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Equus caballus and the Capacity for Their Short-Term Recollection

CSEF · 2010 Mammalian Biology (Senior Division Only)

Taylor P. Livingston, Jessica K. Orosco · Ventura High School, Ventura, Ventura County

Overview

Objectives/Goals The objestive for our project was to conclude whether or not horses short-term memory exceeded scientists origional assumption. Methods/Materials We placed five large buckets in an arena and spread them out approximately five feet away from each other. We then took each horse individually and led them to a particular numbered bucket containing a carrot. After waiting five minutes, we then released them into the arena to record their response. We then repeated the process with each horse. Results Our results showed that the accuracy of the test increased with repetition. Each individual horse and the overall group of horses improved their short term memory with each test. Conclusions/Discussion Our conclusion from these experiments was that the average horse has a short- term memory extremely similar to the human memory. Humans can also improve short term memory with repetition. With practice, our short-term memory grows increasingly better as with horses.

Summary statement

We tested the capacity of the horse's short- term memory, and what increases that capacity.

Help received

My ranch owner Jan supplied most of our horses.

Competition history

  • CSEF 2010 Mammalian Biology (Senior Division Only) · Entry S1407

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