Humans have been communicating with horses since we first domesticated them, around 5,500 years ago. But the conversation has been pretty one-way. We gave orders. They behaved as if they understood--or not.
Meanwhile horses have been watching us, reading our moods, and communicating in ways that we usually fail to understand. But science is finally catching on to that and taking a fresh look at the horse-end of this long relationship.
I See What You're Saying
Horses are highly visual animals. In groups, they establish a pecking order1, mainly by making threats. The longer the horses have known each other, the more subtle the threats become, until just a squinty-eyed look from a boss can get a lower-ranked animal to move away. So it makes sense that facial expressions would be important to them, but horse facial expressions went unstudied until very recently.
Research at the University of Sussex in England has identified 17 different facial expressions in horses. That's more than dogs or chimpanzees. Some horse expressions are similar to those of humans---for instance, both horses and humans raise the skin above their eyes when experiencing negative emotions.
Next, the Sussex researchers wondered whether horses recognize human facial expressions. They showed horses photos of people with angry or happy faces. Horses turned their heads to view the angry expressions with their left eyes. Dogs also tend to look at angry faces this way. The horses' heartbeats sped up while viewing angry faces. Smiling expressions didn't prompt either a head turn or a change in heart rate. Scientists were interested to learn that, though horses and people have very differently shaped faces and skulls, horses appeared to accurately read human emotions.
Horse people have always known that horses are good at reading our moods, but we've attributed that to some kind of sixth sense. Turns out they're using vision, one of the same five senses we do---sort of. Horses see very differently than we do. Their large eyes magnify objects so they seem up to 50 percent larger than they do to us. (To them, a bike might appear as big as a pony!) They're also highly attuned to motion. A little twitch of a frown on a human face may seem like a great big scary scowl to horses. They interpret it as a threat.
Can You Get Me That?
So we know horses communicate with each other through expressions and that they understand some human expressions. Could they ever communicate with us using these skills? Another new study indicates they can.
Researchers based at the School for Ethical Equitation in Italy created an experiment in which they placed a bucket of oats, carrots, or apples beyond the reach of a horse. A human stood passively nearby. Researchers observed horses looking at the bucket, then at the human, then back at the bucket. If the human did nothing in response, the horse would try other tricks to attract the human's gaze---nod its head, jerk its nose quickly toward the bucket, or change position so it could make eye contact. If the human walked away, some horses would go over and touch the person.
Up until now, scientists had only formally observed this type of purposeful interspecies communication in dogs. Which makes you wonder, as the title of Frans de Waal's bestselling book asks, Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? Horses might have an opinion about that!
Flashcards for Horses
Horses can use more than body language to tell us things. A 2016 Norwegian study showed that horses can use abstract symbols to communicate. Basically, they can read.
Putting blankets on horses in winter is common, but controversial. Opinions differ on whether they actually need or prefer it. So the Norwegian scientists decided to ask.
Horses were trained to distinguish among simple shapes presented on boards. A vertical bar meant "Take my blanket off." A horizontal bar meant "Put my blanket on." And a blank board meant "No change." The horses were systematically trained, using positive reinforcement (treats), to touch the appropriate board. All 23 horses in the study learned the symbols within 14 days, in sessions lasting 10 or 15 minutes.
Next, the horses were given a challenge---a heavy blanket on a warm day or no blanket on a cold day. When presented with the three symbols, all horses chose appropriately, asking to have a blanket taken off on a warm day, or put on when it was cold and rainy. On another rainy, moderately cool day, 10 out of 12 horses asked for a blanket. Two signaled, "I'm good!"
It's About Time!
Horses have been watching us more closely than we imagined, for thousands of years. They've been trying to tell us stuff, which we've mostly ignored. Now, finally, we're starting to create ways for them to speak in more detail, ways that we're capable of hearing. What else might they have to say?
Probably "What took you guys so long?"
Read the excerpt from "Say What, Horse?" (below). Based on the information in the article, write a response to the following:
Explain what new research reveals about horses' ability to communicate.
Write a well-organized informational composition that uses specific evidence from the article to support your answer.
New research reveals that horses have a remarkable ability to communicate with humans through facial expressions, body language, and even abstract symbols. For example, studies at the University of Sussex have identified 17 different facial expressions in horses, which is more than dogs or chimpanzees. Horses can accurately read human emotions, such as anger or happiness, by turning their heads to view angry expressions with their left eyes and showing a change in heart rate. This ability shows that horses have a strong visual communication system similar to humans.
Furthermore, a study conducted in Italy found that horses can use purposeful interspecies communication to convey their needs or desires. In this study, horses were able to communicate with a human by looking at a bucket of food, then at the human, and back at the bucket until the human responded. They would also use various body movements to attract the human's attention, such as nodding their heads or making eye contact. This kind of communication demonstrates that horses are not only aware of their surroundings but also actively trying to convey their intentions to humans.
Additionally, a Norwegian study showed that horses can learn to use abstract symbols to communicate their preferences. Horses were trained to distinguish between different shapes on boards, with each shape representing a different action regarding their blankets. The horses quickly learned to touch the appropriate board to signal if they wanted their blanket on, off, or no change. When given the choice, all the horses in the study were able to communicate their blanket preferences accurately, demonstrating a higher level of cognitive ability than previously thought.
In conclusion, new research reveals that horses are highly skilled communicators who can understand and respond to human emotions, use body language to convey their needs, and even learn abstract symbols to communicate their preferences. This newfound understanding of horses' communication abilities highlights the depth of their intelligence and emotional awareness, leading to a greater appreciation for the bond between humans and horses.
revise and edit it and Remember to ---
clearly state your thesis
organize your writing
develop your ideas in detail
use evidence from the selection in your response
use correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar
Manage your time carefully so that you can ---
review the selection
plan your response
write your response
revise and edit your response
Thesis: New research reveals that horses possess advanced communication skills, including the ability to understand human emotions, convey their needs through body language, and communicate preferences using abstract symbols.
Horses have a strong visual communication system, as evidenced by a study at the University of Sussex that identified 17 distinct facial expressions in horses. This surpasses the number found in dogs or chimpanzees. Horses can accurately interpret human emotions, such as anger and happiness, by turning their heads to view angry expressions with their left eyes, while displaying changes in heart rate in response. This suggests that horses have a sophisticated way of reading and responding to human emotional cues.
Moreover, a study in Italy demonstrated horses' proficiency in interspecies communication. Horses were observed using various body movements, such as nodding their heads and making eye contact, to signal their needs to nearby humans. This behavior indicates that horses not only recognize human presence but also actively try to communicate their intentions, showcasing their attentive and communicative abilities.
In addition, a Norwegian study revealed that horses can learn to use abstract symbols to convey their preferences. Horses were trained to touch different shapes on boards to indicate if they wanted their blanket on, off, or no change. The horses quickly grasped this concept and accurately signaled their blanket preferences when given the choice. This study illuminates the cognitive sophistication of horses and their capacity to communicate complex ideas through symbolic language.
The collective findings suggest that horses possess a level of intelligence and emotional awareness previously underestimated by humans. Their ability to understand, respond to, and communicate with humans through various means not only enhances our understanding of their cognitive capabilities but also deepens our appreciation for the intricate bond shared between humans and horses.