THE USE OF A MAZE IN TESTING LEARNING AND MEMORY IN HORSES

Two mazes were used to test the learning ability and memory of horses, and changes in these abilities. Testing was done on four occasions. O n Occasion 1, the horses were run through Maze A until they had reache d the criterion of three consecutive correct runs. A week later (Occas ion 2), they were retested in Maze A to the same criterion as a measur e of memory. On Occasion 3, 2 months later, the horses were run throug h Mazes A and B until they reached the criterion. Occasion 4 took plac e 1 week later when they were run through Mazes A and B. An estimation of changes in ability to learn came from a comparison of results from Occasions 1 and 3. Similarly, changes in ability to remember came fro m a comparison of results from Occasions 2 and 4. Nine horses with a v ariable amount of riding training were the subjects. All horses were a ble to learn the maze, but the ability varied among horses. There was no obvious correlation between quality of handling of the horses and l earning ability. Once the horses had learned the maze, they remembered it perfectly on subsequent occasions. There were changes in the memor y and learning ability of the horses, but no clear explanation for thi s could be found.