Department of Psychology

Audiogram of the domestic horse (Equus caballus)

 

Data from: Heffner, R., and Heffner, H. (1983) Hearing in large mammals: The horse (Equus caballus) and cattle (Bos taurus). Behavioral Neuroscience, 97, 299-309.

 

Absolute thresholds (in dB re 20 µN/m2) for three horses (designated A, B, and C)

 

Frequency

(in kHz)

Individual Thresholds

(in dB)

 

Average

A

B

C

.0315

>83

81

78

81

.063

57

54

54

55

.125

44

44

47

45

.250

25

25

30

27

.500

17

13

14

15

1

6

9

11

9

2

14

7

0

7

4

16

19

13

16

8

9

4

21

11

16

17

3

10

10

32

64

22

52

46

35

90

32

90

70

40

85

 

Lowest and highest frequencies audible at sound

pressure levels (SPL) ranging from 30 to 70 dB SPL

SPL

(in dB)

Lowest audible frequency (in kHz)

Highest audible frequency (in kHz)

70

.042

35

60

.055

33.5

50

.100

32.5

40

.175

28.5

30

.235

23.5

 

Additional Parameters:

Body weight = 315 kg

Functional interaural distance= 684 µs

(Time required for sound to travel around the head from one auditory meatus to the other.)

 

Comments: Threshold values taken from original data.

Last Updated: 6/27/22