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How horses (Equus caballus) see the world: humans as significant "objects"
Carole Fureix1, Patrick Jego, Carol Sankey
1Laboratoire Ethologie Animale et Humaine, UMR CNRS 6552, Campus de Beaulieu bâtiment 25, 263 avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042, Rennes Cedex, France. carole.fureix@univ-rennes1.fr
Animal Cognition
|April 22, 2009
Summary
Horses demonstrate memory of human interactions, influencing their behavior towards people. Aggressive reactions were more reliable indicators of the horse-human relationship than positive ones.
Area of Science:
- Animal Behavior
- Equine Cognition
- Human-Animal Interactions
Background:
- Understanding equine cognition is crucial for animal welfare.
- Previous research suggests animals can form associations with humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if horses possess memory of human interactions.
- To determine if this memory influences subsequent reactions to humans.
Main Methods:
- Behavioral tests with 59 adult horses using unknown experimenters.
- Evaluated reactions to work-related and unfamiliar tasks.
- Observed routine interactions with familiar handlers.
- Recorded investigative (positive) and aggressive (negative) behaviors.
Main Results:
- Horses showed a generalized perception of humans as positive or negative.
- Unusual tasks elicited more positive reactions than routine ones.
- Aggressive reactions were more reliable indicators of the relationship than positive ones.
- Horses' perception of humans was influenced by past experiences.
Conclusions:
- Horses form memories of humans based on repeated interactions.
- These memories impact their subsequent behavior towards people.
- Equine memory plays a significant role in human-animal relationships.
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