Horse Brain, Human Brain: The Neuroscience of Horsemanship

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Testing is needed to differentiate eNAD/EDM from CVCM. Ataxia, a wide-base stance, and uncoordinated movement are signs of various neurological issues. Some, such as EPM and trauma, can be determined based on clinical tests. It is not possible to definitively differentiate eNAD/EDM from CVCM based on clinical signs. The only way to conclusively diagnose eNAD/EDM is by examination of the brainstem and spinal cord after euthanasia. UC Davis researchers are working to develop biomarker and genetic tests that would improve eNAD/EDM diagnosis. This concept has nothing to do with the two ‘hemispheres’, the left part of the brain and the right part of the brain. Margaret Zancanella, a pleasure rider and seminar attendee, shares her new understanding of this concept. Mark Rashid showing off a horse’s brain, which weighs around 2.5 pounds. This dispels the myth that the horse’s brain is the size of a walnut. Photo by Crissi McDonald

Horses with sensory disabilities like blindness or deafness usually perform well, especially if they have learned their disciplines prior to losing the use of an eye or ear. Eye ulcers require an infected eye to be removed after gradual deterioration of sight. That’s what happened to Addy and Patch.

Human-centric perceptions can interfere with your horse training because the two mammals don't behave alike. Concepts such as right-brained, which is the dominant use of the survival side of the brain and left-brained- the use of the emotional side of the brain, will help you understand equine behavior. In the centre the brain’s core is ‘hollow’, containing a system of cavities, called ventricles, and ducts filled with cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF). The effects of sensory deprivation are cumulative. When horses cannot see out of an indoor arena, they rely more on hearing. If they are close to age 20, chances are good that their hearing is impaired. The combination of visual limitation and hearing impairment forces the equine brain to attend even more astutely to smell. And so on. Peters agrees, adding that horses simply cannot have abstract thoughts like respect and disrespect or take action based on intentional outcomes of winning or beating the system. “Instead, I believe that actions we label as misbehavior actually stem from the question they ask us all the time: ‘Am I safe?’” he says. Am I Safe? Finally, the cerebral hemisphere is spread out over the mid brain, so you need to kind of "roll it up" if you want to compare it to a spherical object like a walnut. In looking at the photo, try to mentally wrap the right one-third of the cerebral hemisphere into the space in the middle, and you'll see how it comes closer to the size of the walnut I'm holding.

Whether the size of a brain makes a difference to the intelligence of a creature is not entirely clear. Some scientists think that the level of intelligence increases if the size of the brain in proportion to the body increases, but others disagree. Did you know a horse's brain weighs about 1.5 pounds? That's like carrying around a small bag of flour in your head, except it can't be used for baking! And while it's only about half the weight of a human brain, it's still a heavyweight in the animal kingdom. The Equine Behavioral Health Resource Center (EBHRC) states that the brain of a horse is similar to that of a human child, or the size of a grapefruit. Fig 9. Transverse magnetic resonance image of the equine brain on the level of the caudal commissure. As well as being divided down the middle by the corpus callosum, the horse’s brain is also split into several different sections. Each section is responsible for different functions and is split into smaller subsections.Note: The images in this article were generated by AI and are for illustrative purposes only. Asked by You: Your Equine Brain Curiosities Answered!

Gut Sounds: You should hear long and short rumbles and some gurgles. If you do not hear any sounds, this is not good and could be a sign of colic. So there you have it, folks – a whirlwind tour of the horse brain. From their cognitive prowess to their emotional intelligence, horses are far more than just pasture ornaments. They're thinking, feeling beings with brains that are as intricate and fascinating as their gallops are majestic.

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Fig 11. Transverse magnetic resonance image of the equine brain on the level of the caudal colliculi. Aging a horse by looking at his teeth is very accurate up to the age of eight and after that it is only the approximate age. The adult horse has 40 teeth, which consists of 24 molars, twelve incisors and a male horse has four tusks. Sometimes the horse may also have four wolf teeth. Under domestication the horse has diversified into three major types, based on size and build: draft horses, heavy-limbed and up to 20 hands (200 cm, or 80 inches) high; ponies, by convention horses under 14.2 hands (about 147 cm, or 58 inches) high; and light horses—the saddle or riding horses—which fall in the intermediate size range. Domestic horses tend to be nearsighted, less hardy than their ancestors, and often high-strung, especially Thoroughbreds, where intensive breeding has been focused upon speed to the exclusion of other qualities. The stomach is relatively small, and, since much vegetation must be ingested to maintain vital processes, foraging is almost constant under natural conditions. Domestic animals are fed several (at least three) times a day in quantities governed by the exertion of the horse. Senses Some scientists believe the small ripples on the end of the splints are the vestigial first and fifth toes. Others think they are completely gone. During Straightness Training we keep him out of his survival state, out of his reptilian brain, and out of his right brain.

The cerebellum (hind brain) of the equine brain is larger than that of a human because it is designed to adapt to predatory environment. It has to learn to survive immediately after birth, and that means being able to coordinate its legs and react to the surroundings. The stallion’s job is to be the herd’s guardian and protector, while maintaining reproductive viability. The stallion’s harem usually consists of 2 to 21 horses, with up to 8 of those being mares and the rest their offspring. When the colts are old enough to be on their own they will form a bachelor herd. The fillies will either remain in their natural herd or more commonly disperse into other herds or form a new herd with a bachelor stallion. As soon as a stallion becomes too old to maintain his status as herd owner he is replaced by a younger stallion from a bachelor herd. The average time for a stallion to remain leader is about 2 years, but some can last more than 10 years.

When the animal is experiencing these responses, it can't use the brain to learn anything else. It is why you should get an animal in the right state of mind before you teach it anything.