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HORSES DISCOVERED TO BE MORE STRATEGIC AND INTELLIGENT THAN WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT

Published: 2025-01-05 10:57:18 Last Updated: 2025-01-06 10:51:19

Horses are magnificent creatures that are kind and affectionate but strong. For the past 5,000 years, they have been a dependable companion to humanity, facilitating travel and the development of civilisation. Although equine enthusiasts have always believed that horses are intelligent, scientists have not given the species a strong reputation for its capacity for future planning. However according to a recent study in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, horses are strategic animals that can make plans in advance to pursue rewards.
The team employed a three-step procedure to assess a horse's intelligence. Twenty horses were trained in the first stage to anticipate a treat when they used their noses to tap a card. They discovered this connection, of course. The following step was the same: the horses were only given treats when the "stop" light was on; they were not given treats if they tapped the card when it was off. The horses continued to tap the card for treats regardless of the light, according to the researchers, who observed that they did not alter their behaviour.
However, the horse's behaviour was instantly altered when a "punishment" element was added if they tapped the card while the light was off. Just a 10-second break from the game without the chance of treats was the "punishment," which wasn't very severe.

The horses' remarkable adjustment to the new game led to a notable decrease in card-tapping errors. Since there was no real incentive to stop tapping excessively, the creatures appeared to have no interest in learning the prior rules, as evidenced by their ability to deftly modify their behaviour to accomplish their objective.

"Our study demonstrates that horses do have an awareness of the consequences and outcomes of their actions," researcher Louise Evans told The Guardian, refuting earlier research that claimed horses only react to stimuli in the moment and don't proactively look ahead, think ahead, or plan their actions. These astute horses exhibit a remarkable capacity for goal-setting and planning.

We can engage with the species more effectively and humanely if we know this about them. "In general, animals' welfare does improve when we begin to think that they may have better cognitive abilities than previously thought," Evans concluded. Additionally, we have demonstrated that aversive training methods and other harsh techniques are not necessary to achieve excellent performance from horses. It might even make people respect them more.

Article Tags: Viral Scientists Intelligent Horses