Horse Senses Flashcards
1
Q
The main horse senses
A
- Sight and skin sensitivity
- Hearing and smell
- Reflex for flight
- Memory and gregarious nature
- Feel ground vibrations
2
Q
Sight
A
- Eyes set wide on head
- Monocular and Binocular vision
3
Q
Monocular vision
A
- Protect from predators
- Allows to see danger from either side (without turning head)
4
Q
Binocular vision
A
- Used to judge distances
- Typically not as good as monocular vision
- Horses with close set eyes have bad BV
- Some learn to develop BV through training
5
Q
Blind Spots
A
Directly behind hindquarters and behind head
6
Q
Where can’t horses use BV?
A
Closer than 4 ft
7
Q
How far around can a grazing horse see around its body
A
360 degrees
8
Q
Touch
A
- Keen sense of touch
- Can easily feel hands on bit and legs on ribs
9
Q
Sensitive areas
A
Eyes, ears, nose (mucous membranes)
Withers, ribs, flanks, legs
10
Q
Hearing
A
- Excellent hearing (better than sight)
- 1st ears point to sound then round
11
Q
Smell
A
- Good sense (not great)
- Can return home up to 5 miles away
- Young horses like to smell saddle
- Smell can dictate gazing habits
12
Q
Flight Reflex
A
- Quick to panic
- Endowed with system of ligaments that permit sleep while standing
- Will panic into flight w/out much movement
- Young horses will try to flee
- Careful management and good horsemanship should be used to combat issues
13
Q
Memory
A
- Considered second only to elephants
- Creatures of habit
- Bad habits should be corrected
- Cannot associate overeating
14
Q
Gregarious Nature
A
- To be safe from attack
- Still seen in Zebras in Africa
- Can be used to the benefit of trainers
