Ok, Bill and I had a discussion about this today and we totally disagreed.  Here's the thing - I've always thought that certain traits are genetic in certain breeds.  For example herding breeds will have the instinct to herd other animals; rat terriers will go after rodents - they can be trained to further that instinct but the trait is born with them.

I'm no dog expert though.  I did tell him the examples I've seen with horse breeds...for example I've seen young colts playing in the pasture start "herding" dogs and cats...these were quarter horses from very "cow lines" and they would get their heads down and head off the dogs just like you see cowboys on horses do with cows...only these colts hadn't been trained yet or even ridden. 

Am I wrong? Are horses different in this way?  Bill says everything dog breeds do (herding, guarding, retrieving, pointing, etc.) has to be trained.

Anyone? Nora?