Table 4.
Choice of the shorter way performed by each horse in the asymmetric condition.
| Horse ID | Short Way (out of 15) | Long Way (out of 15) | Binomial Test | Wilcoxon’s signed ranks testa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H8 (1) | 14 | 1 | z = 3.1 p = 0.001* | |
| H17 (1) | 13 | 2 | z = 2.58 p = 0.0074* | |
| H1 (1) | 11 | 4 | z = 1.55 p = 0.1185 | |
| H5 (1) | 10 | 5 | z = 1.03 p = 0.3018 | |
| H24 (1) | 10 | 5 | z = 1.03 p = 0.3018 | |
| H3 (1) | 9 | 6 | z = 0.52 p = 0.6072 | |
| H22 (1) | 9 | 6 | z = 0.52 p = 0.6072 | |
| H19 (1) | 8 | 7 | z = 0 p = 1.0 | |
| H9 (1) | 8 | 7 | z = 0 p = 1.0 | |
| H7 (1) | 8 | 7 | z = 0 p = 1.0 | |
| H16 (1) | 7 | 8 | z = 0 p = 1.0 | |
| H21 (1) | 6 | 9 | z = −0.52 p = 0.6072 | |
| Mean ± SD | 9.4 ± 2.4 | 5.6 ± 2.4 | z = −2.407; p = 0.003 | |
| H26 (2) | 11 | 4 | z = 1.55 p = 0.1185 | |
| H12 (2) | 9 | 6 | z = 0.52 p = 0.6072 | |
| H14 (2) | 9 | 6 | z = 0.52 p = 0.6072 | |
| H2 (2) | 9 | 6 | z = 0.52 p = 0.6072 | |
| H11 (2) | 8 | 7 | z = 0 p = 1.0 | |
| H10 (2) | 8 | 7 | z = 0 p = 1.0 | |
| H20 (2) | 7 | 8 | z = 0 p = 1.0 | |
| H6 (2) | 6 | 9 | z = −0.52 p = 0.6072 | |
| Mean ± SD | 8.4 ± 1.5 | 6.6 ± 1.5 | z = −1.496; p = 0.047 | |
| H25 (3) | 8 | 7 | z = 0 p = 1.0 | |
| H13 (3) | 8 | 7 | z = 0 p = 1.0 | |
| H15 (3) | 8 | 7 | z = 0 p = 1.0 | |
| H18 (3) | 8 | 7 | z = 0 p = 1.0 | |
| H4 (3) | 7 | 8 | z = 0 p = 1.0 | |
| H23 (3) | 7 | 8 | z = 0 p = 1.0 | |
| Mean ± SD | 7.7 ± 0.5 | 7.3 ± 0.5 | z = −0.816; p = 0.688 |
Some horses (1) maintained the same cognitive style as in symmetric task; they were directionally flexible and detoured the barrier on both sides. Other horses (2) shifted from directionally consistent response in the symmetric task to directionally flexible response in the asymmetric task. The remaining horses (3) maintained the same cognitive style and were directionally consistent in both tasks. Therefore in the asymmetric task horses (1) and (2) were directionally flexible showing the same cognitive style. These directionally flexible horses (1) and (2) significantly selected the shorter way; with two horses from the (1) who significantly selected the shorter way at individual level*. aAsymp. Sig. (2-tailed).