Survival in the wild is often dependent on an ability to adapt rapidly to new conditions. Horses can learn fast if the right training is given.

Horses learn mainly by means of association of ideas. It has been scientifically and practically proved that if a horse can be made to associate a particular task, even an umpleasant or frightening one, with something pleasant he will tolerate it much more readily. For instance, a horse that does not like being shod will accept it in time if it learns that it will be fed some favourite titbits, or have a net of sweet hay to nibble at, during the process. If you are trying to theach a horse to move over in the stable, for example by pushing it so that it moves away, and at the same time saying "over", it soon leans to aassociate the push with the action and before long will move over to a slight pressure on its side or just the word "over". The position of the handler's body is important too.

Horses lean their daily routine quickly and watch the goings on, listen to the various sounds, and absorb daily happenings. They quickly associate the rattle of feed buckets with the appearance of feed, for instance, and the sight of someone carrying their saddle and bridle with work or going for a hack.

They are also quick to absorb atmosphere and can differentiate between a pleased, praising or claming tone in the human voice and a sharp, cross, reprimanding tone, or an urging, encouraging one.