The Beautiful Equine Mind
Hearing so many amazing stories about intelligent horses who are figuring things out for themselves, getting doors and gates open, finding creative solutions to problems, Konstanze Krueger and I decided it was time to write about it. We’re currently preparing a book that combines science with real-life stories of clever equids.
Do you have a clever equid? Write to me and tell me all about him or her. I’m looking for great stories to include in The Beautiful Equine Mind.
Want to know more about The Beautiful Equine Mind? Have a look at the Preface below!
The Beautiful Equine Mind
Preface
A couple of years ago I got a call from a veterinarian in Switzerland about a very clever horse and mule duo. Their owner was getting fed up with the mysterious daily appearance of long wooden sticks cluttering her clean stable floor. Every day, she’d clean up the sticks, and every morning, without fail, she’d find new ones. As if that wasn’t frustrating enough, she then realized that her hay bales were getting attacked and consumed. The horse and mule couldn’t possibly be the culprits—or so she thought. There was a wooden divider separating them from the hay bales, keeping their food stash, in theory, out of reach.
These curious equids didn’t care about theory, though. And for them, “reach” was just a challenge to be met.
Meet Jacky and Barton*. Equine tool masters. Smart equine tool masters.
In fact, what was happening—every single night—was that Jacky used wooden sticks to poke at the hay that was “out of reach,” and then to pull the hay under the divider and into his shared stall with Barton. And if that doesn’t impress you (like it did me), consider this: Jacky was planning his crime, collecting sticks in the paddock that he’d bring into the barn, to use as hay-fetching tools.
As for Barton, he never used the sticks. Did that make him the less intelligent one? Considering that he stood there every day watching Jacky do all the work for them both, probably not! But when Jacky had to be hospitalized for a few days, Barton found himself without his midnight snack-theft partner. That’s when he took over—going out to the paddock to pick out sticks, and bringing them inside and using them to get the hay for himself.
Here we have a case of equids showing not just one, but a series of complex cognitive capabilities. We see problem-solving, tool wielding, advance planning and strategizing, social learning, and possibly even advanced reasoning—selecting the “right” sticks for the job, and rationalizing that there’s no point in doing the work if someone else is already doing it. And what’s more, the case of Jacky and Barton isn’t even all that unique. Again and again, owners tell stories of horses that figure out how to open doors, gates, and even electric fences, sometimes having to go through several steps. They use sticks to scratch their backs. They pass food to each other through dividers. They shake trees to make apples fall to the ground. And they have a whole communication system among each other that we still don’t fully understand.
Yet every time we humans hear about stories like this, we’re surprised. We laugh; we share the videos on social media; we anthropomorphize and invent what human-like thoughts must be going through the mind of that horse or donkey. And then often we dismiss it as being a sort of one-off incident that doesn’t necessarily reflect the general level of intelligence of the equid species.
But why?
At the turn of the century, a famous Orlov stallion in Germany, Clever Hans, made international headlines for his inexplicable levels of intelligence. To the huge crowds of awed spectators gathered around him, he seemed perfectly able to not only count and spell, but also carry out advanced levels of mathematics by tapping out his answers with his hoof against the ground. Clever Hans created a stir in the scientific community during a period in which science was dubious of the intellectual capacities of animals in general—not just horses. Eventually a German psychologist, Oskar Pfungst, discovered that Clever Hans was responding to extremely subtle cues from his owner—so subtle that even the owner himself probably was not aware of them. And so it was decided: no, horses aren’t intelligent after all.
Is it this conclusion that’s somehow hardened our minds and eyes to including horses in the developing scientific notion that animals are intelligent? People are now fascinated by studies with crows, with their tiny brains capable of complex reasoning. We see research on cognitive skills of elephants and dolphins and of course primates, and we accept these animals to be intelligent. With the equine species, though, we’re just not there yet. The scientific community—as well as much of the general public—continues to view the horse as a rather unintelligent animal, capable of responding to conditioned cues but otherwise not really of thinking for himself or performing any real reasoning.
The equine science community in particular seems resistant to accepting that horses might have higher levels of intellectual capacity than what Oskar Pfungst found. But perhaps this is simply because we’re not looking at their intelligence in the right way. Perhaps horses can’t do complex mathematics, but they compensate with other highly advanced mental skills that humans lack. After all, could you answer difficult questions simply by detecting a slight change in heart beat or eyebrow tension from a person standing 10 meters away? That’s a whole level of cognition that essentially surpasses the entire human species.
Furthermore, horses are a prey species with strong social bonds and a significant need for movement and near-constant food intake. Their natural coping methods faced with threats or deprivation of their needs could seriously affect their expressions of intelligence. Some might withdraw mentally and emotionally; others might be overcome by their fight or flight instinct; others might be too afflicted by stress and health issues to be able to have proper mental function. And there’s an entire added level of complexity in dealing with their social connections with one another, as their respect for hierarchy is primordial. The way humans have historically managed, housed, and trained horses probably has a direct consequence on their cognitive capacities. If, in addition to that, science is testing these horses’ intelligence levels in tests better designed for other species, or without taking social hierarchy into consideration, it’s likely that the results will end up significantly skewed.
In this book, we’ll be taking a step away from preconceived notions about equine intelligence and looking hard at the evidence before us. All around us, across the globe, horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules are giving us signs that they can think for themselves, that they can find solutions to problems, and that they are, in fact, intelligent. We owe it to them to give them the chance to express that intelligence. And we want them to do it in a way that leads us to a better understanding of these magnificent creatures who share our world and our lives. If we can tap into their brains, so to speak, by observing them with an unbiased scientific eye, we can start to unravel part of the mystery that is the beautiful equine mind.
*Names changed to respect the owner’s privacy
The Beautiful Equine Mind explores the science and the real-life stories of brilliant equids. Written by an internationally recognized team of equine science experts, this book validates what so many owners already believe, despite being told otherwise—that yes, horses are intelligent creatures. Growing out of the research in the field and the anecdotes about the amazing feats that equids across the globe accomplish, The Beautiful Equine Mind revolutionizes our understanding of equine cognition.
November 11, 2021 at 12:18 am
My beautiful paint quarter horse, now 19yrs, had taught me to ‘hear’ him. I previously owned a thoroughbred. He was very respectful of my presence. He gave me the confidence to buy a young horse. I learnt to file their feet to save money to have a horse. I didn’t own horses until I was 38. I’ve loved them all my life. I grew up in an English City and tried to be near horses when I could, which wasn’t often.
I trained my new young boy Colby myself, going to a few horsey clinics once on. I ride anywhere I could as sometimes a float or car were not available. I’d stop for a toilet break in the forest, and Colby would take the time to have one also. I helped a few friends and I’d ask another horse to move over and Colby would take note and when needed next time, he would move the horse over. Externally he seems very calm but he is an internally stressed horse. We need to learn know our horse as we learn about our friends or children or other animals.
One day Colby wasn’t well, I didn’t know at the time. He came next to me at his hay and urinated, something he would never do. I moved him on saying”why would you do that, you don’t wee in the hay”. He moved away then returned closer for me to see, urinated what little he had left, just a trickle, for me to notice there was a slight colouring in the fluid. Telling me there was something going on inside that I needed to be aware of. Turned out he had picked up parasites from a new horse that was not externally noticeable at this time.
The new horse, as it’s turned out had encysted worms and had been cleared by fecal counts just prior and they were getting re-infected. (Without going into the rules of paddock owners and manure). Bless my boy.
Colby started my ‘hands on’ touch let me say not long after I purchased him at 17months. When I’d place my hands on him he would move his body around. I took it that he felt some thing. I would remain in one spot and he would literally turn around, back up and place himself under my hands.
When the new Cremello quarter horse filly arrived Colby took over most of the teaching. He’s an extremely kind horse but teaches how to respect. Which comes from showing respect. Something humans need. One day I had my hands on him, by now I’ve expanded my knowledge of healing, helping energy flow etc as best I can. I was at his rear. My car behind me, yes in the 6 acre paddock. He pushed gently back, silly me just thought he needed a different position or stronger connection. I was now leaning against my car. I looked around and asked what it was he was trying to do. Then to my right was Cotton, the new girl. (She came with lice and worms and terrible feet, I’m still working on her general health and I’ll know when her internals are right when her feet show me. I am her farrier, self taught, but by Colby too). So, I had recently heard about ‘amplified field’ in energy. Needing only two horses and oneself to achieve this. The ‘penny dropped’, I finally realised what Colby was doing. He was encouraging me to get closer to Cotton, who was to my right. As I touched Cotton on the behind, Colby then positioned himself parallel to her, my other hand still on his behind, and they both remained there.
Colby licked his lips chewing telling me, “yeah mum you got it!” Finally. I laughed and thanked him. Both closing their eyes resting limbs, enjoying whatever it was that they needed.
Their intelligence could be higher then ours in many areas. We just can’t see it. Maybe that’s why people don’t see it.
I’m not a competitive person, but we did partake in many things for the enjoyment. Once doing a short endurance ride, as riders came from behind, Colby slowed down and ‘gave way’, not something you need for a race but that’s ok. When the riders passed he asked if we could go now by just pausing a moment and I would say ok and off we’d go.
On any ride in a group he would recognise a less confident horse and rider next to that one. Other less confident riders with high energy or riding non confident horses, would always say their horse was calmer next to Colby.
It’s about allowing the horse a voice, because they have one. They talk to each other in their own way. I believe their intelligence is high and they then ‘switch off’ or ‘shut down’ from those humans or environments that are uncomfortable, to help their existence.
I have had comments by many people, professional and otherwise, that Colby is human, because of what they’ve seen. Or the connection we have. People need to just allow their horse a voice and observe their horse.
Colby has blue eyes, he’s not an albino but paint.
At 17 he got a lump on his eye. Australia, blue eyes, pink skin, I think he’s doing rather well. I leave him dirty or dusty as the best protection. Anyhow, we needed surgery to remove the lump. Colby has been very willing when it came to having the camera in his face. The vet was surprised. Again Colby trusted me that we needed to do this. But then they gave a sedative, proceeded to walk him into the ‘padded cell’. Thankfully I was able to go in with him. They, being three people, proceeded to try and push him against one passed area. I asked if they wanted him to go sideways, they replied yes. I said, then ask him and touch his bum. The very looked at me, and did so but he was not convinced. I asked if I could help. Thankfully the vet was kind enough to say yes. I walked over to my note heavily sedated boy and just tapped his bum and did ‘over boy’, to which he side-passed to where they wanted him. They then pushed his head up, closed another padded wall toward him to allow for him to fall on the side they needed to get to the eye! I was devastated. What a scary ordeal. No-one talking to him, telling him what’s going on. Surgery began and Colby’s breathing changed. The 2nd vet looked worried. I, still being in the room on the floor behind Colby, asked if I could touch him. No 1 vet said yes. I placed my hand on his back and said it’s ok. Colby took a deep breath and everything settled down.
I had to leave with everyone else to wait for Colby to wake up. Another scarey time for the horse. Alone in a red box! I remained outside. Talking to contact the whole time through the cracks in the door. They said it would be a while. I knew it wouldn’t. Colby got up with little stagger. I said it’s ok. Lay down, I’m here. He lay back down getting up a few minutes later. We got the ok to go back to the stall. The vets and nurses came in. The vet told the story of ‘moving him over’. He says it didn’t work for him. I said that’s because you didn’t believe it. (Colby was then not confident because of the vets mistrust). The vet replied “No, but I do now”. He also said it could have probably been done under a local, which we knew. I hope it has helped other horses that pass their way in the future.
The horse can feel and understand feelings, emotions, sense their surroundings. See more body language than us. Smell and hear and act upon all those things. How is it that humans don’t acknowledge the horse of its intelligence? My description to any non horsey person in how to see a horse, is to think of them as a puppy and a baby at the same time. Yes they are a big strong beings, but they have the sweetness, innocence, need, love, respect, kindness and more as any being. They evaluate, listen, learn and think for themselves if given the chance.
Whilst trying to get closer to a new horse in an 80acre paddock, my horse would run away. Then run back to the herd. Some of which were mine. As the horse ran to the herd to try and either be with them, which wasn’t an option, or to take a ‘friend’ away, I say to my horses, stay where you are please. They would stay. I’d say thank you. I didn’t know that they would stay. If they weren’t the lead horse it would mean disrespect. I hoped they would remain where they were. My boss horse didn’t only stay but sent the disrespectful horse away from the group. He did eventually stand for me to halter. Again, with respect for him stopping and waiting for me to walk over, I put the halter on, did a few turns and took it off . Respect both ways. This didn’t happen in five minutes I might add. We need to ask, trust while keeping safe. Give the horse a chance to listen and act. They are intelligent to know and remember that maybe last time they got hit, or disciplined in some way. He wasn’t being a bad horse, he was new horse and didn’t know what to do. Intelligence says safety in numbers…. He was clever. He knew if he ran out and I followed, that his angle back to the herd was closer then mine… ∆
This may not be what you’re looking for, but you may be able to pick something out of it to help.
Colby and Cotton are still with me. Cotton is improving in health. She is coming up for 3 years Colby looks after her, when I’m trying to do her feet, which was quite an event at the beginning, Colby would come and stand nearby, obviously telling her to behave, it’s ok mums trying to help and she would be still. I look around and notice, even though at a distance, that Colby is influencing her.
Allow the horses to talk to each other.
Regards
Sandra.
September 5, 2022 at 9:49 am
Thanks so much for your beautiful stories, Sandra! Really fascinating.
June 30, 2023 at 3:59 pm
I purchased a gorgeous wee cob mare in Summer 2019 who was quite skinny and an anxious one. She was incredibly aloof, disliked fuss and fearful. Forward into early 2020 and she was slowly gaining weight well (also much more agreeable to my companionship) to a point where I was I now thinking she’s maybe carrying a foal too?! Vet visit and confirmation positive and oh my days! I always visited exactly at 9.45pm for a late night check and overnight hay. We had a vet guesstimate to when the foal was likely, but other than that every day monitoring. Well into lockdown by this time and she promptly went into foal at that exact time of the 9.45pm visit! I’ve thought about this so many times, in that she’d want to have me there. I’d never had foal experience so I read up beforehand and went with her. Her colt (now gelding) was born that May and has not left her side since. Her nature has blossomed and he has become a carbon copy of her, both now extremely interactive, vocal, super friendly and the best thing out of lockdown. Thanks for listening 🙂
November 5, 2023 at 8:43 pm
Hi Laura! I love this story! What a welcome surprise, and the best part is that nobody interfered with the natural weaning process. How are they doing now? My mare and her “baby” (who is now 13!) are still together. While it’s beautiful, I also see certain issues with keeping them together, and I’ve been discussing this with researchers. I’ll be publishing a blog about my thoughts on that very soon. In the meantime, I’d love to know how it’s going with your mare and her big “baby” boy!