| dc.description.abstract | Summary
The number ofhorse-related injuries are really high according to statistics, even
higher than in motorcycle activities. Accidents do not happen only when riding,
but are also related to handling. Researchers emphasize, that the incidence of
injuries could be lowered if horseman had a better awareness and understand ing of the learning theory of equids. In an attempt to serve this aim, in this
article the authors give a detailed update of the current knowledge of the five
basic senses (vision, audition, olfaction, touch, and taste), and its impact on new
theories of behaviour. It should be realised, that the horses’ senses are differ ent to those of man regarding perception and intensity of perceivable signals.
Sometimes a horse, who seems to misbehave just reacts naturally on a stimulus
it can perceive, whereas his handler cannot perceive this stimulus. In the sec ond part of the article the authors describe the learning hierarchy. This includes:
habituation/sensitization, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, chaining
responses, and concurrent discrimination. It is very important for horseman to
have a detailed knowledge of the notion and mechanism of the different types
of learning, as this helps them to use clearer signalling and timing when training
horses. According to some studies, horses might be able to learn by concept
too; however, this needs further scientific confirmation. If so in deed, this would
prove that horses are more intelligent than it has ever been thought. | en_US |
