New study shows that horses can learn to communicate with humans using their ‘horse code’ language telling whether they are too hot or too cold. The study was published in the journal Аppliеd Аnimаl Bеhаviоur Sciеncе and the 23 horses that were involved in the study showed that they could master the art of communication in a two-week training.
The horses that were involved can’t express themselves in conversations but they can indicate whether they are cold or hot, whether they want a blanket or not, and all this depends on how warm they feel. The horses were put three different boards with specific symbols on them and they were asked to choose from them. The horizontal line means they want their blanket put on, the vertical line means that they want their blanket taken off, and the blank board means that they don’t want anything, they are happy as they are, they don’t want a change.
The researchers knew this wouldn’t be easy and spent a lot of time dealing with them. They put the horses in very warm conditions with a blanket on or outside in the cold without a blanket and if they chose the board that made the most sense the horses were rewarded carrots. Watch the video to get a better sense of how horses can learn to communicate!