Is horse the dumbest animal ever?

Question

I have been help a friend out with his horses ranch. I can't believe I use to think horses are as intelligent as a dog. They seems to be the stupidest thing I ever met. I have seen a smarter pigeon who manage to chase people away from their foods.

Every time I walk pass the horses, they would steps and beg to be pet but the moment I try to touch them, they would get scared. Can't they make up thier mind? Do they want to be pet or not?

They sometime would let me pet then they would try to bite after a min or two.

In the stable, they look so miserable and when I try to call them over so I can pet them to cheer them up some. They just stare at me with that dumb stare.

When I try to feed them hay, they often accidnetally got poke in face and wince.

Are they really that dumb or what?

Oh and they would also eat until they die.

Oh everyone claim they're intelligent but yet no one can explain their stupid behavior? I NEVER harm them in any way, in fact they really disappoint me because I thought they would be a neat animal but I was so wrong. I know my friend never mistreat them.

Answer 1

how do you approach the horses? You need to give the horse time to know he can trust you. when you pet a horse, always try to pet him with your hand lower than his head, so he knows you are not trying to hit him. Never try to pet him with your hand held high. give him time to get to know your scent. Some people will gently blow into the horses nose. They identify you through scent. Be quiet, and let the horse come to you. It takes time, but the horse, needs to know you will not hurt him. Do not rush the horse. It is quietness the horse needs, and it takes time. They are not stupid, simply carefull.

Answer 2

Okay to make a statement like that you have never owned one. They are extremely intelligent in a different way than any other animal. They aren't dancing around to be pet, they dance to be fed or let out to graze or for attention from the people they are bonded to. To know a horses true intelligence you have to own one and trust and be trusted by one. Sorry you just won't understand them by visiting them now and then, and every horse owner should agree. They are quirky at times, but very predictable the rest of the time, and certain things they do mean certain things, and unless you know how to read a horses body language and sorta talk his language, they will always seem foreign to you no offense.
They can be very very intelligent animals and perceptive as well. Next time try walking up with a piece of watermelon instead of a boring pet that they could care less about. Don't poke hay at their face, present it in your hand and wait for them to approach it and take it. They are excellent judges of character! I never trusted any guy my horses or dogs didn't like! I'm sure the horses are questioning your etiquette too.

Answer 3

Horses are very intelligent animals. I believe you've got it backwards. Not only can they be trained to perform several tasks, they make great companions. The reason they are always eating actually comes from their wild relatives; wild horses are constantly on the go, and therefore they need as much food as they can consume. Plus, horses that are worked very hard also need more food. Chewing hay is also a way to help cure boredom.
I believe the reason they shy away when you try to pet them is because they are actually expecting you to give them a treat. My horse does the same exact thing, but she does enjoy a good pet. You just have to read the signs right.

Answer 4

Ok horses are NOT dumb, and I'll try my best to explain their actions.

Yes, they will eat until their stomach explodes. But that's only sweet feed...it's like some people are with chocolate, even though they know it'll make then sick, they keep eating just because it's good. They don't know it will hurt them.

Yes, they will chew on wood and eat sand until their stomach starts turning and they can barely stand up. This is known as cribbing, and a lot of times that's the owner's fault. Never put hay or feed on the ground where the horse might pick up sand as they eat, and shake the dirt of grass before you give it to them. When they colic, you have to keep them walking until it passes through their body. If you let them lay down, it can kill them.

As far as their actions go...what they do is a reflection of their past, their surroundings, and your feelings toward them. If you're scared, they know, and some horses aren't trained to handle that. Their spine is very sensitive in that way, so when you're riding, your emotions become theirs. If they have been mistreated in the past, they have every right to be scared, just as we do.

I'm trying to think of another example, but none are coming to mind. Let me know if you have any more questions...I have horses myself and I'll try to help you out.

Answer 5

How can you explain the stupid behavior for any type of animal- especially humans? Every animal has its quirk- such as dogs who fetch a stick and bring it back to you just so they can repeat the same dang process all over again. Or a cat who runs up a tree after a squirrel and ends up getting stuck.

How can you explain the stupidity of your question and some of the other questions on here? Its an anomaly.


I mean the horses can't be too stupid if they can spot an idiot like you and choose not to walk up to you.

Answer 6

Just any animal a horse is what you make? If you don't work with them the only thing that they are goning to want to do is eat. When they act afraia it is becauae they are a flight animal and that is how they survivie out int the wild you have to worjk with them to get them out of that. When I horse tries to bite you that is a show of disrespect. A horse is going to try you to see what they can get away with. Even though you have taught them certain things sometimes they will still try you on this. you might want to try reading some of John Lyons books or GaWani Ponyboy's book horse follow closely there is a lot of food info here.

Answer 7

firstly, why is it that folks who call certain animals dumb never proof read or check for grammatical errors in their writings?? (this makes me think it is the rantings of an ignorant imbecile!)

Secondly, it is for the most part only domestic horses who will eat themselves to death..when their food is portioned to only eat during certain times of the day and certain amounts, when they get some large amounts of high protein foods it can overload the systems. (eg. you are not used to eating chocolate in your whole life..suddenly someone give you chocolate..you eat a bunch and get a tummy ache) fortunately for you in this scenario..you don't have miles and miles of twisted intestine for the food to pass through. This does not relate to intelligence, it relates to physiology
Thirdly, horses are more than likely looking for treats from you..not pets..or maybe you approach them too quickly (it is not stupid for a prey animal to move away from something approaching them in an "attack" or "hunter" motion.) it is actually very smart on their part..you are just the idiot human who doesn't understand (or even try to understand) the intelligence of backing away from something that moves in the same manner as say, a cougar or wolf etc.
Fourthly: are you holding their hay in a manner that is causing them to get poked when they eat??
bottom line..they are not stupid...you are just presenting an argument that does not consider smart from a biological, historical, behavioral, survival perspective..you are only considering things from a predator/human perspective.

Answer 8

Unless you are a horse person and have expierienced knowledge on horses, i dont think you can rightfully say horses are unintelligent. If you take the time to learn a horse's language, you'll see they are anything but "dumb animals." It is unfair to the horse to cast aspersions against his intellectual capacity because we fail to comprehend his language or ways. Doing so is akin to calling a Spaniard stupid because you're an English speaker and simply do not understand the Spanish language! Before you can judge a person or horse's intelligence, you must first understand their language so you can adequately communicate your statements or desires.

Horses can learn over 250+ commands from a rider, most of the time only taking about 5 months to learn... Yet somehow they learn things that can barely be tought, for example leg yielding. You can't physically make a horse cross one leg over the other and do the "grapevine", however they learn to do it... You can't physcially make a horse canter in place, however they learn to do it.

The only reason horses are flighty is because they are prey animals and learn to be on guard at all times: hence sleeping standing up. The horse wants to be pet, but its your fault for abruptly raising your hand up to its face. If i went us to you and clapped in your face and "made ya blink" then it's the same kind of situation... Instinctual.

Horses wont come to a complete stranger, it takes them awhile to get to know and love a person... They dont come to their names, but instead to the voice of their owner.... Obviously this horse didn't want to come to you because it didn't know you, and i CAN SEE WHY it wouldn't!

A horse wont eat itself to death, how do you think wild horses still survive will millions apon millions of acres of grass to gorge on? Even if given grain they will eat a lot, because its like a treat, however they wont die-- they will just eat until they get a stomachache, like a child would with treats or sweets. Most of the treats we give them aren't natural in which case if they do eat a lot of them, it would be our faults for creating something unnatural for a horse and then giving it accesive amounts.

I think that you are the ignorant one here-- Too many people underestimate the intelligence of horses, believing equines to be dependent almost solely on natural instinct rather than actual cognitive ability. The irony behind this untrue perception is that it is generally the result of ignorance or misunderstanding on the part of the human, rather than the horse.

Answer 9

You have such a poor sick attitude about horses. They do want to be petted but like you when you meet someone you arent really sure so they are trying to read you. Perhaps they can "read" that you have a very poor attitude. How and why did they wince when you tried to feed them hay? Did you stick the points in their face. I never heard of anything so stupid sorry. You have alot of negative energy inside you. I feel sorry for you to have the need to express yourself like this. Weird you are very weird.

Answer 10

I'd say the dumbness is more on your head, i.e., not understanding the nature of animal behavior.

A lot of a horses behavior has to do with their eyesight. They see movement differently than we do. Thus, they are easily spooked or become aggressive.
Besides, like all animals, they have an agenda, when you try to call one over, YOU are obviously not offering anything important enough for it to bother.

ADDITIONAL:
Stop ranting and go LEARN about horses, you HAVE Internet and Google.
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