Generalisation Abilities of Learned Tasks in Horses (Equus Caballus) are Influenced by the Experimental Context Volume 5 - Issue 3

Tiago Mendonça¹, Alessandro Cozzi¹, Eva Teruel¹, Manuel Mengoli², Philippe Monneret¹ and Patrick Pageat¹*

• ¹Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), Quartier Salignan, 84400 Apt, France
• ²Manuel Mengoli, 260 route des Trécassats, 5 lotissement les Clos, 84400 Apt, France

Received:July 19, 2021   Published:July 27, 2021

Corresponding author:Patrick Pageat, Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), Quartier Salignan, 84400 Apt, France

DOI: 10.32474/SJPBS.2021.05.000214

Abstract PDF

To view the Full Article   Peer-reviewed Article PDF

Abstract

The generalisation of responses to different stimuli depends on the ability to create associations between stimuli. Stimulus generalisation can be performed for different stimuli or for different contexts in which the same stimulus is perceived. This study investigated the stimulus-generalisation abilities of horses in different contexts. Sixteen horses were involved in this study. During the learning activity (LA), horses were given the chance to choose between two geometrical figures (a triangle and a circle) to obtain a food reward; the circle always corresponded to the correct choice. The rule was considered learned if a horse was correct more than 70% of the time and made 4 consecutive correct choices. Then, a generalisation test (GT) with ten devices (5 circles, 5 triangles) was created to test generalisation. Only eleven horses respected the learning criteria and were included in the generalisation test. A significant difference in the number of correct choices between the learning activity and the generalisation test was observed (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, S=-33; p=0.001; LA: median=6, min=3, max=9; GT: median=3, min=0, max=5). There was no significant difference in the number of incorrect choices between the two tests (Student’s t test, t=-0.91; DF=10; p=0.384). A significant difference in the total number of choices between the two tests was observed (Student’s t test, t=2.56; DF=10; p<0.05). This experiment suggested limits in the capacity of horses to generalise a well-known task in different contexts. Because horses are often exposed to different environments or contexts, these results provide interesting and applicable knowledge for equine training and management.

Keywords: Behaviour; Equine Management; Generalisation; Horse; Learning; Welfare

Abstract| Introduction| Methods| Results| Discussion and Conclusion| Highlights| References|