The Mind of the Horse – Michel-Antoine Leblanc

Detailní popis produktu

How do horses perceive the world? What can scientific research tell us about their intelligence, sensory abilities and the way their minds work?

In The Mind of the Horse: An Introduction to Equine Cognition, Michel-Antoine Leblanc presents an extensive scientific exploration of equine cognition, bringing together research from neuroscience, ethology, experimental psychology and evolutionary biology.

For centuries, humans have observed and interpreted horse behaviour, often relying on tradition, personal experience and assumptions about equine intelligence. This book takes a different approach, examining what controlled scientific investigations reveal about the mental capacities of horses.

The author explores how horses receive, process and interpret information from their physical and social environments, providing readers with a deeper understanding of the biological foundations of equine perception.

Key topics include:

• The evolution of the equine brain and nervous system.

• Scientific approaches to studying equine cognition.

• The relationship between brain structure and mental abilities.

• Visual perception, including colour vision, depth and movement.

• Recognition of shapes, objects and visual information.

• Hearing and the perception of acoustic signals.

• Olfactory perception, pheromones and the sense of taste.

• Tactile sensitivity and the role of touch.

• Experimental research into how horses interpret their surroundings.

• The broader implications of cognitive science for understanding horses.

Throughout the book, Leblanc examines experimental findings and discusses the questions that remain unanswered, offering a detailed picture of both established knowledge and the complexities of equine cognition.

The volume includes scientific references, photographs, illustrations and tables that support its comprehensive treatment of the subject.

The Mind of the Horse is particularly suitable for students, researchers, veterinarians, equine behaviour specialists and dedicated horse owners seeking a deeper, academically grounded understanding of the horse's sensory and cognitive world.

An important reference for anyone interested in looking beyond traditional interpretations of horse behaviour and exploring the science of how horses perceive, process and experience their environment.