Researchers recently explored color preferences through the use of different colored water buckets.1 Preference was determined based on how much water was consumed from galvanized steel buckets painted one of six colors: red, yellow, green, light green, light blue, and turquoise.
Six horses, three Thoroughbreds and three Haflingers, were maintained on the same diet throughout the study (2 to 4.5 pounds of forage, 1-2 pounds of concentrate per 220 pounds of body weight). They were turned out in paddocks each day for seven hours for the duration of the study period, which lasted 18 days. Six buckets, one in each of the six colors, were attached to the fence equidistant from one another, about two meters. Researchers shifted bucket positions each day so that every bucket was in every position along the fence.
Based on water intake, researchers found that horses preferred to drink from the turquoise buckets. Preferences for the colors, from highest to lowest, were turquoise, light blue, light green, green, yellow, and red. Horses chose the blues over other colors and light-toned colors over darker tones.
In light of these results, the researchers suggested that the use of turquoise or light blue buckets might encourage horses to drink.
How Horses Perceive Color, Simply Put
Behavioral studies have demonstrated the ability of horses to discriminate colors. Like most other nonprimate mammals, horses are thought to have dichromatic color vision. Humans have trichromatic color vision and can see the four basic hues of red, green, blue, and yellow as well as an array of intermediate hues, like orange (yellowish-red) or violet (reddish-blue), and thousands of shades.
Scientists believe that horses and other animals with dichromatic vision do not process intermediate hues, seeing only shades of blue and yellow.
1Yildirim, F., and A. Yildiz. 2020. Water bucket colour preferences in horses. Australia Journal of Veterinary Sciences 52(2).
2Carroll, J., C.J. Murphy, M. Neitz, J.N. Ver Hoeve, and J. Neitz. 2001. Photopigment basis for dichromatic color vision in the horse. Journal of Vision 1:80-87.
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Three-time Eclipse Award winning jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., cast in the role of a hired gun, orchestrated a brilliant one length victory by longshot There Goes Harvard in the 84th running of the $400,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) Monday at Santa Anita.
Trained by Michael McCarthy and owned by his breeder, Cannon Thoroughbreds LLC, There Goes Harvard got 1 ¼ miles in 2:02.66.
With Defunded and Stilleto Boy dueling for the early lead in the run by the grandstand the first time, Defunded showed the way by a half length with seven furlongs to run while There Goes Harvard tracked in fourth at the rail, about four lengths off the lead with favored Royal Ship just in front of him to his outside.
There Goes Harvard continued to save ground while Defunded gained the advantage over Stilleto Boy midway around the far turn. At the top of the lane, Defunded opened up by 1 ½ lengths, with Stiletto Boy laboring and There Goes Harvard on the move with Royal Ship all-out to his outside.
Leaving the furlong marker, the only horse with a chance of catching Defunded was There Goes Harvard and he did just that with less than a sixteenth of a mile to run.
“I was pretty excited, when I saw him stick his head in front coming to the three sixteenths pole, I got a little emotional but things just worked out properly,” said McCarthy, who notched his first Gold Cup win, as did Ortiz. “Small field, you have to take a shot. The horse is doing well and sometimes you just have to take a chance.
“I just can't thank Irad enough here. Everybody involved, my grooms, my guys, everyone in Barn 59, big day. The way things are going lately, it's nice to get a win anywhere, but yes these are the kinds of races you get up for in the morning. You hope you are lucky enough to participate in, let alone win.”
A second conditioned allowance winner going one mile on turf here May 14, There Goes Harvard, in his first graded stakes appearance, was off at 8-1 in a field of five 3-year-olds and up and paid $19.60.
“I had a perfect trip,” said Ortiz, who shipped in for the Memorial Day card from his Belmont Park base. “My horse was fighting a little bit with me going into the first turn, they went a little fast. I tried to let him relax, settle a little bit and he did come back to me on the backside. That was the key, after that, I was just biding my time and kicked him out down the stretch and he responded really well.”
A 4-year-old colt by Will Take Charge, There Goes Harvard, who won a first condition allowance on dirt two starts back on April 17, thus notched his third win in a row and improved his overall mark to 12-4-5-2. With the winner's share of $240,000, he increased his earnings to $455,090.
In a massive effort, Defunded, ridden by Abel Cedillo, finished 3 ¼ lengths in front of Royal Ship.
Brazilian-bred Royal Ship, second in last year's Gold Cup, flattened out through the drive to finish third, three-quarters of a length in front of Stilleto Boy.
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