Az észlelés sajátságai lovakban, és a tanulási rangsorban betöltött helyük Irodalmi összefoglaló

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.