Memory for surface objects in an arena by the horse (Equus ferus caballus) under saddle: Evidence for dual process theory of spatial representation.

This study explores the spatial memory of horses in remembering locations of various objects within a riding arena, offering evidence that supports the dual process theory of spatial representation.

Investigatory Behavior of Horses

• The study looks into how horses interact with objects on the surface of a riding arena when under a saddle. It particularly focuses on objects such as straw, fur, paper, and larger debris, with the horses showing special interest in dung droppings from other horses.
• The horses appeared to display a form of memory by not investigating the same object again during the same outing after initially sniffing it, indicating a recall of the object’s location and previous investigation.

Tests on Dung Investigatory Behavior and Place Memory

• To further examine this theorized place memory, the study carried out structured tests. The intervals between the tests varied to observe whether there would be a difference in the horses’ behavior and memory recall.
• The results confirmed that horses have place memory, as indicated by their behavior with dung. This effectively means the horses remembered the location of dung droppings and would not typically approach the same dung on the same day after their initial investigation.

Dual Process Theory of Spatial Representation

• The findings from this study lend support to the dual process theory of spatial representation. This theory suggests adaptive behavior requires two types of spatial information – allocentric and egocentric.
• Allocentric spatial information involves remembering the location of objects relative to other objects in the environment. In this context, the horses recalled where certain objects, such as dung droppings, were in relation to others in the arena.
• Egocentric episodic-like information, on the other hand, refers to remembering locations based on personal experiences and observations. In the study, this was displayed as the horses remembering that they had already investigated certain objects, showing an episodic-like memory of their own actions.