When a behavior is repeated multiple times, the sequence of actions becomes unconscious and automatic, freeing up attention to learn something else while flawlessly performing the action. | Photo: iStock

Q.I’m pursuing a series of questions that were sparked by a quote: “Musicians must practice until muscle memory sets in, until the brain is free to forget, but the body still clearly remembers.” What does this have to do with horses, you ask?

Do horses have muscle memory? Could they have faster and better muscle memory than humans? Would this help explain why constant repetition can actually reverse progress? Would it be advantageous to a prey animal to have the faster memory? And does it help the human to remember this when working with horses? I have found articles and opinions of muscle memory in the rider but nothing of note for the horse.

—Via