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Before
long it becomes clear the llamas enjoy the drive and the
changing scenery equally as much as their human passengers.
Llama
carting is one of the more recent llama activities ...
friends can share the experience ...and those not fond
of walking can view the countryside in comfort, without
so much as setting a foot on the ground.
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In
South America, carting is uncommon ... in fact,
it's only over the past 10 years or so this new
activity has become popular in North America and
Australia.
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Now
it's a popular past-time for weddings, parades, Santa's
appearances, shows, charity days, transporting hay and
farm equipment … or simply for fun.
Some
llama enthusiasts race their carting llamas - registering
speeds of over 45kmph. Although this may not appeal universally
- there is definitely the occasional 'llama-speedster'
out there.
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Carting
is a great marketing tool, too, not only for llamas,
but also for anything you wish to promote, be
it in ...or on ... the cart.
Once,
llamas were trained to pull carts singly, and at
times with poor results.
The
belief only 1 in 10 llamas would prove suitable
for the task, placed carting in the too hard basket
for many.
Today
cart-training llamas in pairs, or even triplets
has alleviated this problem.
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Llamas,
like most animals, are happiest with their own kind,
so often respond better to cart training when harnessed
with a mate. When training llamas in pairs or triples
it's not unusual to have 2 or 3 as yet 'untrained' llamas
driving happily together after just one lesson.
Five
or six more outings in pairs or triples are necessary
to fine-tune their skills ... but, after that most llamas
will confidently pull a cart alone.
Gender
is unimportant for a driving llama. Both male and female
llamas can pull carts … but like athletes, some are better
than others. A 30km trip is a breeze for a well-conditioned
llama, but one who spends the day lazing in the paddock,
soaking up the sun, will probably find 5-10kms quite enough.
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