Do senior horses, like senior humans, have a reduced learning and retention capacity? Researchers in Italy and France realized that age-related declines in short-term and long-term memory have not yet been studied thoroughly in equids.

Researchers1 used a behavioral test based on touching a target. That test demonstrated that even elderly horses can learn new associations between stimuli and maintain their memory after 10 days. However, researchers said aged horses showed slower recovery times for recalling memorized information compared to animals under 16 years of age.

“Senior horses are capable of associative learning,” noted the research. “However, they show slower recovery times for recalling memorized information compared to animals under 16 years of age.”

About the Research

This research aimed to assess the learning and short- and long-term memory abilities of adult and senior horses.

They used 21 adult horses (5–15 years) and 23 senior horses (16 years and older). Each was subjected to a behavioral test (Target Touch Test). The test was repeated three times each for the initial test (T1) and again after 10 days (T10).

Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between adult and senior horses in the three tests conducted at T1. However, a significant difference was observed at T10.

“In fact, senior horses took longer to complete the test than adults,” the researchers noted.

There was no difference between male and female adult and senior horses in completing the three single tests at T1 and T10.

Conclusion

“Senior horses are capable of associative learning and maintaining the memory of this learning after 10 days,” the research stated. However, they found aged horses showed slower recovery times for recalling memorized information compared to animals under 16 years of age.

Reference

The Memory Abilities of the Elderly Horse. Animals 2025. Syria Cellai, Angelo Gazzano, Lucia Casini, Valentina Gazzano, Francesca Cecchi, Fabio Macchioni, Alessandro Cozzi, Lucie Pageat, Sana Arroub, Sara Fratini, Martina Felici, Maria Claudia Curadi, and Paolo Baragli.

Further Content

Sign up for My Senior Horse’s FREE newsletter to get the latest information about equids 15 years and older delivered straight to your inbox!  

  • Kimberly S. Brown and Jewell

    Kimberly S. Brown is an award-winning writer and publisher. She is the Editorial Director for My Senior Horse. Brown spent 10 years at Equine Network, parent company of My Senior Horse. Prior to that she worked for three years in equine nutrition after she retired from nearly 30 years working at The Blood-Horse. Brown spent the last 15 years of her time at that organization creating and developing The Horse and TheHorse.com.

    View all posts