Training a horse with a dog whistle (I know it sounds weird)

L

LuandLu24

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 July 2014
Messages
102
Visit site
Yes, this sounds weird but hear me out.
My field is very long and steep and I have to walk down to the bottom gate everyday to feed my horse as she's out 24/7. I was thinking of training her to come to the top using a dog whistle or something of that type to get her to come to the top gate so I don't have to walk. The reason being is because I can't shout loud as my field is in the middle of a village full of old people and I feel bad screaming the place down when I feed her at 6-7pm because they could be asleep which is why I walk down everyday. I could just whistle my self but strangely I can't whistle and if I do its not loud. Any suggestions? Do any of you guys use whistles? Sorry for confusing you :)
 
I had a gelding who would come to a whistle. He was turned out in 40 acres and would often be right down at the bottom so we started using the whistle so he could hear when it was time to come in.
 
All mine come up when I whistle, I can do it really loud with my fingers, the mares come straight up and the babies follow and so learn the habit. My daughter can't whistle but she bangs the metal gate with the lead rope clip and it has the same effect.
Its habit for them to come up when we arrive at the gate, we simply need to let them know we're there when they're out of sight.
 
My two youngsters come when my OH whistles, we found this out when he whistled the dog, who never comes to recall, and he was mugged by the two youngsters!!

I can not whistle so as above bang the catch on the metal field gate and the ponies appear. Essential as up hear on the Moorlands the mist is often down and you can not see across the field.

They always get a reward in their feed bins for coming in when called as well.
 
I don't see why training to a conventional whistle wouldn't work. However, I wouldn't assume that a horse would necessarily hear one of the ultrasonic (silent) type dog whistles, even though horses that have been tested with audiometry were found to hear somewhat higher frequencies better than humans.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top