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 Sensory compensation—the ways the brain overcomes the loss of one sense by beefing up its use of another. Maybe you think that horses have huge brains, with the intelligence to match. Or perhaps in your experience horses do silly and stupid things, so they must have a tiny brain? Let’s take a look at horse brain size and find out! What is a Brain? 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. Discuss your horse’s recent and long term history – noting any illnesses, medications, injuries, changes in management or uncharacteristic behaviour

Unfortunately, we have no way of working this out! Intelligence can be measured in many different ways. Even though humans are the dominant species, this doesn’t mean we are cleverer than horses. It has been shown that horses are not as skilled at reasoning and problem-solving as humans. However, many of us know a pony who can break free from a seemingly escape-proof field! Are Horses as Intelligent as Humans? Horses are easily dominated. The horse is a herd animal where a dominance hierarchy is always established. If done correctly, human dominance can easily be established during training without causing the horse to become excessively fearful.It’s not that horses don’t think like we do,” she says. “It’s that they can’t think like we do. Without a well-developed frontal lobe, horses cannot hold grudges, plot revenge, try to win, plan a way to get out of working or take pleasure in making us mad—even though these are ideas that generations of horsemen have believed, especially during a frustrating experience with a horse.” Airplane ears: the ears flop out laterally with openings facing down, usually meaning the horse is tired or depressed. Due to the lateral placement of their eyes, horses have a very wide visual range of approximately 350 degrees. However, they do have a small blind spot of about 5 degrees directly in front of and behind their heads.

Horses don't just respond to their environment; they feel it. Their emotional brain is as complex as a Shakespearean drama, minus the old English. They experience a range of emotions from joy to fear, and their brain is the director of this emotional symphony. Understanding these emotions can deepen the bond between horse and rider, turning every ride into a mutual understanding that goes beyond mere reins and saddles.

The second section is the mid-brain, which is where auditory and visual reflexes and voluntary movement are controlled. During Straightness Training we keep him out of his survival state, out of his reptilian brain, and out of his right brain.