How to Teach Your Horse Voice Commands

Many performance horses know distinct commands to perform certain jobs. Race horses are taught to urinate at the sound of a human whistling and most all riding horses know the word "whoa." Teaching horses voice commands can be very easy with certain annunciation, voice tone, repetition and positive reinforcement.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Start out in a round pen or small arena with your horse on a lead rope. Walk a few steps, say the word whoa and stop. The first time use the lead rope to stop the horse and eventually lessen the physical command allowing the verbal command to take its place.
2. Add the word walk into the routine after your horse catches onto whoa. Start by walking off yourself while you say the word but later see if the horse will start to walk as you ask the command. Reward your horse with a treat every time he responds to the commands.
3. Continue in the round pen with ground work, start asking your horse to trot. In end your horse should at least know whoa, walk and trot before you continue these exercises under saddle.
4. Begin working with your horse under saddle. Have treats in your pocket to reward the horse after every positive response. Still use your physical commands to ask the horse to "whoa," "walk" and "trot," but now add your voice in a low tone.
5. Teach your horse other words once you notice that she has picked up the words you started with on the ground. Try words such as "canter," "back," "right" and "left."

Tips & Warnings

• Always reward good behavior.
• This will take several weeks for your horse to learn the different words. Work on this at most 20 minutes a day.
• Emphasize syllables and annunciations of the different words to help your horse clarify the different commands.
• Never ride alone.