Response of Horses to Sweet, Salty, Sour and Bitter Solutions

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Abstract
The two-choice preference test was used to characterize the test reactions of five immature horses to sweet, salty, sour and bitter tasting solutions. Sucrose was preferred (>60% of total fluid as test solution) to tap water by the foals at concentrations ranging from 1.25 to 10 g/100 ml. Concentrations above and below this range resulted in indifference (40 to 60% of fluid consumed as test solution). The horses were indifferent to NaCl until a concentration of .63 g/100 ml was reached. At this level the mean response changed to rejection (<40% of total fluid as test solution). Further increases in the concentration of NaCl to 5 g/100 ml brought about strong rejection responses. Foals were indifferent to acetic acid up to .16 ml/100 ml. At this and higher concentrations, rejection responses occurred. Taste reactions to quinine fell into the nondiscrimination zone from .16 to 10 mg/100 ml. At higher concentrations (20, 40, 80 mg/100 ml), the foals rejected quinine. A comparison of the taste reactions of the young horses with those of some ruminant species would indicate that the immature horse responds quite similarly to sheep in its taste behavior. As with ruminant species, individual horses are quite variable in their response to a particular test chemical. Copyright © 1978. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1978 by American Society of Animal Science.

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