Equine Learning

Essay by WillLauUniversity, Bachelor's April 2004

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Learning and the Horse

Learning may be defined as changes in an animal's internal behavioural organisation that depend on reinforcing properties of experience of its environment. ( Domjan et al cited in Murphy 2003).

Throughout its life, a horse's innate abilities and instinctive responses are shaped, refined and extended by learning. Experiences are perceived by the horse through their five senses (sight, hearing, olfaction, taste, touch) which results in the formation of memories and lasting changes in behaviour. Horses naturally learn best those things which are biologically relevant to them: what is dangerous and what is not, the smell and texture of good food, where to find water and shelter, who's who in the herd, sureness of foot, how to mate, or fight, or scratch those itchy spots. However, we also expect them to learn specific athletic skills, 'good manners', and how to live within the unnatural constraints we impose upon them (Burton, 1999).

Horses use the same senses as us humans to perceive the world around them, but differ in their mode of use and capabilities. It is therefore essential for a trainer to have some comprehension of the horse's unique perceptivity in his/her quest to teach the horse.

The Senses

Sight

It is apparent to any observer of the horse that they rely on vision to a great degree during their activities. The horse possesses the largest eye of any land mammal and a third of all sensory input to the horse's brain comes from the eye (Burton 1999). Little is know of the equine visual system and capacity particularly when the horse is in motion in comparison to other species ( Saslow 1998).

The equine eye is placed relatively far back on the skull in a lateral position (Hughes 1977). The horse has the ability to visualise...