In theory, could a HORSE be trained to track scents, the way a Bloodhound does? I've been told horses have an exceptional sense of smell, and if they could be trained as trackers, a searcher could RIDE their "Bloodhound" to their quarry, right?
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Anonymous
ANSWERS: 8
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Horses sense of smell is much better than a human's but falls short of your average dog. Plus they wouldn't be good at tracking since their heads are meant to be up in the air where they can look around and use their ears to find danger. That's what they use most of their senses for, to communicate with each other and to react to danger since they are a prey animal. Dogs, as a predator animal use their sense of smell more for finding their prey.
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They might be harder to train.
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I don't think horses would be as good at it since their sense of smell is not as good as a dogs. Also horses don't seem to have the same innate insatiable curiosity as to "what's that smell and where is it?" Evidenced by the rareness of a horse randomly sniffing your butt. However, they could carry your ice chest.
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Tracking, narcotics, and bomb detection dogs are selected for more than an ability to smell. Their competetive nature, athletecism, and attention span (as to the pursuit of the odor) are among several factors that are considered. Also, how are you to ride a horse through low lying branches and thick foliage? Police patrol vehicles with trailers would not be very practical either.
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+6 for the great answer. I can't say definitively but I think Galeanda's great answer is right on the subject.
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Galeanda & others covered it with one addition. Horses are not as smart as dogs. Their ability to smell does not translate into the ability (or the ability to be trained) to communicate valuable information to humans, to retain information, to follow through.
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A horse has no instinct to find anything other than danger or food. They are prey not predator. Dogs,as predators have the hunting instinct and it is that which is harnessed. Much as I love horses,their ability to be trained relies upon human cues being given for things they already know how to do. Moving in a particular way on command and being rewarded by the leg pressure etc being removed. Dogs tracking are trained in the same way by being praised for something they know how to do. Sorry Mensan. nice idea though.+5 P.S. dont tell anyone but they have a brain the size of a closed fist.Small eh? not very bright.
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Nope, they can not smell as well as a dog. The miniature horses have been trained as seeing eye "dogs" though +5
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