By: Matthew M. Brendal
I have sometimes heard that the horse as a not very intelligent animal. I know there are some horses that may not have a PhD. I on the other hand think most horses are very intelligent. I contend that horses probably have a photographic memory and can remember everything they have ever seen. Let me give you a common anecdotal story. This one involves a horse that walks past a stationary object for several months. Then one day the stationary object is gone. The horse knows that something is different, something is missing. They display this memory by either being startled or they look around in the area of where the stationary object used to be. I call that basic horse memory. Humans attach emotions to our memories. Good times and bad times are remembered. Some memories are deeper than others. We learn from those memories. Hopefully we humans and horses use our memories to increase good things, and the limit bad things that happen to us. I don't think horses are any different from us in that respect. A horse can't read the newspaper so he must rely on his memory to remember danger.
Most people are concerned with a horse's memory for the purposes of training them. Here is a major concern when training a horse, what do they remember? How do we know if they are remembering the things we want them to remember? Let me throw out this helpful hint. Horses are animals who love habit and routine. One of the best ways to help a horse remember is for us humans to be consistent. It is no different than when you went to elementary school. First you learned the ABC's and 123's, Then you spelled words and did some math. As a trainer you must do things that same each day that will help the horse to know to remember what is important. Nothing displays importance more than doing something. Remember horses are just like children, they listen to what you say, but they watch you closer. Horses are keen observers, if you want them to use their mind thinking about what's important to you, then you have to do those "things" a lot. As the horse's rider/handler you are also the trainer and teacher. It's your job to figure out ways to teach the horse to remember.
This is really no big secret anymore, but horses learn upon release of pressure. Horses' minds are subconsciously preoccupied with escape. A horse is constantly thinking about escape, that is what keeps them alive in the wild. So to help a horse remember you must have very good timing and feel. Your release of pressure helps the horse remember. The more precise and consistent your timing and feel, the better the horse will remember. That includes, reins, leg, spurs and similar uses of pressure when guiding and teaching the horse.
I saved the best for last. What I am about to tell you will sound beyond unbelievable. But it is true and please check deeper into the facts because it is probably one of the most incredible stories in American horse history. This horse tale probably shows no greater example of the unlimited potential that a horse has within them. The story I am referring to is about a horse named Beautiful Jim Key, the worlds most educated horse. Beautiful Jim Key could read, write, make change and have very sophisticated conversations with people. I can hear people already thinking there is some trick. Somehow Beautiful Jim Key faded from history. At one time he was the most popular horse in the world. He toured the country with his owner, Dr. William Key. Dr. Key raised the horse from a baby, one year of which the horse lived in his mansion. I know this horse maybe had a sharper mind than most horses. But This story does give motivation as to what we can teach our horse's mind to remember. Dr. Key used love and kindness to train Beautiful Jim Key.
Here is where history and modern equine psychology meet at a crossroad. You see Beautiful Jim Key dearly loved apples. Dr. Key used apples as rewards to teach his horse. A scientific study of horse psychology recently revealed that horses can learn up to 3 times faster when "rewarded with food." I don't think apples are real good food mind food. I do however think that in order to help a horse's mind work to have a good memory you have to do two things. Reward the behavior you want the horse to remember and make the wrong behavior uncomfortable. I want you also to remember that food alone does make a horse smart. It is a tool that helps you help the horse understand. Training, like the horse's mind is a complex issue.
I like to remember this wonderful old saying about horses, Horses never forget, but they easily forgive.
Fundamental Horsemanship is TLC = Trust, Leadership & Communication.
