The Llama Can Cush

     Mondays at Fields Quarter Horses are always busy but in a different way than other days. Emerging from the weekend hustle bustle, we look much like hosts cleaning up from a grand party as we clean, organize, and otherwise remove all traces of Saturday and Sunday visitors. Amber returns to her normal schedule with the training horses- riding, longing, and defining her weekly lesson goals for each one.
   
     Each Monday afternoon for me is spent with Farrier Mike. Mike has provided farrier service for us for about 10 years now. A good relationship with a farrier is essential to a working horse farm. Akin to the relationship a woman may have with her hairdresser, Mike is loyal and holds his secrets well. Each Monday, we prepare his list of clients and have them ready and waiting for his ministrations to their hooves. (For the non-horse owner readers we have, each horse is trimmed every 4-8 weeks based upon their individual needs.)

    Today began as a normal Monday, Mike arrived at the main barn first and trimmed a mare or two. Right on schedule, he arrived at the small barn which is also the housing for the 2009 foals. The weanlings are now all motherless and live in two small herds- one herd of boys and one herd of girls. Each foal was in its own stall awaiting his/her turn with Mike. Most of the foals were well-behaved and stand quietly as he progressesd in an orderly manner trimming each tiny hoof. Maxim is the dominant colt in the boy group at this time and he tried to no avail to assert his authority over Farrier Mike. Patiently and methodically, we moved through the entire group until all foals sported new pedicures.

    We reached the end stall of the barn and Farrier Mike peered inside. Oversized brown eyes looked back at him and the sound of a quizzical  "hummmmm" was emitted from the animal's soft lips. George the Llama was about to have his first toe trim since arriving at our farm 3 weeks earlier. Mike and I stepped into the stall and I easily restrained George with a halter. Having formerly been employed by a petting zoo, 12 year old George is docile and comfortable with human touch. Mike had never trimmed a Llama's toes before (they have two on each foot) but has trimmed several goats- we decided that since they were similar style, it must be the same. Well, that was a mistake.

     Several crazy moments passed- these involved llama screams, Farrier screams, Khris giggling hysterically (I do this when I'm extremely nervous such as at funerals), limbs flailing, and 3 creatures panting.  We decided to call Amber for reinforcement and get a new plan.  Mike mentioned that he remembered an episode of "Dirty Jobs" in which the host trimmed Llama toes- he seemed to recall that the llama laid down for the procedure. And a new plan was hatched.

     Having done some reading these past weeks, I knew that llamas, camels, and alpacas all can be taught to lie down or cush on command. Amber armed herself with treats for a reward and Mike and I proceeded to teach George to cush. Rather surprisingly, he accepted the posture nicely (well, after a few tries) and Amber fed him grain the that position for positive reinforcement. George seemed quite proud of his new behavior and we even tried it afterwards several times successfully.

     So, Monday ended with freshly trimmed hooves and toes. I smell somewhat like a llama but that is a correctable problem. And Farrier Mike can now add a Llama to his list of clients. And Amber can now add Llama trainer to her resume. I would say that all is well that ends well on this day.