Meet Clever Hans, the 1900s horse that was believed to be able to solve math equations and read German

06/28/2026

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Findings

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When Clever Hans was prompted with math questions, he responded by tapping his hoof to indicate his answers. His abilities attracted large crowds.Share Finding
Even a panel of experts found no indication of trickery in the horse’s demonstrations. However, psychology student Oskar Pfungst found that Hans stopped tapping once a subtle cue on his owner’s face told him to stop. The cues were so subtle that Hans’ owner didn’t even know he was giving them.Share Finding
After Pfungst exposed the truth, the public felt duped, and the success and reputation of both horse and owner were ruined. Pfungst’s study led to what is now known as the Clever Hans Effect, which appears in other studies of animal cognition and demonstrates the ob