Horses Learn by Habit

Horses learn by habit. For example, a domestic horse following a set routine daily will recognize feed time, exercise time, which stable he lives in, and so on.

They learn as part of their training to respond to rider aids and, as the horse progresses, the aids and movements he learns become highly complicated. Horses have memories; they will recognize each other as well as places, and will often exhibit an uncanny homing instinct.

The majority of domestic horses are relatively easy to train, as demonstrated by the 'film horse,' whose training is highly specific and developed and invariably involves the horse carrying out unnatural actions.

Intelligence in animals can also be linked to instinct. A herd of wild horses will maintain a social structure, look after each other, reproduce, find food and water, and escape predators — all of which are primary instincts, and yet also show intelligence.
As with people, some horses are more intelligent than others - the Quarter Horse breed is often credited with being highly intelligent.

However, it is more accurate to realize that they have a good capacity for learning, and a good memory rather than actual Einstein-like natural intelligence.