Local llamas do well in big show

Joanne Shook puts a llama through its paces. Photo provided

A llama amongst a flock of sheep is a guardian, protecting his charges from predators. Some llamas have a natural aversion to strange four-legged creatures entering their space, and will aggressively protect that area.

Some horse owners keep a llama to make the llama an everyday sight so their horse won't bolt if they meet one on the trail.

Many llamas in a field are likely breeding stock, supplying the shrinking but still enthusiastic market.

Still others are show animals.

One such competitor is owned by Joanne Shook of Buck Heaven Farm in Tumalo. A llama owner since 1971, she financed a horse show career by breeding and selling llamas through the boom days of the 1970s and '80s.

These days her llamas are provided by breeders who are confident that Shook will handle them with kindness and show them with panache.

Shook shows in the halter and performance classes. There are also classes for pleasure driving.

"Part of the fun of having llamas is doing something with them," she said.

Performance contains three divisions -- Pack Obstacle, Public Relations Obstacle and Obstacle.

These are not your run of the mill obstacle courses with a few little logs or jumps to negotiate. Shook said that over the years the course designers have used a high degree of ingenuity and a wicked sense of humor in thinking up challenges for both animal and handler.

Pack Obstacle is composed of things a llama trekker might come across during a day's hike. Bridges, water, low branches, and muddy crossings are just some of the items negotiated.

Public Relations Obstacle contains items a llama would encounter on a day visiting town. Umbrellas, wheelchairs, large children's toys, vacuum cleaners, and negotiating between hospital beds have all challenged the competitors.

Obstacle has just about anything else one can imagine: Backing over, around, and through poles. Stepping through tires. Standing on washtubs and standing tied. Leaping over horse jumps. The more difficult the obstacle, the more likely it is to be considered for inclusion.

Shook and several other Central Oregon llama exhibitors recently traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska for the Grand National Show of Champions.

The best llamas in the U.S. came, over 800 in all. Each had to qualify by either winning a championship at a local show or qualifying at a regional event.

The Central Oregon contingent came away with numerous Grand and Reserve Championships. One of Shook's llamas, LW Scarlet Pimpernel (Pip), won third place in Advanced Pack, Champion Advanced Public Relations, Champion Advanced Obstacle, and Grand Champion Advanced Performance.

Training for such lofty performances is a daily thing for Shook. She acquires her llamas at around six months of age and handles them correctly from the start.

"Llamas are so smart that if you allow them to do the wrong thing once, it's very difficult to re-train them to do it right next time," said Shook.

She starts them on the obstacles from the beginning. Numerous trips to Sisters in the summer are also part of the training.

"We walk all around town, letting people pet the llamas, going up and down stairs and getting them used to strange sights and sounds," said Shook.

"We've met really nice people from all over the country who think it's fun to get so close to one."

If you ever see llamas being led around Sisters sometime, stop and say hello. You may be helping train a future champion.