“Bagpipe Whisperer” Calls Horses In From Pasture With Haunting Scottish Song.

Horses aren’t like dogs, who’ll come running (eventually, anyway) when you call their names, or cats, who will probably come see what’s in it for them if they hear the can opener whirring. No, it takes a little more finesse to get our equine friends to come in from the pasture.

And “it’s always the one you don’t expect”that usually works, said HorseBack UK CEO Jock Hutchison.

And it’s easy to see why this particular trick worked, because the music combined with the country scenery is a winning combination that will soothe even the most troubled soul.

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HorseBack UK, a Scottish organization that provides equine-assisted therapy to wounded or sick service members, posted a video on Facebook a couple weeks ago that’s since gone viral.

The lesson here is: When all else fails, haul out the bagpipes.

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In the clip, veteran Jocky Johnstone, who serves as a mentor to the charity, stands in a pasture dotted with dozens of grazing horses. But as soon as the first notes of “Scotland the Brave”drift out of his bagpipes, half a dozen horses to his left immediately stand at attention, deciding this mysterious music is far more interesting than the grass.

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Dozens of horses standing farther afield move in for a better listen as the notes drift out into the cloud-covered skies. They’re not exactly moving quickly, but then, “Scotland the Brave”is a solemn and majestic song, so maybe they’re just pacing themselves accordingly.

Meanwhile, a black and white steed, Polly, is especially intrigued — or maybe just a little hard of hearing? Either way, she stands directly in front of Jocky to get the full effect of the song, seemingly mesmerized. (Hard of hearing or not, doesn’t that hurt her ears?)

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And the other horses soon take their cue, moving in closer until they’re mere feet away.

Now if Jocky can just lead them to the barn, he’d truly earn the title “Pied Piper.â€

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Jock (pictured above) and the rest of the HorseBack UK team are pleased to see how much attention this video’s gotten over the last couple weeks, and they’re hoping it translates to more support for their mission.

The reason for the horses is because horsemanship is pure leadership… In learning how to take ownership and become a team with a horse you are beginning to reconnect with the positivity that is often stolen from people when they’ve been hurt badly.

Following a Christmas with friends, many of whom were ex military it was recognised that there was a definite need to help soldiers on return from active service or those who had already left and hence HorseBack the charity was formed.

This process proved to be quite a lengthy one with research and subsequently evidence required to substantiate equine therapy and the value of a rural and natural environment.

Word began to get out about the plans for HorseBack and several people living locally have volunteered their time to help with the day to day chores of working with a large amount of horses. These helpers range from an ex-marine who served in the Falklands and has been diagnosed with PTSD to a seventeen year old who joins the Blues and Royals in the new year.

Click on the video below to listen to this hauntingly enchanting melody that so mesmerized these mighty horses, and be sure to share to make someone else smile today!