Intelligence in horses, is it good or bad?"

FanyDuChamp

FanyDuChamp

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We have 2 very different horses Cappy is extremely intelligent and a problem solver but he is stressy and a worrier; whilst Fany is just normal and rarely worries or gets stressed. Now is it down to intelligence or just character?

Do you have an intelligent horse? How do you keep it interested and happy? Do you wish yours was more/less intelligent? What do yours do that shows their intelligence or lack of it?
 
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I had a pony years ago who could untie herself, unlock any kind of gate, open any kind of pocket-velcro, zip etc. to get food. She was incredibly opinionated and only wanted to do what she wanted to do. Took aaaaages to get right. To much is a bad thing! Maybe that's just ponies? Have a 16.2hh 3 yo at the mo who is very very blessed in the brain dept-bit stressy but more always on the look out for 'opportunities'.
Think it's character and temp that matter more. I suppose that governs whether they use their brains for good or evil!!!!
 
Glad it is not just Cappy then. He can open stable doors, not just for himself but for all the other horses as well, will bring his self in from the field when it gets too cold or wet and you have to be really careful what you teach him, he remembers everything!
 
I think my horse is quite intelligent in the way he can open stable doors, knows how to open gates (as in he knows which bit of the gate he needs to manipulate to open it even if he can't actually open it) and just in general really (would be far too long to go in to). He is not a stresser at all really though - he will 'pretend' he is i think depending what mood he's in but really he trusts people and, although he can be a pain and an attention seeker and can't stand still for 2 seconds, once you're on board you can trust him with your life.

i have another one (the boss pony, had him 16 years) he over thinks in my opinion and probably exhibits the most natural wild horse behaviour of all our horses. He is maybe intelligent but not in the same way as my other one. If something bad happens to him (ie once he got his headcollar caught on the stable door latch and panicked) he remembers it for AGES and don't we know about it!!! Lol. I think all horses are pretty intelligent really they just show it in different ways.
 
I think its great to see the differences in personality - my little TB mare is absolute perfection on the road but gets really upset when we go over canal bridges and there's a boat going underneath at the same time! She never worries about the boats when they're just on the canal - only when they're under the bridge! Also at the pc champs she got upset by the one flowerboxes that had fallen on its side and equally she frets when its bin day - not fazed by the lorry or anything - more the odd problematic recycling box that happens to be on it side!

None of this behaviour has ever changed in the 12 years Ive owned her! She's a saint at competitions - I put that down to many years in pony club - but worries if things arent quite lined up correctly!!

The other ned (ID xTB) spooks at normal things and does learn to trust very quickly although he can be a big baby when he feels like it!

we've got a pony that stands next to electric tape - then dives under - almost as if she's listening for the clicks of the electric!

Or it could be that I read far too much into their behaviours!!
 
Depends on the form for me. I find the ones who love to learn continually whilst being ridden and are normal on the ground are fab. However my pony is too brave/intelligent on the ground. He knows that the topof the electric posts aren't electrified so pulls them up with his teeth, undoes my velcro shoes and lifts my feet up with his teeth, will move away most of the time as soon as the headcollar buckle is undone and redone up around his neck to be tacked up. And yet it takes him a couple of repeats to learn in the school.
Maybe his problem is he is also too brave as he has jumped the 3 rail yard fencing from a stand still whilst being poorly. Thinks he is invincible!! :) (Sometimes that sort of intelligence isn't good either!)
 
Intelligence can be a pain . . . I moved my horse into a different paddock and she quickly realised she could dive under a small part of the elec fencing.
So we blocked it off with big heavy jump blocks and wandered off.... she, however had a good look and a sniff before nudging them out the way so she could dive under it again. She's very quick, smart and strong-willed (not always the best combo) but that's why I bought her!
 
I think it's good for horses to be intelligent, though can also be a bit annoying if they start to outwit you!

One of my horses, an angloarab, is pretty smart most of the time, he will untie himself easily if you don't loop the leadrope end through. I sometimes put a rope across his door, rather than the actual door (like a chain), he will stand happily behind it whilst I am there, looking like he has no inkling of escaping, then as soon as I leave the barn he will duck under it and make a run for the nearest patch of grass!

My other horse, a warmblood I'm afraid is not very smart. He still hasn't worked out that when he wants to come in from the field he needs to move out of the way of the gate so that I can open it. If you give him a treat he will continue to stretch/turn round constantly thinking I have more (not in a rude way just genuine inquistiveness), whereas my other horse would know instantly that all the treats were gone (presumably by smelling?) He is just generally a bit slow bless his heart!
 
I think Bonnie Coblet is quite intelligent, just moody and lazy... :rolleyes: But when she gets going, she gets going! She is very considerate of her rider when jumping, and if you fall off she doesnt go mad, just stands stock still and waits for you to get back on.
 
Intresting post actually :)

My horse is very intelligent but I wouldn't call him a worrier at all and so far he hasn't been to opinionated. When I'm schooling him he just picks up on things so fast he learnt flying changes in one day and leg yielding in 5 minutes!

I just see it as an advantage aswell as it always seems to be the dopey ones who come in from the field with half their leg hanging off. Although the dopey ones wouldn't panic at this but an intelligent one probably would :)
 
On the yard we have a 15.2 very very intelligent porsche (pony in a horses body) and he can be a pain because he ALWAYS needs something to occupy himself :o
But he is almost too intelligent - he thinks very hard about things, which can make things start falling apart - if he does something wrong he will be still thinking about it 5 fences later!
But he is very clever, and is able to undo the pin for the lorry partition and then play "corners" with the other horse :o

My horse, in comparision, dosent seem as intelligent (the words dim and mule have been thrown around :o) but to jump him is another thing entirely - he is incredibly clever where he puts his feet and can judge himself to put a short one in or to stand off - usually it is the latter - and he has the legendary 5th leg (he can pull himself out of situations that usually I put him in :o) he is a true ISH and looks after me - but still able to look after himself :)
We have come to the conclusion that his intelligence is hidden - deeply :p

He is strange though - he wont have the company of another horse but will share company with donkeys - I think he likes the more intellectual conversations ;)

Also, My horse is most definatelty not a worry - he has a funny movement where he suddenly stops and sort of walks but not walks (like a double studder) when he sees something suddenly, then keeps on walking on a long rein :p
 
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dessmont said:
we've got a pony that stands next to electric tape - then dives under - almost as if she's listening for the clicks of the electric!
QUOTE]
Cappy is a b*gger with electric fencing, he goes and stands by the battery and listens to see if it is clicking, if he is not sure he gathers up a few ponies and runs them into it to get them to knock it down! He will also ask for things by saying please with his head before he knows you have treats. He also takes a situation for example he once took the gate off because his herd leader called him, later he was seen practising running at the gate and has now perfected it and takes himself into his stable.

Fany always makes me laugh, she has a lot of cunning and she will limp if she thinks we are going into the school to do some schooling, but if we go past the school the limp mysteriously disappears. :rolleyes:
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My mare is intelligent, quick learner - good & bad habits:D, but with that comes sensitivity, physically & mentally, a high flight instinct & stressy. She's also very affectionate & hasn't an intentional bad bone in her body:)
 
My two are VERY intelligent. B can open any door unless it has a strong snap hook on it and he takes much pleasure in removing any clips on his door :p He can also commando dive under electric fencing :D
He can jump himself out of any situation SJ and XC and is clever with his feet.

Lord however has gone one further, at our old yard we just had electric tape and plastic posts run off a car battery (:o) and he used to pick the posts out from the ground:D He is very quick to learn although that also means he quickly learns bad habits and naughty tricks!



I like intelligent horses, they prove a challenge but by golly when you get them working with you you can get some amazing work out of them!
 
Kokopelli said:
Intresting post actually :)

My horse is very intelligent but I wouldn't call him a worrier at all and so far he hasn't been to opinionated. When I'm schooling him he just picks up on things so fast he learnt flying changes in one day and leg yielding in 5 minutes!

IQUOTE]
I think you are onto something there, Cappy picks things up fast but is extremely opinionated so how do you fancy a swap? :p;):D
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My boy is talented and quick to learn but he is a worrier and not very brave.
Hes spooky and we reckon a lot of it is down to the fact he is clever, probably a bit bored and needs more exitement in his life.
 
mine is very intelligent and also very highly strung. If something has moved he notices. He's got a very good memory which has made hacking interesting because he remembers alot of things that have spooked him in the past and looks for them. As an 8 year old he was scared of a polytunnel on the other side of a hedge beside the school and even now at 15 it's a challenge to get him into that corner of the school. He rarely just stands still he's always looking for something to do

The good things- i know he's safe on his feet because he's always aware of what he's doing even when he's being naughty. He's so interesting to watch and so funny at times.

This morning he somehow got his rein caught on his door and just as i was about to get into emergency mode he pulled back, felt he was caught and then instead of panicking like most horses would he stepped forwards and put his head down so i could free him, i was amazed
 
see, My horse is like that - I dont worry normally if Merlin stands on his lead rope/breastplate - he is intelligent to know that if he steps back he will be free ;)
 
My Thoroughbred is very intelligent, and much as I love her for it, because it gives her character and makes her her, and I wouldn't change it for the world, but she remembers things a lot, for example if there was a scary hedge on a ride there will ALWAYS be a scary hedge to spook at, even if it gets uprooted and its just an empty space :p Also she picks up on your mood really easily, as soon as you become the slightest bit agitated or tense she picks up and copies you :rolleyes: I still love her though :D and I'm looking forward to riding her once Harley is weaned :p
 
That's exactly what I mean, Cappy will lift his lead rein up so not to trip on it. He also remembers routes while out hacking and dressage tests, so anticipates what he has to do next.

What about horses who are a bit dim? Does it make them easier to deal with and train or do you need that spark for interest?
 
I can't decide if my horse is bright or not. She is sensible, but at the same time she is meddlesome and into everything. She had neatly removed her turnout rug in the night, all straps intact - no idea how or why! Once when I was poo picking, someone came and caught her two field mates and took them into their boxes for their dinners. He left the gate open as usual, and took her head collar as usually one person leads the other two and she follows along behind by herself, and waits at the yard gate. It's quite a long walk. She wandered to the first open gate, and stopped. I stopped and watched her to see what she would do, and she turned to look at me, looked back at her two disappearing mates, and stood in the open gateway for the duration of my poo picking, then when I was ready she patiently followed me down to the yard. I'm not sure if that was clever, or if she just preferred to wait for me. Either way, she's very special and I like to kid myself that she's clever :)
 
Mine definitely thinks for himself and has great senses (I guess all horses do in reality), is that intelligence? All I know is based on how he is I trust him when he's unsure on a certain surface or starts to react to something when we're out as the reason usually becomes obvious fairly quickly. He knows to avoid trouble in the field with other geldings and has a great self-protection attitude. I've learnt loads from watching his responses to things which helps me understand him more and helped our partnership a lot I think. However extreme fear of the railway men in orange boiler suits in white hard hats is one I can't even get my head round or work out...and he's never going to by the looks of things but I can allow him that.
 
My boy is increadibly intelligent
ImpyBYEHHartpury08130.jpg


He worked out the first time with his snak-a-ball how to get the treats out without chasing it round his stable, as long as he keeps the yellow lid on top and carefully rocks it back and forth til they fall out.

When he rolls he sits up like a dog on his bum (he is 17hh!) and spints round to role on the other side - saves getting up!

He undoes his stable door

He has 2 tyres in his field and carries them like a dog toy - he also knows how to make them stand up and roll down the field.

He has a jollyball hanging off his hayrack that he like to squish to make a whizz noise when the air gets pushed out - he does it once then leans forwards and waits for it to refill before squishing it again. When he goes in a different stable when away from home - he will reverse into the same corner in that stable to see if it makes the same noise!

With regards to stress - he has just started (at 6yo) to chomp quickly and repetatively on his bit when stressed of upset when being ridden, a good indicator of tension before it comes!

He needs plenty of work - but not too much as when he is fit he is a nightmare - brain goes into overdrive!

He's great :)
 
Lisamd your boy is stunning what breed is he?

Well my boy is intelligent and I like it but everyone at my yard gets fed up with it, lol.

He too has learned the snack-a-ball. He knows where the food comes so its no fun any more. He watches what you do and when your back is turned he spends him time trying to work out how you do anything until he manages to get it :/ He's definetly a problem solver if ever I've seen one. Everything has been "oscar proofed" as we call it so he cant get out of anything. lol

He isnt a stressy horse but I find he is very sensitive.

But thats the reason why I love him and why I bought him :D
 
Lisamd said:
My boy is increadibly intelligent
ImpyBYEHHartpury08130.jpg


He worked out the first time with his snak-a-ball how to get the treats out without chasing it round his stable, as long as he keeps the yellow lid on top and carefully rocks it back and forth til they fall out.

He undoes his stable door

He needs plenty of work - but not too much as when he is fit he is a nightmare - brain goes into overdrive!

He's great :)
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What breed is your boy? He is stunning. He sounds really clever, we have to be careful as well 'cos when Cappy is super fit he is also a nightmare.

I am glad he is not the only one who opens his stable door, he also went round all the other horses' stables and opened them too.


Captain loves his treat ball, he used to have a round one but figured out how to get it out by just moving it from side to side, so we bought him a hexaganal one with 2 holes, so now he stands and moves it from one hole to another! Fany never worked it out. He also had one of the licks on a long string, he figured out how to move it to the corner and then cornered it and ate the whole thing in one go!

He also has a lick in a tub with a restrictor, which he can get off, which is more than I can.

Oscar Wild - I know what you mean about people at the yard not so keen! My YO calls him "quirky" and " a character" which seems to mean pain in the b*m; we both wait impatiently to see what mischief he will get into next!

Overall I think H&H horses seem to be very intelligent, do you think they get it off their owners!
FDC
 
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