TheHorse.com recently had an article based on a presentation by Dr. Robert Miller, a horse veterinarian as well as a renowned expert on horse behavior, natural horsemanship and developer of imprint training for foals.

Miller spoke at the Western Veterinary Conference held in Las Vegas earlier this year about genetically predetermined behavioral qualities unique to horses due to the natural selection process.  Did you know…

• The horse has the fastest reaction time of any domestic animal, likely since their main defense mechanism is flight.  If a horse really wants to strike or kick, “you can’t get out of the way fast enough,” Miller said.

The fastest reaction time of any domestic animal...

• The horse is the fastest learner of all domestic animals, including children, according to Miller.  “If you stay alive by running away, you better learn fast.

• The horse has one of the best memories in the animal kingdom, second only to the elephant.

• To be a dominant figure to a horse, you have to exert movement control. Matriarch mares, for instance, assert dominance by either forcing or inhibiting movement. Humans can do something similar, Miller said, simply by walking the horse in a few small circles — it forces movement, and asserts dominance.

Interesting stuff!

Click here to read the full article.

Click here to access Dr. Miller’s website.