Playing With Lukas | Blog

ANIMAL COMMUNICATION STORY by Debra Saum

KMandLukas — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 22:51:35 +0000

His name is Lukas and he’s the current holder of the Guinness Book of World Records for the Smartest Horse. His owner and best friend Karen Murdock is a loving and enlightened woman who’s devoted her life to teaching a simple yet powerful method of training animals using kindness and affection.

When I first learned of Karen and Lukas, I wanted to create a portrait of Lukas as a donation to them for their tireless and humble efforts. I contacted Karen and we set up an appointment.

Upon meeting Lukas, I was overwhelmed with how affectionate, interactive and communicative he was. Eager to express the love and devotion he and Karen share, he spoke of his gratitude for being rescued (he’s an off the track thoroughbred) as well as how important their work together has become. I asked him if he realized what an impact he was having on the lives of both people and animals. His matter-of-fact reply was “Well, it’s just what we do”. When I queried him about his up-coming portrait, (I always ask my animal subjects if they have anything special in mind for their painting) he said he wanted it to speak to Karen’s heart. “She and I are like one.”

As the weeks progressed and I worked on Lukas’ portrait, we posted photos of the painting on his facebook page along with communications Lukas and I were having. His fans watched as Lukas’ portrait unfolded; I was thrilled to share my remarkable experiences with such an exceptional horse.

Of all the animals whose portraits I’ve created, Lukas is by far one of the most unforgettable; I was deeply touched by him. His dignity, his uplifting sense of humor and most importantly his message of kindness, dedication and love are far reaching. Lukas continues to inspire individuals and organizations all around the world. Through the work that he and Karen are doing, people from all walks of life are recognizing animals as the highly intelligent, living souls they are. Karen and Lukas are showing others that by treating animals with the respect, patience and tenderness they deserve, our lives can be filled with unconditional love, hope and wonder.

For more information about Lukas visit www.playingwithlukas.com

Debra Saum Blog – To find out more about animals, true stories, her art, books and other great stuff please visit Debra’s blog.

Lukas Gets His Own Remote!

KMandLukas — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 05:23:23 +0000

World’s Smartest Horse Reaches a Quarter-Million Views on You-Tube

Walnut, California — Lukas, the World’s Smartest Horse (according to the World Records Academy) and current Guinness World Record Holder (“Most numbers correctly identified by a horse in one minute: 19”), has exceeded 250,000 You-Tube views in just two years. The popular gelding quickly reached celebrity status after his debut on NBC, which was followed by appearances on CBS, ABC, CNN, HLN, Time Warner and Inside Edition.

Lukas’ You-Tube channel (youtube.com/playingwithlukas) offers a wide variety of educational and entertaining videos including his American Horse Publications award-wining documentary. The ex-racer and former rescue, along with his best friend Karen Murdock, are dedicated to bringing awareness to those in need. Lukas’ heart-warming story has spread to almost seventy countries and the “Million Hit Horse” has received mainstream notice that has crossed cultures, languages, genders and generations.

According to Murdock, “Our goal has been to show how smart and wonderful animals are for their improved treatment, and we’re glad to see that this is being recognized.” Murdock, a psychiatric nurse for the last twenty-seven years, believes that practicing kindness toward the innocent and defenseless becomes a way for us to also cultivate acceptance of each other.

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” Albert Einstein

Lukas’ Knows He’s Lukas: World’s Smartest Horse Passes Self-Awareness Test

KMandLukas — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 22:48:09 +0000

Lukas, the World’s Smartest Horse (according to the World Records Academy) and Guinness World Record Holder (“Most numbers correctly identified by a horse in one minute: 19”), has joined an elite group: those with the capacity for self-awareness. He has proved that he is able to recognize his own reflection in a mirror as an image of himself. To date, only humans (after the age of eighteen months), great apes, bottlenose dolphins, orcas, elephants and European magpies have successfully passed this test.

For this experiment, Karen Murdock, Lukas’ owner/trainer, utilized the mirror test, developed by Gordon Gallup in 1970 (based on observations by Charles Darwin). It determines whether an animal can recognize its own reflection in a mirror as an image of itself. Lukas’ four by six foot Plexiglas mirror, two inch round stickers and the following steps were used:

- Covertly marking Lukas with two odorless spots: the test spot was on a part of Lukas which was visible in front of a mirror, and the control spot which was placed on an accessible but hidden part of his body (to rule out tactile involvement).

- Videotaped recordings documented whether Lukas reacted in a manner consistent with his being aware that the test spot was located on his own body, rather than on the mirror, while ignoring the control spot.

- Indications of awareness included: turning and moving his body so he could better view the marking in the mirror, or poking at the marking on his body with his muzzle while viewing the mirror.

- If Lukas didn’t recognize his image, Murdock would have attempted to teach this to him. No prior access to mirrors and not having the necessary previous experiences to use them could possibly have been a factor in the event of Lukas’ non self-recognition.

For conclusive duplicable evidence, Murdock included additional preliminary steps:

- Teaching Lukas the spot touch (held in different locations).

- Lukas learning to go to the mirror and looking at himself when requested to do so.

- Lukas standing immobile in front of mirror, despite trainer’s movements.

- Lukas recognizing test spot when held in reflection (spot initially put on paper plate which was gradually trimmed down) and attempting to touch it.

- Lukas going away from the mirror to trainer and returning to mirror when requested to do so.

- Lukas standing immobile in front of mirror even with trainer’s hand touching and stroking him (to prepare for covert test spot application).

- Trainer in front of Lukas and touching Lukas’ chest without him moving.

- Covertly placing the spot on Lukas (both at the mirror and away from the mirror) and waiting for his response.

According to most animal intelligence ranking scales, equine statistics are dismal: horses rank anywhere from fifth to ninth in intelligence comparisons between species. In addition, the horse population in general is thought to be a typically reactive group at the mercy of flight instincts and walnut-sized brains. Murdock believes that the commonly used repetitive machine trials to assess horses’ learning capabilities are missing some important components: a social and interactive element, voice prompts and reinforcement variations. Furthermore, she proposes that the prevailing methods of force training are inadequate and even counter-productive. In contrast, Lukas’ lessons resemble those used for children: enjoyable, gentle and a mutual exploration into possibilities. A rather unscientific, yet significant supportive substantiation of Lukas’ self-awareness abilities includes the fact that he is entirely intolerant of any horse near “his girl,” yet, in the test, he gave no indication that he believed his reflection to be an interloper.

The most difficult aspect of the test according to Murdock involved Lukas remaining immobile when the test spot was absent: “He always wants to do something to please me,” says Murdock, “and he’s used to trying out different behaviors to get my attention.” In this case, a compromise was reached as the video below will demonstrate. As always, Murdock, a psychiatric nurse for the last twenty-six years, and an animal trainer for over forty years, used her own particular blend of techniques. Sessions with her dear friend were brief, fun and tender and included the following guidance: “That’s you in the mirror, Lukas. You’re a horse. I love you.”

Video link: http://playingwithlukas.com/player.php?filename=Passes_Self-Awareness_Test.mp4&height=380&width=480

No Wardrobe Malfunction for Lukas!

KMandLukas — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:30:47 +0000

World’s Smartest Horse Reveals Motive for Wearing Costumes

Walnut, California — Lukas, the World’s Smartest Horse (according to the World Records Academy) and current Guinness World Record Holder (“Most numbers correctly identified by a horse in one minute: 19”), is also well known for his extensive hat collection. The ex-racer and former rescue, along with his best friend Karen Murdock, have agreed to explain his penchant for fashion.

“It started out as a fun celebration for Lukas’ birthday,” according to Murdock, “and he enjoyed it so much that we’ve kept it as a tradition for the holidays.” Each photo session finds Lukas nickering and Murdock laughing, “I don’t know who has more fun, him or me,” she states. Moreover, in keeping with their dedication to helping those in need of second chances, the hats serve an additional purpose; a way for the public to relate to horses in a personal and positive manner. “As a result,” Murdock concludes, “they are more likely to care about those they are charmed by.”

The new fall styles can be seen at http://www.playingwithlukas.com.

What’s Better Than a Guinness World Record? Another One! Lukas Proposes Second Test – Playing With Lukas

KMandLukas — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 17:30:30 +0000

Playing With Lukas Proposes a Second Test for Lukas, The World’s Smartest Horse (according to the World Records Academy) and current Guinness World Record Holder (“Most numbers identified by a horse in one minute: 19”).

Lukas, The World’s Smartest Horse (according to the World Records Academy) and current Guinness World Record Holder (“Most numbers identified by a horse in one minute: 19”), has applied for a momentous feat: “Most tricks performed by one horse”. Lukas, an ex-racer and former rescue, has long been recognized as an ambassador for those needing second chances. He and his best friend, Karen Murdock, donate their time and services to show how wonderful and smart animals are and to demonstrate the benefits of kind training.

Lukas, a popular sight on NBC, ABC, CBS, HLN, CNN, Inside Edition, Time Warner and countless magazines and newspapers, gladly and eagerly shares his message of hope and happiness for all creatures. The “Million Hit Horse” also has an award-winning documentary attesting to the spirit and love of animals that includes footage of his most recent Guinness record achievement:

Tricks to be included in Lukas’ next Guinness attempt (pending approval) will cover a wide variety of his talents for a fun and unique glimpse into horse cognition and emotions: everything from smiling, catching, identifying shapes and comprehending absentness to the Spanish Walk and rear for a spectacular and unforgettable demonstration. As always, Lukas performs at liberty (free) without the use of any equipment whatsoever (yes, that means no halter or whip!). His attempt will be dedicated to the Equine Welfare Alliance (http://www.equinewelfarealliance.org/) where Lukas has been honored as the first four-legged member. The E.W.A. is an international non- profit organization that focuses on horse welfare and preservation efforts.

It always seems impossible until it’s done. Nelson Mandela

We received a DM on Twitter!

KMandLukas — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:29:51 +0000

Click Here to Read Lisa’s Blog Post >> http://kempequine.wordpress.com/2011/10/29/52-fridays-42-promote-whats-special-unique-and-amazing-about-your-horsebiz/

No Bling for Lukas! World’s Smartest Horse Declines Sixth Sponsorship

KMandLukas — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 10:34:47 +0000

Lukas (http://www.playingwithlukas.com), the World’s Smartest Horse (according to the World Records Academy) and Guinness World Record Holder (“Most numbers correctly identified by a horse in one minute: 19”), has declined yet another product sponsorship offer. The ex-racer and former rescue has appeared on NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, HLN, Inside Edition and Time Warner and countless newspapers and magazines to promote second chances for those in need. Lukas and his best friend Karen Murdock decided to forego association with a particular brand or company because, according to Murdock, “In this way, we are able to focus on Lukas’ message.” Instead, sponsors have been encouraged to contribute to rescues of their choice.

“The Million Hit Horse” has captured the word’s heart according to journalists around the globe. Lukas and Murdock freely share their message of hope and happiness; they donate their time and services to show how wonderful and smart animals are for their improved treatment.

The greatest dreams are always unrealistic. Will Smith

Hilarious Sleepy Lukas – The Smile Must Go On!

KMandLukas — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:12:30 +0000

Coloring Pages at Facebook.com/PlayWithLukas – Visit the Kids’ Center

KMandLukas — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:42:13 +0000

Click Here

Of Hearts and Minds By Rebecca Oliveira

KMandLukas — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 03:52:07 +0000

A horse is often times described in multitude of words, he is at once power and beauty, majesty and courage. He is the subject of legend and myth. All at once godlike and playful, he has captured our hearts and minds by his very being. To riders everywhere he is the very essence of equestrian arts and sports.

Lukas is one such horse a thoroughbred born and bred in California to win at the races, he failed at his purpose and was destined to meet the fate of most of his kind deemed failures, a life of suffering and abuse.

He was starving and neglected in a yard when he came to the attention of a woman who would forever change his life, Karen Murdock. A registered nurse and licensed psychiatric practioner; Karen has loved animals all her life and has devoted over two decades to training them.

Lukas’s condition urged Karen to buy him regardless of his age and his difficult start. Most of her friends thought it futile for her to invest her time and finances in him not only for reasons of temperament but also because he was at the time already nine years old and as equine training goes quite old. It would also be difficult to undo all the years of collateral damage.

Giving up on him was never her intention; she was committed from the start. She felt that beneath the debris of a lifetime of pain and suffering there was a curious being intelligent and willing to learn. Aided by her knowledge and 27 years of experience in psychiatry she started work on Lukas using a unique approach, a combination of play and games. The system she developed based on Shaping uses two primary tools Capturing and Creating. To elicit a correct response she uses “clicks” words and whistles to signal approval. She sought to bring him out using an emphatic approach coupled with positive reinforcements. She became his teacher, protector and family she taught him the delicate balance between love and trust and he in turn gained strength and confidence improving his focus and performance.

Today, Lukas is a totally changed horse, a celebrity in his own right. He is particular about many things like not wanting to get wet and being very private, he does not have any horse friendships nor has he shown any inclination to initiate one. However he is happy and loves to be around people and perform. Karen explains:

“He loves to have an outside spot to stand in the sun, he seems to realize his duty and quietly stands and lets children pet him endlessly”

He is considered one of the top “Liberty” performers in the United States, he is able to execute high school movements such as Passage, Jambette, Reverence (bow) and Rear and does these exercises unbound and in complete freedom. Karen never uses force she does not even own a whip.

His crowning achievement is his extraordinary ability for cognitive tasks; he can identify letters, numbers, and shapes. He is able to differentiate colors and understands the idea of object permanence, spatial relationship, proportion, same/difference and absence.

He is now a Guinness Book of World Record holder having, “The most numbers correctly identified by a horse in one minute” and according to the World’s Record Academy; “The World’s Smartest Horse.”

Future plans include a Hollywood movie and a book based on his life.

Karen and Lukas forge an unbreakable bond, they have risen above the norm of horse and rider relationship. Her faith in him has freed him from fear and a life without hope he in turn has given her his most precious asset, a bright and open mind and an unbeatable spirit. His brilliance illuminates and encourages us all in the appreciation and conservation of every creature great and small.

“I have been told many times that Lukas is lucky to have such a good home. I always respond that it is I who am the lucky one. I find daily inspiration in his example of living life with forgiveness, resilience, devotion, loyalty, humor, joy and love.”

Karen Murdock

For more on Lukas and Karen go to info@playingwithlukas.com