning how to hang on. A lesson that served me well in life and in animal training. It taught me patience.

My mom is responsible for my passion with animals. It was 1955 after I was released from Children's Orthopedic Hospital. I had just recovered from polio, which of course had scared her to death. When physical therapy was suggested, my mom chose another path. She bought me a horse. I can't remember his name, but he was big, black, and beautiful and dumped me every time out on the trail, usually under the same tree limb. I learned how to walk better because I always had to walk back to the barn where he was boarded. I got better at hanging on, and on occasion got to ride him at an uncontrolled gallop back to the barn.

A cowboy soon pointed out to my mom that she had purchased a stallion for her inexperienced child. "What's a stallion," She asked. True story.

My skill at hanging on was perfected when mom exchanged this black beauty for a small sorrel gelding which I had ridden as a rental. Little Joe. I loved him, but he too took me home in the most unusual ways. Never down the trail we started on. When he wanted to go home, he took the bit in his mouth and ran home as the crow flies and all I could do was, yes, hang on. It was really getting tiresome for my mounts to choose when my ride was over.

Thank goodness it got better. I stole my mother's palomino mare, Lady Stardust. We became best of friends. I do remember the day my mother entered Stardust and I in our first horse show: Western Equitation. I had little idea what I was doing or what the announcer was talking about when he asked the contestants to "trot, and canter." Really! No one had told me the names of those gaits. I just tried to do what I saw the others doing. I remember my mom at the sidelines telling me to walk my horse. I had not paid attention and everyone had dropped from the trot to a walk. I also had no idea, until a few years later, that when the ribbon placing where given out I got last place. It was a beautiful purple ribbon. It had "Special Award" printed on it. "Wow, Special Award."

I still have the ribbon. Regardless of my inexperience, it is a wonderful memory and the beginning of my passion for shows and training my show animals. I love the process.

When I decided to purchase a llama I knew little about them. I just needed a helper to continue hiking. I didn't have room for another horse. Azam, my Arabian stallion, was retired, being about 28 at the time. I also loved the simplicity of hiking, but carrying the pack was no longer an option and after a rather painful hike into the Cascades with a new friend, I decided a llama would be grand.

My search began at the Herb Farm near Carnation, Washington. My boyfriend took me there to see their llamas and I fell in love. Not too much later, I visited Cathy Chrisman who advertised "llamas for sale." She introduced me to these wonderful animals, that they were great packers, and added they could also pull a cart. Well, she had my complete attention. Pull a cart. I had the better of two worlds.

So, I looked over and played with what she had for sale. There were two male candidates as packers. One was a little more money because he had packing experience. But, he didn't respond like I wanted it to-or how I was use to a potential cart animal/horse to respond. I was looking for a fuzzy horse. My Duende was the other male she had for sale. He was two and a half at the time. He was my fuzzy horse. He responded to everything I asked of him and he was still young. He was the one. I loved his stocky, square built body, chest width, level back, good legs, and strong pasterns and especially how he traveled freely and responsively. He also wanted to lead me at times. Llamas that want to be out front are definitely cart potential.

I later had to teach Duende to follow, but for now I saw he had potential for not only carrying a pack, but pulling my old cart that I had since I was 12. So, I purchased my first llama, on time payments, as if he were a horse in disguise. I haven't regretted it for 20 years and I still have the same criteria for choosing a cart llama.

When I told Cathy I was going to train Duende to be a cart llama using my horse driving experience, she suggested that when I got him in the cart we should give a clinic. Well, it took me three months to pay for him before bringing him home and another three months to get him in the cart. Hours of work went into the first three months and we progressed even further in the next three months before the clinic.

I started my training using what I had learned training horses. I was later told that this method would drive a llama crazy. I thought about it and then said, "Perhaps I trained my horses like llamas because I had not experienced any problem."

The clinic was a wonderful experience. I didn't know if llama owners would accept a "horse person" but they did. Everyone was impressed with my lunging llama that accepted being touched everywhere and didn't shy after I lightly tossed a towel over his head. Questions flowed at the Saturday night spaghetti feed about my training techniques.

The number one question then, as now: How long does it take to get a llama in a cart? As long as it takes. How long does it take to get a horse in a cart? Same answer. I do experience that the rhythm to train a horse is faster than a llama. The rhythm of the ride is different also. The fun of driving either is equal for me. I use exactly the same training methods for both, but the rhythm here, too, is different, and perhaps also the horse is more forgiving.

Llamas will challenge you more and dislike coercive handling. I have learned to train for a required behavior at each step regardless of the time required to get that behavior. You can also learn as the time passes if you pay attention to what you are doing-negatively and positively.

Gary and I were discussing the possible reasons for the differences I believed are between training horses and llamas to the cart. He wanted to know the reasons I believe horses are easier. I told him I didn't exactly have a scientific explanation for my belief. Maybe I talked horse better than llama. But, I don't really think so. I have to explain myself by giving animals human emotions. I believe horses want to please you more or at least argue less. Llamas are always challenging your commands.

Perhaps it is that horses have been bred, i.e. selected, for centuries longer than llamas, to perform duties such as pulling chariots and wagons. I thought about it. Man would have selected their horse for its ability to learn multiple tasks. They were chosen on their ability to carry, pull, and take commands willingly.

Llamas were bred, i.e. selected, for their ability to follow their Inca master over rough terrain carrying packs. To be led. They were bred for strength and endurance also, but a different temperament was required.

Of course, llamas were the only animals available to the Incas as beast of burden. And structurally they were not selected for their ability to pull weight or be ridden. But, I have found that most of the great packers are structurally fit, and more importantly, mentally able to pull a cart. Especially lead packers. The classic llama is my choice. I call them lamas that are horse-like in structure and temperament. I prefer llamas that like to be out front and respond to my commands without excessive challenge.

Llamas are very stoic animals, which causes a training dilemma sometimes. I was use to giving a tap on a horses rear when they didn't respond. Whips don't accomplish anything with llamas except perhaps increase the chances you will get spit at. I have used what I call a 'butt bumper' sparingly in the beginning of training. It is a four foot pole made of one inch PVC. It is just a physical reminder during lunging and ground driving to a verbal command. It is one training aid, an arm extension. Remember, I said sparingly. Also remember to be consistent in the reason you may need to encourage movement.

No other animal that I have trained teaches you to be consistent more than the llama. If one day you let something slide, the llama will remember that when you give a command it can be compromised. If the next day you insist on a behavior that the day before you let slide, the llama will begin not only to disobey, but to become increasingly confrontational. Llamas WILL remember your "maybes." And get pissed off if you switch from day to day. One day they get away with a misbehavior and then the next you have the time to insist that they do what you want. You will be drawing the battle line and you both will lose.

A good trainer will be able, for a time, to correct a bad behavior. Perhaps you will choose to have a professional train your animal from the beginning. You can receive a well-trained animal, but if you don't know how to keep them that way, all your hard earned money will be for naught. I decided long ago to only train the handler to train their llama. It is the only way I have found for the team to continue doing well together over the long term. You must learn to recognize behaviors. Is your llama responding correctly to the command you are giving or think you are giving? Are they paying attention or are they gazing out to their companions in the field or perhaps just "zoned out"?

Horses don't spit. They have their own version. Horses can react violently to bullying and/or inferior and inconsistent training techniques by kicking, biting, pushing and on and on.

Llamas can also. The term "berserk llama" comes to mind. But, mostly, an overly pushed llama will just quit performing. They will stop responding to commands, refuse to move, will spit, and/or lay down. Spitting will be a major response of a llama's challenge to your authority. You can make a good non-spitting llama a champion "spitter" if you don't improve your training techniques. They won't respect a bully but they will respect a good boss. And, you don't spit at the boss. You also don't body slam them, push them, lay down, kick, paw, or any other negative behavior. Gentle, consistent, and enforced commands will help develop a gentle, responsive llama.

I learned some of my first horse training techniques from what I now call cowboys. Restraint, coercion, and lots of overpowering methods. They worked so they must have been right. Right? Wrong! I began to understand that there must be a kinder, gentler way to teach my animal friends to work and to play with me.

So, I watched other people and I got better. My Arabian stallion also taught me a lot. He learned my voice commands and we played together in the paddock. He loved a game. Tag and Hide and Seek were his favorites. I was more than his master, I could also be his playmate.

I learned how to train horses better primarily by observing them and their handlers. This continued with llamas. I watched successful people in their training arenas, on the trail, and in the show ring. What were they doing to perform or place so well? How were they holding the rope? How did they and their animals approach and negotiate an obstacle or maneuver? How was the handler dressed? How was the animal groomed? What type of animal was able to perform the best? What caused problems? Was it a lack of training or conformation faults or personality problems of either the handler or the animal? What caused everything-failures and successes?

Instead of feeling badly when others perform better than you or consistently win at shows, watch to understand why. It was and is a game for me. Watch and listen to every person you can that is doing what you want to do. I also took lessons, attended workshops, read books, and watched some more. When someone was consistently a winner in the show ring, I watched him or her and learned. I didn't take lessons directly from them. Often I didn't know how they got their animals to perform so well. I just watched what they were doing and what their animals were doing and went home and modeled the behavior.

Of special note, I have found it much easier to undo bad training or experiences with a horse than a llama. I have been heard to say that horses are more forgiving. They respond to the changed technique as if they were grateful. I could philosophize why these occur and develop some great theories, but at this time I will just say I find them easier to train. From leading, lunging, and pulling the cart. But, I must emphasize again, the techniques I use to train both horse and llama are the same. The horse just responds faster then the llama. Horses seem to me to accept your command. Llamas are going to test you continually. Even if you are using great techniques, llamas are going to challenge your authority. That is where being consistent will help with llama training even more than a horse.

You all can train your animal to respond to your commands if you just try to direct them correctly and consistently and be very aware of the response you are getting. Be aware! What did you do to cause the animal to react they way they did? What do you want them to do? What did you do to get them to respond the way you wanted? This is so important. And, if any of my long ago rough riders are out there, I am not talking about wrestling them into submission. That works too. But, you won't end up with the same animal. Coerced, restrained, and other hard methods create a different animal. They are more rigid in their body and, yes, in their mental ability.

For this reason, I also don't like stanchions. They do not teach the animal to stand. They restrain the animal into standing. There is a huge difference. Especially in communication. I know stanchions have their purpose. You may not be able to train all your animals and have to use stanchions to trim hooves/toenails, give medication, shear, or groom. But, an animal that requires a stanchion to be handled in any fashion will not end up to be your top show animal.

I use the term "show" not exclusive of competition. I don't want to be out on the trail with an animal that refuses to let me pick up its feet or go nuts every time I want something out of the pack, need to re-adjust the saddle, tighten the cinch, give emergency aid, experience new sights and sounds, etc., etc., etc. If an animal has to be restrained to be groomed, it will not be or feel safe enough to enter a parade, visit a nursing home, perform at fairs, or be petted-especially by children.

It takes time to get a llama in the cart and keep them there. I know there are trainers that demonstrate putting a llama in the cart in one day. I could do that and they would pull me around for a time. Why? Well, in my opinion, they are trying to walk out of the cart and away from the object behind them-including the driver. To do that, the llama has to walk forward. You readers can tell me how many of these one day wonders are still pulling. Not many, if any, I predict. Unless the trainer is very good at correcting misbehaviors-which is using some training techniques they should have used in the first place.

Once a llama lays down from being asked to do something stressful, it is really difficult to get them up and pulling again. Once a llama starts spitting at you, the animal is declaring they are the boss, not you. Once they refuse to pull the weight, you will have to get out of the cart or have a header lead them. Why not start your training program with techniques that don't require starting over or having to drag the llama around?

I have another passion on training. One trainer a while back told his students, "You don't have to win." This may be taken totally out of context, but I'm here to tell you, you absolutely have to win. BUT . . .

The "but" is that I see people not rewarding their llamas/cart animals for the small steps toward the big goal. When you are training a llama to back the required four steps in showmanship, the back starts with one foot moving in a backward position. It starts when they are being flexible in their neck and body while beginning to respond to your command. Actually, it starts when you first begin to catch them and to put on their halter.

I can't count how many times a person has told me "My llama won't back." I have to watch them wrestle with their llama to prove it to me. I point out to them that the llama had started to back but they kept pushing without any reward.

Number one, they were being too forceful. Being forceful with any animal makes them push back. The llama has to learn to understand what you are commanding them to do. Small steps, not four all at once, is probably a good metaphor for my entire training program.

I also love to be with animals. It is, when I think about it, the story of my life-at least what I look back on as the important moments. To be with them, I am continually learning how to live and work with them on a higher level then just how some would define "training." I will use the term training throughout this article. I use it because it is familiar to all of us. But, "creating precise and gentle communication between species" is perhaps a much better term. All be it too long.

Hopefully, I can give you some ideas to work better with your llamas. I learned how to lead on a loose lead in an obstacle class after watching Lynn Hyder show Apple Jack. I watched Jim Logan drive Apollo in his great Harmony Cart. I watch horse trainers and dog trainers. I attended demonstrations of Jim Logan's clicker training, and Cathy Spalding's gentle touch. All of these training techniques can be added to yours, including those used by horse trainers. After all, horses have been trained to pull for centuries. Their masters may have some great ideas.

What I really want to get across is that if you are struggling with your llama, not only are you unhappy, your llama is miserable every time you are together-perhaps every time he/she sees you. If you realize that this is the case, everything you do has to lighten up. Lead lines, haltering, grooming, toenail trimming-everything.

I can trim Duende's toenails while I'm on my knees. Why do I have to do that? I can't physically bend over without getting stuck in that position. The good news is, I have spent quality time with my llama so I can rest on my knees. I can also sit in a chair to groom him. I can lead him with my arm lightly around his neck. He has pulled me up mountain trails with me just holding on to the breeching strap. He has worked for hours in the cart either giving kids rides or being a unicorn in a chariot. He learned how to work without getting stressed about it. He learned that when I gave a command, I meant it. He took me seriously because I was consistent in my training techniques. Not severe! Consistent!

I want to provide some specific steps in training without turning this into a training manual.

Does your llama understand what you are saying? The most important training aid you have is your voice. So talk to your llama from the beginning. Your voice can be a real source of command and security to the llama. They can learn words and respond to their meaning if used often and with reinforcement to achieve a particular response. Teaching verbal commands is really helpful as you step from ground training to the cart.

The word chosen for the behavior should be short. There is also no magic in the word itself. I pick a word and then reinforce the animal's behavior to perform the specific maneuver. They learn to associate the word with the behavior very quickly.

I find the best words are ones already used by horse and mule trainers including dressage commands for more advance maneuvers. Using common words is really helpful if you plan on ever selling your cart llama or have other members of the family drive them. Be consistent or the llama in particular will get very frustrated.

The most common verbal commands are "Good Boy/Girl, No, Walk, Trot, Canter, Whoa, Gee (right turn), Haw (left turn), Stand, Back, and Up (a sharply voiced word I use instead of a whip. It means move or I'm having a discussion with you. I use it with other commands such as Haw-UP if they are not turning to the left after the first command Haw was not responded to)."

The most important verbal command for a cart llama and horse to learn is "Whoa." It is the brakes. The command does not mean "Please Show Down," "Stop for a moment and then move at will." It means, "Stop completely, until I command you to move. Period."

We are being taught by some great trainers such as Ellen Leach, to give the verbal command after we get the action. For instance, the command "Walk." We are told to wait until the animal walks and then tell them "Walk."

I have used another method for years. I give the verbal command first. After I thought about it, and discussed it with Ellen, I concluded we eventually all get to the same place. When I want, for instance, a walk when the animal is trotting, I will say "Walk", reinforce the command with small pulls on the line, make the circle smaller if necessary to slow their movement getting the walk perhaps just because they had to slow down. When the animal is then walking, I say, "Good Boy/Girl, Walk". If they break into a trot or a faster gait, I will say "No! Walk" and continue to reinforce the command.

My self taught way works too. And I think just as quickly as waiting for the Walk and telling them what they were doing. Why? I think both methods depend on reinforcement and being consistent with your verbal, physical, and visual commands. All the animals quickly learn the words, regardless of the method given, and respond to them. Both methods work.

I start my cart training when I catch and halter the animal. There are many ways to train you llama to accept a halter without resisting. Round pen training, putting a rope around their neck first and then introducing the halter, brushing their face with it, or perhaps having them eat around it in their grain pan for a time. Cathy Spalding can teach you some great methods to halter also. What I am saying is, good training starts with properly putting on the halter. Using the lead line sparingly and lightly will be discussed shortly.

There are important behaviors I work on consistently. Two are tying up and touching my animals.