Equine Training and behavior Class

Hearing & Basic Concepts

What unit is loudness/volume measured in?

Decibels (dB)

In class, what sound people could hear, in decibels, and what did it represent?

About 7 dB, representing very soft, quiet breathing (softer then normal breathing at 10-dB)

Frequency

The number of sound waves that repeat per second (measured in Hertz, Hz).

Pitch

The range of low to high frequencies (e.g. low bass to high soprano).

What is the approximate hearing range (in Hz) discussed in class/

About 50 Hz to 30,000+Hz

Which brain area processes sound?

The auditory cortex

According to the lecture, who tends to pay more attention to hearing-females or males?

Females

How far can horse hear (distance)/

Up to about 2,7 miles.

How far can horse smell (Distance)?

Up to about 2 miles.

Approximately how many ear muscles do horses have?

Around 60 muscles in their ears.

Name two environmental factors that can interfere with horse hearing/sound localization

Wind and Rain

Which sense is probably the strongest source of perception in horses?
Back: Smell.

Smell.

Why is smell so strong in horses compared to other senses?

They are nose breathers, constantly taking in scents, even when eyes or ears are less active.

About what percentage of taste comes from smell (in both horses and humans)?

About 80%.

List at least three things a horse can learn from another horse’s manure.

How long can horses remember a scent tied to a person or experience?

Up to decades – basically a lifetime.

Can horses detect contaminated water by smell?

Yes—they can smell things like algae, dead animals, sand, toxins, odd pH, temperature.

If horses can smell bad water, why must we still keep water very clean?

If it’s their only water source, they’ll often still drink it, but not enough, which can cause dehydration and colic/organ issues.

Why might a horse drink less in winter?

It’s cold, so water is less appealing; they may not feel as thirsty, but they still need water.

About how many taste buds do horses have?

Around 25,000 taste buds.

Why can refrigerating oral medications (like bute paste) help?

Cold temperature can reduce the harsh/bitter taste, making it easier for horses to accept.

Whiskers on the muzzle are part of which sensory system?

The tactile sensory system (touch/feel).

Give two functions of whiskers for horses.

• Help sort feed (e.g., leaves vs stems, meds in grain)

• Help feel and avoid obstacles when moving around (navigating stalls, walls, feed bunks, etc.).

Why is clipping whiskers controversial?

Because whiskers are an important sensory tool; clipping removes part of their ability to feel and navigate, and some believe it may cause discomfort.

What is the vomeronasal organ also called?

The Jacobson’s organ.

What does the vomeronasal organ primarily process?

Pheromones (and some odors) – a kind of secondary nose just for these chemicals.

What are pheromones?

Chemical signals that can change hormones and behavior (e.g., attraction, fear, mating, alarm).

What is the flehmen response?

When a horse curls its upper lip, inhales, and holds air in the nose to help send scents, especially pheromones, to the vomeronasal organ.

What is the flehmen response?

When a horse curls its upper lip, inhales, and holds air in the nose to help send scents, especially pheromones, to the vomeronasal organ.

Besides breeding, what else has flehmen been linked to in horses?

It can be a sign of pain (a pain-related response).

Give one example of sensory compensation in a horse.

• A horse in a dark indoor uses smell and tactile sense (whiskers/body) more while its eyes adjust.

• A blind or deaf horse relying more on smell and touch to navigate.

What is neural fatigue?

When neurons stop responding to constant, unchanging stimulation (they “numb out”).

How does neural fatigue show up in riding (gray zone)?

If a rider always holds the same rein or leg pressure, the horse stops reacting and needs more and more pressure to respond.

What is self-carriage in a riding horse?

The horse keeps the gait, rhythm, and frame on its own after being asked—without constant kicking or pulling.

What is categorical perception (in humans)?

The ability to group similar things into categories automatically (e.g., “all chairs are chairs,” even if they look different).

Do horses have strong categorical perception?

No. They do not naturally group things; each new version (jacket hanging vs jacket on ground) can feel like a new, different object.

How does lack of categorical perception explain spooking at small changes?

Because the horse’s brain doesn’t see it as “same thing, different place,” it sees a “new weird thing”, so it may spook.