FLIP THE BUCKET - 5 minutes Does your horse show initiative?
This is a view-of-the-world test. Your horse must be able to understand that even though an object disappears from view, it still exists. If the treat has a strong smell, the test would not be conclusive, because scent would give away its position.
What do I need?
An empty bucket
A pet treat or toy that isn't too smelly
Step 1: Let your horse see you place the treat on the ground.
Step 2: Place the bucket over the treat. How does your horse react?
Results:
A - Horse flips bucket over
B - Horse shows interest in bucket, but gives up
C - Horse completely ignores bucket
If option A - Your horse understands what psychologists call "object permanence". It realises that objects continue to exist even after they have disappeared from view. This is cleverer than you may imagine. To understand this, it must believe in a world beyond its perception.
If option B - Your horse shows signs that it understands that the treat still exists under the vessel. This could be because it can still smell the treat, or it could be because it still imagines it to be there. The latter takes some thought and your horse is being fairly smart. You might also consider trying the test with another vessel or on another surface in case it was just too difficult to flip over.
If option C - Your horse has shown that it doesn't understand the idea that an object exists when it isn't perceived. For many animals this is a natural response: it takes a leap of imagination to picture a world beyond the one that we see in front of us. We humans act the same way until we are about 9 months old.
