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Frontiers in veterinary science2018; 5; 212; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00212

Social Learning in Horses-Fact or Fiction?

Abstract: Prima facie, the acquisition of novel behaviors in animals through observation of conspecifics seems straightforward. There are, however, various mechanisms through which the behavior of animals can be altered from observing others. These mechanisms range from simple hard-wired contagious processes to genuine learning by observation, which differ fundamentally in cognitive complexity. They range from social facilitation and local enhancement to true social learning. The different learning mechanisms are the subject of this review, largely because research on learning by observation can be confounded by difficulties in interpretation owing to the looming possibility of associative learning infecting experimental results. While it is often assumed that horses are capable of acquiring new behavior through intra-species observation, research on social learning in horses includes a variety of studies some of which may overestimate the possession of higher mental abilities. Assuming such abilities in their absence can have welfare implications, e.g., isolating stereotypical horses on the assumption that these behaviors can be learned though observation by neighboring horses. This review summarizes the definitions and criteria for the various types of social transmission and social learning and reviews the current documentation for each type in horses with the aim of clarifying whether horses possess the ability to learn through true social learning. As social ungulates, horses evolved in open landscapes, exposed to predators and grazing most of the day. Being in close proximity to conspecifics may theoretically offer an opportunity to learn socially, however anti-predator vigilance and locating forage may not require the neural complexity of social learning. Given the significant energetic expense of brain tissue, it is likely that social facilitation and local enhancement may have been sufficient in the adaptation of equids to their niche. As a consequence, social learning abilities may be maladaptive in horses. Collectively, the review proposes a novel differentiation between social transmission (social facilitation, local, and stimulus enhancement) and social learning (goal emulation, imitation). Horses are undoubtedly sensitive to intra-species transfer of information but this transfer does not appear to satisfy the criteria for social learning, and thus there is no solid evidence for true social learning in horses.
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Publication Date: 2018-09-06 PubMed ID: 30238009PubMed Central: PMC6135911DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00212Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article explores the concept of social learning in horses, questioning whether horses can truly learn new behaviors via observation of fellow horses or whether simpler mechanisms are at play. Further, this study reviews former research in this field and reveals that the line between simple behavioral transmission and true social learning is often blurred.

Exploring Different Mechanisms of Learning

  • The research starts by detailing the varying mechanisms through which animals might alter their behavior by observing others, ranging from simple contagious behaviors to genuine observed learning.
  • Horses have often been assumed capable of acquiring new behaviors through observation of their peers. However, the study critiques this assumption and posits that simple social facilitation and local enhancements might be responsible for behavior changes, not genuine social learning.

Interpreting Prior Research

  • The authors review past studies on social learning in horses, particularly highlighting the challenges in interpretation. Defined criteria for genuine social learning may not have been met, leading to overestimations of horses’ mental abilities.
  • This discrepancy may have direct welfare implications for horses. For example, the misconception might lead to isolated housing of horses showing stereotypical behaviors based on the false idea that such behaviors might spread among horse communities via observation.

The Evolutionary Perspective

  • The article also delves into the evolutionary aspect of horses’ learning mechanisms. Given their origin in open landscapes with exposure to predators, horses might not require complex social learning for survival.
  • In fact, the heavy energy cost of brain tissue might have favored simple learning mechanisms for adaptation, making such complex abilities as genuine social learning potentially maladaptive in horses.

A Novel Differentiation

  • The researchers propose a differentiation between social transmission (behavioral contagion and enhancement) and authentic social learning (goal emulation, imitation). The idea is to facilitate an understanding of whether horses can truly learn by observation, or if the observed alterations in behavior merely represent sensitivity to intra-species transfer of information.
  • This nuanced understanding is crucial as the current evidence does not support the assertion that horses possess the ability for genuine social learning via observation.

Cite This Article

APA
Rørvang MV, Christensen JW, Ladewig J, McLean A. (2018). Social Learning in Horses-Fact or Fiction? Front Vet Sci, 5, 212. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2018.00212

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 5
Pages: 212

Researcher Affiliations

Rørvang, Maria V
  • Department of Biosystems and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden.
Christensen, Janne W
  • Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark.
Ladewig, Jan
  • Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
McLean, Andrew
  • Equitation Science International, Tuerong, VIC, Australia.

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