Testimonials, Reviews and Feedback

I had a transformative experience with Cathy Spalding at her Gentle Spirit Clinic. As someone new to the world of llamas and alpacas, everyone there gave me support and encouragement. Cathy created a safe space in which to learn and helped us all help each other. The knowledge and heart and skills that I gained at her clinic have changed my relationship with my llamas and alpacas from one of efforts to control to one of understanding and love. I was able to use my newly learned skills immediately when I got home and the animals that share my life are so pleased with the change in me! I cannot thank Cathy enough for what she has done for me and the animals that I love.

Dr. Lia Byers

Hi!

God bless you in your work. My survey of llama and alpaca sites has shown me that you are doing a rare and wonderful service in the treatment of these gentle animals. You are truly making the world a better place. Thanks again!

~Roger Christeck

Good morning Cath,

We went over to Laura's yesterday to get them started on shearing and she is still beaming! What a change lady since your clinic. Everyone is talking about how wonderful you are and how life changes made due to the clinic.  They want me to hold another clinic next year. You have differently found your calling here on earth my dear "Llama Whisperer" Rick and I both look at our animals with different, trained eyes. What a blessing!!  Thank you!!!

 Mary Adams

The weekend was mentally exhausting as we struggled to retain all of the valuable information and tips from Cathy. However, everyone learned more than they had anticipated and were glad they had attended.

There were many memorable moments but the most heartwarming was when the three kids were able to easily halter a recent rescue who was, until that point, distrustful of people.

Thank you Cathy!

Helen Carpenter

Dear Cathy,

I am writing for my friend Pia Lau in Spain.  Pia is having severe phone and internet problems and asked me to contact you as she cannot right now.

 Our llama has fully recovered from the dog food feast and thanks to you is fine.  Pia used all your suggestions and was able to pull him through.  It took a couple days but now he is fine.  She is convinced, as am I, that he would not have made it without your help.

Thank you again for all your assistance and we hope to welcome you to Spain to visit the finca and meet our beautiful llamas.

Sincerely,

David Sexsmith

I put the lead on the BEW boy who plays dead-- but attached it in back like you suggested, and he got up and walked. It was quite impressive, and a great "show" for everyone there.... owners and employees alike (I supervise 4-5 others)... I feel fine about trying some new things, especially after that happened to work so well! :) 

Kirsten K raushaar

My very first alpaca workshop was Cathy Spalding's Gentle Spirit Alpaca Training. Two days worth of learning how to handle my animals made all the difference in the world. Since then, I've not only come to understand how to halter train, trim toes without much fuss, and how to properly hold an alpaca so it stands still yet is unafraid. I've diverted some pretty extreme emergencies due to an increased understanding of my animals' body language, actions and behavior.

Last fall I caught a case of rickets earlier than any case has ever been caught. The cria was treated and had absolutely no joint or bone damage whatsover.

I've accurately diagnosed three non-progressive labors resulting in live births each time with no repurcussions for the dam. 

I caught barely-noticable symptoms in a young male and had him diagnosed with 4 heart defects. He's thriving today.

There's more-- and it's not magic or even luck. It's all because I took a class that taught me to recognize slight facial expressions and body language that indicates a problem.

Kirsten K raushaar

Hi Cathy,

I am indebted to you once again. I just helped a couple with four alpaca boys find homes for them-- they couldn't keep up with them anymore. The man asked me to help him load the boys into a trailor, as he couldn't get it done by himself.

I drove there and boom, haltered them all, boom, walked them into the trailor. The guy asked how did I do that? I told him I had the best teacher (you) and that a lot of it is body language and attitude. He and his wife have been struggling with these boys for years. Couldn't halter them, couldn't do much of anything

Kirsten Kraushaar

Cathy,

After taking your informative class at LANA on halters, I have changed my halter selections completely. No longer do all my llamas have color co-ordinated halters. They have halters that fit correctly, and have I seen changes in my llamas. In the ring they feel even the lightest movement for corrections. I think these changes have made a big difference in my recent phenomenal year of winning in halter and performance classes.

Thanks again for all the good information, it was wonderful. Without your help I don't think this year would have been as incredible as it has been. I still have Nationals to go, and who knows.

Trish R.

Every new owner should read the CD Book!

Boyce Blanks

Cathy,
Hi, my name is Beth Correa from Kama'aina Alpacas. We are new to the business and have been trying to learn all we could. My husband, Zach and I flew down to AlpacaFestWest to attend all the seminars. I attended yours and LOVED IT....I told everyone I knew that it was my favorite seminar.
We went home from the show and I started noticing one of my females was displaying some of the behaviors that you showed in the photo's in your seminar. We had only had alpacas at home for a little over a month so was not REAL familiar with her behaviors. I told my husband I think she is sick....she is displaying signs that I learned in Cathy's seminar. He said I was crazy, she if fine :)....I took her to the vet anyway and the vet said, she probably had a gastric disturbance (tummy ache). We took her home and the very next day, I had a VM from the vet saying.....Beth you were right, she IS sick! Long story short, after about a month of MANY Shots every day and Many tubes of wormer....she is doing MUCH better!!!!
I just want to say, had I not gone to your seminar I would not have noticed the signs and taken her to the vet to get tested and found she was sick early enough to do something about it. You may have helped me save her life!! She was 6 months pregnant when I found she was sick....baby is fine and she is well on her way to being "back to normal".
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
Beth Correa

Hi Cathy,

We are all doing great!!  I still can't believe how different I feel about my boys after the weekend with you - it was such a life changing experience for me!    Rick and Mary came over and got Steve and I started with shearing our boys recently and then left Steve and I to do 4 on our own!  Was great!!!

  Is funny ... I now even look at a cushed llama differently - see how their neck looks, their ears, and closeup their face!  What a great learning experience!!  I can't even begin to thank you enough!!! Hugs & Hums! Laura Vanderpool

I sit here, arms covered in goosebumps, a little teary in gratitude. Your insight has saved at least one of my animals and is better ensuring the healthy development of another. Dang! You rock!

 Thanks again for your assistance, support, and affirmation! That means more than you might imagine!!

L'illette Vasquez

We haltered LLillian with much less trouble than we had expected.  After she was haltered, we led her into a chute for her worming with Safe-Guard.  She was overly cautious, but we managed quite well, and she seemed to enjoy having her neck rubbed.  Thanks, again, Cathy, for giving us the confidence and the tools with which to work more effectively with our animals. 

Mickey and Evelyn

Hi Cathy

Just a quick note to tell you how much I enjoyed your approach to teaching.

I've been to a few too many seminars run by "gurus" of the final word in whichever field of training. Your approach made sense to me and I believe I was able to learn exactly what I had hoped to learn when I signed up for the weekend. Your respect for both the animals and the students was appreciated. Sheena Gibbs

Dear Cathy,

We are all doing well here and Rosa is very good. She is pregnant and will be due in June or July. I cannot say how remarkable our time was together last year and how inspiring your work is. Lots of love from all of us. Donna, Rosa and friends.

Really enjoyed your training day at Purston Alpacas in England.

The tips and demonstrations you gave to us were fantastic. We use them every day and visitors are really impressed when they see us working with the alpacas we have.

Thanks again

pete may

Hi Cathy

I purchased your Alpaca Talk recently and have just started discovering this wonderful textbook. I would like to congratulate you on an informative and innovative textbook!!!  

Olivia Walsh

Cathy,
Thanks for putting on a private clinic for my small staff. It helps to have everyone "on the same page", and handling the alpacas in the same way. We sheared 120 suris this year, and all but two of them standing without restraint. Our customers tell us that out suris are the friendliest alpacas they own. The figure-8 body wrap using an Ace bandage has been especially useful, and was something that none of us had tried before.
Andy Tillman, OR

Hi Cathy,

Just wanted to tell you how much my son Brent and I enjoyed your clinic. Brent wasn't sure about attending but had a great time -- he thought you were so funny. We have already used a lot. In fact, Brent had a young male up at the fair... he is fairly nervous type and by the fourth day he was so stressed out that he started getting thick foam all over his lips. We had the vet check him twice and he didn't know what was the cause (we suspected stress.) Brent decided it would be a good idea to massage his gums and mouth. Jar-Jar not only tolerated it, but enjoyed it! He normally doesn't enjoy being touched at all. It settled him right down and that was the end of the foaming. Thanks again!
Donna and Brent, WA

Hi Cathy,

I really enjoyed your clinic Friday night at Cornell University. If you are ever back in our area we love to have you visit! Thanks again!.
Gail, NY

Cathy,

I wanted to drop you a note to say thank you again for the training I received from you in Oklahoma City. Storm also thanks you, as we now are communicating fairly well, and neither is afraid of the other anymore. 8 - ))
Nancy, OK

Hi Cathy,

Just a quick note to tell you how much I enjoyed your approach to teaching. I've been to a few too many seminars run by "gurus" of the final word in whichever field of training. Your approach made sense to me and I believe I was able to learn exactly what I had hoped to learn when I signed up for the weekend. Your respect for both the animals and the students was appreciated.
Sheena, Canada

Hi Cathy,

I am indebted to you once again. I just helped a couple with four alpaca boys find homes for them-- they couldn't keep up with them anymore. The man asked me to help him load the boys into a trailer, as he couldn't get it done by himself. I drove there and boom, haltered them all, boom, walked them into the trailer. The guy asked how did I do that? I told him I had the best teacher (you) and that a lot of it is body language and attitude. He and his wife have been struggling with these boys for years. Couldn't halter them, couldn't do much of anything.
THANK YOU.
Kirsten, MN

Dear Cathy,
Thank you for a wonderful llama clinic! I learned so much!!! I understand more about positioning now. I appreciate the Gentle Spirit method of training. It makes so much sense to me. I know the llamas are glad I discovered a better way. We applaud you!!!
Kathy Kramer, Treasure Acres

Dear Cathy,

I cannot say how remarkable our time was together last year and how inspiring your work is.
Donna, VT

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