Assessing intelligence...or not..

[SatansLittleHelper]

So, you know that co-worker, the guy at the office...the really, really pretty one..?? The guy that is really good looking but doesn't seem to know it, always polite and courteous, friendly with everyone, doesn't say much...just gets on with his day. Possibly still lives with his Mum. Always does as he's told by the Boss without argument and seemingly no aspirations to become the CEO. Happy to go on a leisurely walk looking at the scenery in his spare time. You love spending time with him, chatting or companionable silence. You like the guy ALOT but one thing you can't put your finger on....is he a bit dim or is he actually super clever but very deep..???
That guy is my horse, Rex. He's insanely chill, very little phases him...his worst issue is a bit of impatience when asked to stand still for too long (in his opinion). Poor sod has earned the nickname Nice but Dim ?? So far this is all on the ground observations as we are working towards getting on board. How do you decide if your horse is genuinely just super easy going and bright or actually just laid back and thick as a plank..?? He picks up what's asked of him relatively easily and I'm confident he's going to be fairly easy under saddle (I'm a little concerned about his apparent lack of self preservation mind you ?) but so far he doesn't seem incredibly switched on like my other boy. He genuinely seems like a happy go lucky chap, accepts whatever you throw at him and is happy to be bottom of the pecking order in his little herd. Not supremely confident but not a wimp by any means. I just can't decide if he's a bit dim or not lol.
DISCLAIMER: I am not complaining at all at how easy he is lol, I'm just mildly suspicious ??

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I have an arab that is similar he does the most stupid things sometimes and is one of those horses that always seems to be in your way, he was tied up once outside his stable and managed to get his bridle caught on the tap outside, pulled the bloody thing off the wall, I only turned round to get his saddle he seriously can't be left unattended at all.

yet he is so clever in other aspects riding he learns things so quickly even my instructor said his never known one to pick up lateral work and schooling like him, and his trained a lot of horses over the years.

He is a massive escape artist can undo a door bolt in seconds has destroyed electric fencing on numerous occasions, can untie himself and then his off down the drive or if the field gate is open his in there.

Edited to add my other horse is the boss and will literally push Louis down the field, his a big softy with horses at his previous home he was nanny to the foals yet with people he can be a bit bitey.

 

[Bernster]

My friend has a labradoodle. Sweetest thing and lovely and easy. But when you look into her eyes, there’s not much there!

 

[Hepsibah]

This was Harry our Cleveland Bay gelding to a tee. A big doofus. I always said that if he were human, he'd be a surfer dude. He was 16.3hh, thought he was 12.2hh and tried to fit through spaces accordingly. My OH tried teaching him to jump using poles on the ground, then raised poles then cross poles. He stepped over them. The higher she put them, the higher he lifted his legs to step over, even when she trotted him up to them. Eventually he got one leg over and stopped, stuck. My OH decided she preferred hacking anyway...

 

[MrsCentaur]

Great post! I've been thinking about this quite a bit recently, as I get to know my new horse. It seems to me that in assessing for intelligence I'm looking for curiosity (does he explore his surroundings? Is he inquisitive and playful when a new object is produced or when his environment is changed?) and retention (can he learn new skills and if so, how long does it take?).

 

[SEL]

We've got a lovely nice but dim cob on our yard and I add my draft into that category too. Nothing wrong with that especially if they don't ask too many questions and will happily do anything for food! Much easier than my question everything Appy mare - super intelligent but doesn't always use that for good deeds

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

We call our yellow Lab 'Mavis' as her nickname because she 'doesn't really know'. Corrie fans will get the reference.

 

[criso]

I always think of my tb as a bit of an airhead but sometimes I wonder if he has a plan and there's more going on.

Example of dimness.
Turned out in a new field which was actually 2 fields with a gateway at one end. He found himself on the other side of the fence to his field companion at the other end from the gate, whinnying pathetically at his abandonment. Companion grazing nonchalantly ignoring him just the other side of the fence. I tried to catch him and show him where the gate was, wouldn't be caught. I tried to drive him towards it, wouldn't go away from the other horse. In the end had to go and lead the other horse along the fence so he would follow and I could show him where the gate was.

 

[planete]

My little gypsy pony has turned out to be very brainy, far more so than my previous horse (Arab/Lipi). By that I do not mean trainable as he can need a very determined handler before he agrees to what is suggested to him sometimes. He is very independent and can certainly work out first time how to find his way to a different paddock by going to an opening in the opposite direction even if he is in a hurry. He has learnt to stop on my out breath with one ask and one repetition but he is training me at least as much as I am training him. He has seen off three perfectly normal instructors whose methods he disliked to the point of downing tools and turning physically passive aggressive but is now fine with me if we are on our own. He reminds me of the Ardennes mare I used to have, she had the intelligence of a breed that had not learnt to rely on humans for survival and would regularly work out how to get out of trouble or how to keep out of it which was invaluable in her job as a timber horse. Not sure i would wish a very intelligent horse on anybody though. Gypsy pony was very nearly shown the door in his first few weeks with me.

 

[Trouper]

Don't knock it - there are only so many hours in the day you can spend with them. That leaves the clever ones too much time to dream up mischief - and then carry it out!!

 

[Tiddlypom]

Thick horses are easier to ride and deal with than dim ones, don't knock it!

The bright ones are always looking to make their own fun!

 

[palo1]

Bright horses can be sharp or laid back in my experience. The thing that tells you whether they have our definition of 'brains/intelligence' is how quickly they pick things up and demonstrate some problem solving ability. We have one very sharp, clever horse and a couple of more laid back clever horses. We have one that is...not so clever!! But very lovely and excellent at her job. Clever horses learn things quickly and in my experience tend to be more forward thinking; they are keen to work stuff out and like to have things going on. The not so clever horses can be wonderful too but slower to learn stuff and possibly slightly less open to new experiences in my view. Our clever laid back horse is a total star though for some folk he would make life too easy. I have a friend who has a not very clever but very laid back horse and that is a bit of a nightmare for me tbh!!

 

[Sealine]

A friend of mine used to call my mare a bimbo as she was beautiful to look at but a danger to herself, scared of everything and always injured. Once she ran backwards into a ditch at which point I fell off then she stood looking at me as if to say 'what are you doing down there get up and help me?'. She never knew where her feet were and was always falling, slipping, tripping. Jumping was a complete no - a ground pole was the most terrifying thing in the world.

My gelding is the opposite and although I wouldn't say he was super bright not much phases him and he works things out for himself. I swear he was a mountain goat in a previous life. He is very sure footed and for a big horse he is very agile. Some time ago I came across a fallen branch blocking a bridleway, I approached slowly trying to decide whether it was jumpable (it wasn't - odd angle, foliage on branch) or how to get around it (I couldn't) he very calmly 'climbed' over it of his own accord. He'll jump anything, push through a hedge, climb a bank or wade across a river if asked. He always tries to please and is very kind but I don't like to think of him as dim.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

If you REALLY want to suss out "equine intelligence" then get a cob!

Especially a mare!!

And especially a pony! (who is also a cob, and is also a mare!!). LOL.

Jeez sometimes my girl frightens me with her intelligence! I honestly do reckon that she knows what I'm gonna do before I do.

My old boy (also cob) was just the same. Wily as the devil.

 

[Rowreach]

If you REALLY want to suss out "equine intelligence" then get a cob!

Especially a mare!!

And especially a pony! (who is also a cob, and is also a mare!!). LOL.

Jeez sometimes my girl frightens me with her intelligence! I honestly do reckon that she knows what I'm gonna do before I do.

My old boy (also cob) was just the same. Wily as the devil.

Mine too, seriously the brightest horse I’ve ever had, yet also one of the sweetest kindest mares I’ve known.

My dog, on the other hand, has a lovely temperament coupled with a brain the size of a pea.

 

[planete]

If you REALLY want to suss out "equine intelligence" then get a cob!

Especially a mare!!

And especially a pony! (who is also a cob, and is also a mare!!). LOL.

Jeez sometimes my girl frightens me with her intelligence! I honestly do reckon that she knows what I'm gonna do before I do.

My old boy (also cob) was just the same. Wily as the devil.

As I am finding out. And he is only a gelding thankfully!

 

[Not_so_brave_anymore]

In my experience horses have two quite specific types of intelligence. My little mare is very quick on the uptake when it comes to cause and effect. So if you do the same thing twice she will absolutely anticipate it the third time. This makes her super easy to train, but a pain in the arse to get meds into. But she has zero problem solving skills. I remember a thread in here about horses that have learned how to pull electric fencing out by the plastic posts, or how to open stable doors etc. My pony gets totally confused if her feed bowl is in front of her and she has to take a step to the side (or, heaven forbid, BACKWARDS) to get past it ?‍

 

[Caol Ila]

PREs are a whole 'nother level of equine intelligence. Staying one step ahead of my mare is like teaching a high school IB class in a subject you don't know well, but you need to convince your bright, motivated students that you know more than they do. Even if you have to fake it.

The Highland seems slow at processing sudden, new information, but he's actually very clever and quick-witted at 'survival' thinking. He might spook at something once, but if he sees that thing again, he won't spook.

 

[cauda equina]

I guess that's the thing; succeeding in a human-centric environment involves a different skill-set from that needed to survive as a wild horse, and some are more in touch with their inner Eohippus than others

 

[Jellymoon]

Hhhmn, you see, he sounds quite clever to me. He’s worked out that if he does as he’s told and is kind and polite, he has an easy life. And that’s really what all horses want isn’t it?
You are very lucky to have him, he sounds wonderful, and careful what you wish for!!!

 

[milliepops]

my 2 young horses are interesting to watch. My yearling is a smart cookie. she always has been, from day 1 she was bright and inquisitive and bold, i think those things combine to make a nicely intelligent horse because they are not afraid to learn about things.

the 3yo lacks the inquisitive attitude, he is really cuddly and cute but he come across a bit dull because he's not switched on like she is, he gets surprised by things because he doesn't pay attention and he is not a "natural learner", skool is going to come a bit harder to him. but I think he might switch on when he gets started, i think it's habit that has let him go a bit dopey if that makes sense?

most of my others are pretty bright. My welsh is streets ahead of anything else i've ever ridden, she does not always use it for good but it has made her absolutely amazing fun to work with when she's on my side. I expect to some she seems stubborn and willful at times but she has a sparkling intelligence when you understand what's going on. I do prefer a clever horse even if it can make life a little hard sometimes.

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

I'm not knocking having an easy horse, it's nice for a change..!!! My cob, on the other hand, is very switched on and definitely doesn't always use it for good ??? They are both fab horses, but for totally different reasons

 

[palo1]

My araby horse radiates intelligence but his natural sharpness can make him a bit harder to work with, as well as his constant desire to move - all the time, anywhere!! He is a bit too switched on... Our other araby horse is frighteningly intelligent; he has never found any task or problem difficult but he is very laid back so sometimes you have to persuade him that something is 'worth doing'. My Welshie has surprised me with just how quickly she picks things up and in sharpness terms she is in the middle of the other two which makes her lovely to work with, but she definately has more of a slightly 'wicked' pony brain or possibly a sense of humour; she loves to play in lots of ways - with water, in training situations etc - she is a bit of an independent show off too!! My arab chap is more 'arrogant' and much more businesslike generally. Another of our mares is less switched on or interested and finds learning harder but she is absolutely and wonderfully predictable and has considerable athletic ability. She certainly has brilliant 'horse' skills too which I think are both interesting and invaluable. They are such amazingly interesting animals in that sense. As a rider I prefer something quite switched on and sharp/forward thinking but I wouldn't deny a less sharp horse the intelligence due to them!!

ETA - Interestingly in people, confidence has a quantifiable impact on 'intelligence' testing and I do think the same is true for horses. Horses that are never put in a position to learn or are over-disciplined lose their confidence and interest in trying stuff out in my experience; that can make a big difference regardless of temperament!

 

[Caol Ila]

My brain came back around to this thread today. It's interesting.

Foinavon and Gypsum are almost opposites. She was fairly quick at picking up new aids/cues, whereas he can be slow on the uptake in that department. But when you're out and about with him, he might spook at something once, but he's unlikely to spook at a similar thing a second time, and very unlikely to spook at it a third time. Gypsum, on the other hand, had things she spooked at no matter how many times you encountered them -- cows, swans, horses in fields galloping, strange horses on the trail, etc. She was reasonably on it about steep hills and rough footing, but he's a genius in that regard. I would not say that he is more or less intelligent than she was or vice versa, but it's a different sort of intelligence.

Hermosa is brighter than the two of them put together. But that's a Spanish horse thing, I think.

 

[Equi]

My old boy did everything and took it all in his stride and tried his little heart out in everything. But then there was days he would get lost in a gate way ?

new bear is definitely a bit more of a thinker, he knows where everything is and has his own opinion on things but will suggest it then relent to what I’m asking, but in a way he’s made it like it was his decision all along lol

One of my little mare is sharp and reacts swiftly. she knows exactly what she’s doing! She assess the situation and within a split second knows your intention and that will decide if your getting near her or not. Her mother is that quiet chill one id call a bit dim but really she’s very clever, best little driving horse I have and knows routines very well and will follow with compliance. On the days you can catch her of course (which is 90% but days she knows I’m in the market for bathing her stinky bum she’s off lol)

 

[fetlock]

As a kid I had a pony who was by far the most intelligent I ever had. I say pony -he was a little anglo arab and the only pony bit of him was his height.
Wiith a stable name of Dopey he absolutely lived up to that, always getting into scrapes, always getting himself cast, and an Olympic level manic weaver.
On the upside he absolutely loved to learn and picked up things at lightning speed. Unfortunately he picked up bad habits as quickly as he did the good ones and was a major handful, to put it mildly, particularly for my then 12 year old self so we parted ways.