Thinking Horse

The Asymmetry of the horse's mind

Horses show a consistent tendency to prefer having the person on the left. This has traditionally been attributed to training practices, but our study demonstrates that this is also the horse’s preference. We compared groups of horses that had either been traditionally trained (predominantly from the left) or bilaterally trained (equally on the right and left) and in both groups the horses showed a preference for putting the person on the left. 

Visual laterality in the domestic horse (Equus caballus) interacting with humans

Kate Farmer,  Konstanze Krueger, Richard W. Byrne.  Animal Cogn. 2010 Mar;13(2):229-38. Epub 2009 Jul 17

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In 2011 we are hoping to be able to conduct a follow-up study on mustangs being prepared for adoption.