Abstract: INTRODUCTION to the social intelligence tests
This document contains the result of adjusting 12 tests written for dogs to the sensory modes and size
of horses. Stanley Coren calls the tests “Canine IQ Tests,” but also says the tests are probably
measurements of “social intelligence.” Coren's book also contains the list of dog breeds ranked by
score on these tests. The technical, psychological definition of “intelligence” is not relevant to these
tests (the usual academic caveats about data and variables). Also, an animal that is very clever and is
not interested in interacting with humans will score low on these tests, so if your horse is a low scorer,
it may mean that people just are not interesting for him.
I am posting the tests because 1) my riding club thought they were fun when I showed them the video
record of the testing protocol and 2) the several horses tested thought they were fun. Of these horses,
my two (a German sport horse and a Morgan) became more alert in responding to their human
companion (me) after the tests were run....