Horses learn from their mistakes, plan and see the future

Horses have always been admired for their elegance, speed, and connection to humans. However, a recent study by Nottingham Trent University has revealed that their intelligence is much more advanced than previously thought. It was found that horses learn from their mistakes, plan strategies, and can anticipate the future for better results.

This finding challenges traditional beliefs about equine cognition. This opens new possibilities for the training and welfare of these animals.

A study that changes the perception of equine intelligence

Researchers at Nottingham Trent University developed an experiment to analyze how horses learn.

They designed a game in which the equines had to touch a card with their nose to receive a prize.

Initially, horses touched the card without distinction, simply because they earned rewards frequently. However, the test became more complex when a light was introduced:

• If the light was on, touching the card did not award a prize.
• If the light was off, they did receive a reward.

At first, the horses made mistakes constantly.

But when a 10-second no-play penalty was introduced, if they were wrong, their behavior changed dramatically. Immediately, they began to touch the card at the right time, showing that they understood the rules of the game.

Horses can learn from their mistakes

The study revealed that the horses not only understood the game, but had been playing with minimal mental effort. They touched the card without discriminating because there were no consequences for making a mistake.

However, when a penalty was imposed on them, they corrected their behavior immediately.

This discovery suggests that horses learn from their mistakes and adjust their strategy according to the consequences.

What was once believed to be repetition-based learning is now understood as a more advanced form of cognitive processing.

Horses can plan and anticipate the future – Horses learn

One of the most surprising aspects of the study is that horses demonstrated an ability to think ahead.

Their change in strategy when facing a penalty shows that they could anticipate the consequences of their actions and act accordingly.

This implies that penalties (not punishments) can be more effective incentives in training horses.

Positive reinforcement requires to be accompanied by clear penalties for the horses that allow them to understand the desired direction.

The researchers explain that this type of learning, called “model-based learning,” was considered too complex for horses.

However, the results of the study show that these animals can analyze their environment, make strategic decisions, and adapt to new rules quickly.

 

How does this finding influence horse training?

The discovery that horses learn more advanced has important implications for their training and welfare. Some keys that can be extracted from this study are:

1. Avoid unnecessary punishments: As horses understand the consequences, it is more effective to use positive reinforcement strategies and light penalties rather than harsh punishments.
2. Design more strategic training: We now know that horses can process information and change their behavior quickly if the rules are clear.
3. Recognize equine intelligence: This finding reinforces the idea that horses not only follow orders mechanically but can also make intelligent and strategic decisions.

 

Horses and their amazing brain capacity

The study also raises a fascinating question about the brain of horses. Unlike humans, horses have an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex, which is the part of the brain associated with decision-making and strategic thinking.

This means that horses are using another area of the brain to process information and make decisions.

This finding challenges the way scientists have interpreted intelligence in animals and suggests that there is still much to discover about equine cognition.

Implications of “non-prefrontal thinking” in other areas of knowledge

The discovery of how horses learn is very interesting, and it has implications in many areas. Beyond the field of horses and their training, these results could point to new lines of scientific research.

For example, this may indicate that other animals with an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex might “think” with other areas of the brain.  Its implications in the study of veterinary anatomy and neurology are significant.

Even in human medicine we could have great proposals. For example, people with lesions in the prefrontal cortex might have alternatives to replace damaged functions.

It can also help us understand how “soft penalties” can be accompanied by incentives to improve teaching and training strategies.

This questions our neurological models of thinking, which can open new lines of research in many areas.

Horses learn more and better than we thought

The study by Nottingham Trent University shows that horses learn in a more sophisticated way than previously believed. They are able to recognize patterns, avoid mistakes, plan and anticipate the future.

Not only does this discovery change the way we understand equine intelligence, but it may also revolutionize training methods and the well-being of horses. Instead of seeing them as animals that simply respond to stimuli, we can now recognize them as beings with a remarkable capacity for learning and adaptation.

This finding is a reminder that there is still much to learn about our equine companions and that their intelligence goes far beyond what we imagined.