How is the horse's brain different from the human brain?

The small differences between the horse and human brain have large consequences for the way we train them. As humans, we tend to assume a horse can think ahead or reflect back, but in actual fact, the part of their brain required for those characteristics is far more underdeveloped than a human's. Equine Behaviourist, Dr. Andrew McLean explains how the horse’s brain differs from ours.
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Equitation science promotes an objective, evidence-based understanding of how horses learn, and how to train them accordingly. It promotes the welfare of horses during horse training and competition by applying valid, quantitative evidence-based methods.
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[RTO ID 41254]

[@liadelbusso8050]

Brilliant video thankyou x

[@heidiganendran6844]

Andrew McLean, thank you for sharing your amazing knowledge with us, and for improving equine welfare. Dear Corina below, I respectfully think that you have slightly misinterpreted what Dr McLean says and it is just a semantic or language issue that prevents you from agreeing. In the video he says that horses have a wonderful memory, probably as good as an elephant, but that their ability to rationalise/ reason is not as well developed as in humans due to the fact that the horse has no prefrontal cortex. Janet Jones Phd, also explains very well the difference between the horse brain and the human brain in her book that makes the comparison. In my humble opinion I don’t actually think that either would strongly disagree with what you are saying to some extent. As an example though from another perspective, you sometimes cannot reason with a child or teenager either as their prefrontal cortex is not yet fully developed, and this is something I think we can all agree on. Horses have survived by bypassing our methods of reasoning and going straight into flight mode. They have a very sensitive and large amygdala and this combined with no prefrontal cortex “ screams” just run first, do not stop to reason. Their strong memory as you mention, also plays a role in their survival as a species. I think one of the most dangerous misconceptions in the equine industry, is that horses are capable of plotting revenge etc, and that we as humans, unless educated in understanding how the horses brain works, believe it works just like ours.

[@StableHorseTraining]

Sounds like you watched the Olympics as Annika beat the crap out of her horse for not jumping. Good advice, hopefully it's heeded in the "professional" world too.

[@corinnaschmid-bindl707]

I agree with your statement that delayed punishment has no value. Positive reaction to things well done are much better, anyway. I don't agree with your statement about the horse not being able to look back and forward. Looking back is having memories, and looking forward is reasoning. For the horse this means to avoid danger (or perceived danger). I'm working with horses for 50 years, and they prooved to be able to remember and reason very well. In fact, my entire training philosophy is based on teaching horses by having them learn by reasoning. The results are amazing.

[@fallbrkgrl]

I wish more people in the horse world actually wanted to know what makes a horse tick. But just like with dogs, most of the world just never thinks about how each animal, or species, lives in their natural environment, and how to replicate this in their domesticated lives. Full disclosure: I was guilty of this, until I got a dog, and of course by then, people like the Dog Whisperer became popular, and taught us.

[@Reneemfenn]

I agree. (Except that reference isn’t one well received or respected in the canine world of science based information🤷🏼‍♀️)

[@fallbrkgrl]

@@Reneemfenn you certainly have that right. Not sure why.😏