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Article . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Article . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
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Toward Controlled Drawing in Horses: A Stepwise Protocol for Directional Stroke Control, Symbol Imitation, and Progressive Abstraction

Authors: Molchanova, Olena;

Toward Controlled Drawing in Horses: A Stepwise Protocol for Directional Stroke Control, Symbol Imitation, and Progressive Abstraction

Abstract

This preprint describes an ongoing experimental program aimed at moving from simple tool-holding behavior to controlled, command-guided stroke production and eventually to the reproduction of schematic images (e.g., geometric shapes, letters, and simple drawings such as a tree, a horse, or a human). While many demonstrations labeled as “horse painting” consist of unconstrained brush movements, the present goal is to test whether horses can acquire (i) directional control of strokes (up/down/left/right) on command, (ii) stable reproduction of simple geometric primitives, (iii) copying of symbols by exemplar (letters and shapes), and (iv) progressive abstraction toward schematic representations. We provide a stepwise protocol, current training status after five sessions in cold outdoor conditions (paint not yet introduced), planned measures for quantifying control and generalization, and a data plan based on synchronized video and session logs. The work is explicitly framed as an experiment: success is not assumed, but the protocol is designed to generate interpretable results under realistic constraints.

Keywords

imitation learning, animal cognition, comparative cognition, horse learning, equine cognition, abstraction, human–animal interaction, video-based analysis, tool use, operant conditioning, motor control, symbol learning, voluntary training, drawing protocol, behavioral experiment

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
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