Final answer:
The statement regarding horse behavior is true; behaviors in horses and other animals are a combination of genetic factors and environmental experiences. This interplay illustrates the nature-nurture debate, recognizing both innate and learned behaviors, which can evolve if they contribute to an animal's fitness.
Step-by-step explanation:
In horses, as in other animals, behaviors can be both instinctual and learned. Instinctual behaviors, such as mating systems and methods of communication, are typically inherited and are not greatly influenced by the environment. Conversely, learned behaviors, such as imprinting, habituation, conditioning, and cognitive learning, allow a horse to adapt to its environment and are influenced by the horse's experiences.
While the genetics an animal inherits (nature) can provide a tendency to behave in certain ways, the environmental experiences (nurture) play a significant role in shaping these behaviors. The nature-nurture debate continues to explore to what extent behaviors are controlled by genes or the environment, and it is now well-accepted that a combination of both plays a role. Additionally, these behaviors may evolve over time if they provide a fitness advantage through natural selection.
Cognitive learning, in particular, is an example of an animal learning a behavior in response to either a positive or negative stimulus, which indicates a complex interaction between innate predispositions and environmental influences.