Are horses as 'smart' as cows, generally speaking?

Question

I know they're several steps below dogs, cats, ferrets and pigs. But are they near par with cows?

Cattle appear unintelligent because as far as I know, nobody ever tries working with them. I wonder if I could train a young cow to do everything a typical horse can do.

Answer 1

Most scientists seem to think that horses are much smarter than domestic cattle. Some of the wild cattle seem to be very intelligent. Perhaps domestication bred out intelligence like it likely did with dogs. It is also possible that cattle are more intelligent but just very passive. (JMO)

Answer 2

Horses.
1. Cows let us eat them. Horses worked it out that we would feed, train and ride them.
2. Horses get on TV (e.g. Mr. Ed) - no cows TV stars.

OK Seriously:

An Oregon State Universtiry study concluded that cows are less intelligent.

http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ncs/newsarch/1997/July97/animaliq.htm

But see also:

Horses can be trained and are even used as guide animals. See: http://www.guidehorse.org/intellig.htm

Cows are credited with considerable cognitive abilities. See: http://www.goveg.com/f-hiddenlivescows_knowhow.asp

Answer 3

Cows are pretty stupid. Horses have more social interactions, Cows usually just browse together

Answer 4

Horses are smarter than cows.

Answer 5

Probably a bit smarter, actually. I've never thought cows were all that bright.