"Hey – I recognize that one! An Italian study has investigated whether horses are capable of recognizing their own species in pictures. The results show that they indeed can, and they can even distinguish between horses and other animal species.

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It is crucial for prey animals to recognize common traits among their species and differentiate them from other species. This is particularly relevant for horses as prey animals to know that they should flee upon encountering a predator.

The study shows that horses can differentiate between horses and donkeys. Photo: Archive

Can distinguish between horses and donkeys

A team of Italian researchers from the Department of Veterinary Sciences at the University of Messina conducted a study to explore the horse's abilities in visually distinguishing between their species and other animals.

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In the study, large 2D color images of horses, sheep, cows, donkeys, and pigs were used. Food was placed behind the pictures of horses, and then the food was moved behind the images of other animals. The test required the horses to press their muzzles against the correct image to find the food.

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80% of the horses in the study could distinguish between the images of horses and those of other animals – even donkeys. This was the case when the food was behind the images of horses, as well as when it was behind the other animal images. The analysis also concluded that the horses could not differentiate between cows, pigs, donkeys, and sheep.

Horses are adept at recognizing their fellow species. Photo: Archive

Insight into the Horse's Brain Can Enhance Equine Welfare

The conclusion of the study was that horses can recognize their own species in pictures, but they do not differentiate between the species of other animals. This knowledge is more than just an amusing fact. The findings reveal something about how horses perceive 2D images, providing insight into the functioning of the horse's brain.

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"All cognitive tests can help us better understand the minds of our horses, which is crucial for equine welfare," says Giulia Ragonese, one of the researchers involved in the study."

Sources

Studie: Interspecific two-dimensional visual discrimination of faces in horses