Horses are far more intelligent than we previously thought.

In this study, 20 horses aged 11 to 22 at the Brackenhurst Riding Centre, Nottingham Trent University, were tasked with lightly tapping their muzzles on an A3-sized laminated card when the signal light went off. A whistle would then sound, and the horses would receive a reward.

Initially, most horses struggled to pass the test, often touching the tag randomly without paying attention to whether the signal light was on or off.

In the next round, the researchers applied a new rule, introducing a specific penalty for horses that made a mistake, namely touching the card while the light was still on. The penalty included the horse being unable to continue participating in the game or receive a reward for 10 seconds.

Surprisingly, the number of mistakes decreased dramatically, and all the horses participating in the game seemed aware of what they were doing and the consequences of making a mistake.

Researchers suggest that horses may have understood the game from the start, but in reality, they didn't care about it. This indicates a much higher level of cognitive processing in horses than previously thought. They can instantly change strategy and behave differently when there is a risk of losing something.

This approach requires horses to think ahead and be highly determined to achieve their goals. They also need to be able to focus on what they want to accomplish and be proficient in the steps necessary to reach those goals.

Louise Evans, co-author of the study, suggests that most animals need to repeat a task many times to gradually acquire new knowledge. However, horses improve immediately when the rules of the game change. A horse's brain is capable of analyzing strategies and balancing options to achieve the ultimate goal.

"Horses aren't born geniuses. In fact, they're considered mediocre in terms of cognitive abilities," Evans said. "But this research shows they have a more advanced level of awareness than we previously thought."