- The animals beat expectations in a complex reward-based game
A new study shows horses may be capable of thinking and planning.
A new study shows horses may be capable of thinking and planning.
Difficulty: Summiteer (Level 3)
Scientists have said that horses are much more intelligent than previously thought. A study has shown that the animals performed better than expected in a complex reward-based game.
Researchers found that when denied treats for not following the game’s rules, the horses could switch strategies to get more rewards.
It shows the animals can think and plan – something previously considered to be beyond their capacity, according to scientists from Nottingham Trent University (NTU).
The team emphasised that understanding how horses learn and adapt can enhance their training and welfare.
The researchers said the findings, published in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science, suggested that horses can form an internal model of the world around them to make decisions and predictions. This technique is known as model-based learning.