Playing With Lukas - How a Woman and a Horse Found a Private World of Animal Intelligence and Themselves

CHINO HILLS, CA, September 14, 2010 (Press-News.org) According to Dressage Today book reviewer Mary Daniels: "Playing With Lukas is the most unique book on training I have yet to see...Author Karen Murdock heads one of her chapters with a quote by Helen Keller,...an icon of spiritual strength: 'Although the world is full of suffering it is full also of the overcoming of it.' This is what this self- published book really is about - how two beings, who couldn't find their place in life, finally did through each other. It's a wonderful story of the triumph of the spirit."

"Dressage had always appealed to her, and she tried formal training at the start of Lukas' career, but it did not work out. So she created her own method, achieving impressive results. She uses a form of liberty training - no whip but with subtle physical cues - in a non-confrontational way. Her three primary tools are shaping (light touch), a behavior modification term, a version of clicker training using vocal sounds instead; and positive reinforcement."

"Murdock did it her own way and feels Lukas gave her as much as she gave him. Their journey serves as an example of how far-reaching the healing powers of love and compassion can be."

The seventeen year old ex-racer and former rescue isn't letting all the attention distract him from his message of hope and happiness though - he recently took on the fun challenge of learning to sit without any equipment/one single touch from owner/trainer Karen Murdock to show that animals can be taught without the use of any force.

What does Lukas' press agent Susan Johnston have to say about all this? When asked to share her bio for distribution, Johnston humbly responded: "Let's just keep spreading joy." Even the World's Smartest Horse couldn't have said it better.

ABOUT LUKAS THE WORLD'S SMARTEST HORSE

Lukas is a 17-year old registered off-the-track Thoroughbred gelding. The ex-racer's legendary story reached international acclaim within months of his You Tube debut in 2009. His web-site had visitors from forty-one countries last month alone while his media links have continued to grow. After leaving the race track, Lukas ended up neglected and emaciated in a backyard. Karen purchased him as a "green project horse" when he was nine years old, eight years ago. Drawing from her own life experience and professional background as a psychiatric nurse, Karen employed patience, appreciation, kindness, compassion, and humor to bring out the potential in Lukas. He was transformed from being very uncooperative and dangerous to being ranked on Yahoo, Google and the World Records Academy as "The World's Smartest Horse," and Guinness is currently considering a record related to his feats. He has been on NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, HLN, Inside Edition, World Entertainment News Network, Equine Connection, Equestrian Examiner, For Equestrians, Equisearch, The HorsePedia, Pet Life Radio, RFD-Radio, Pet Talk Live Radio and many others. Also, the Associated Press and America Online released feature stories about him. He was nominated to receive the 2010 Equine Vision Award sponsored by Pfizer and American Horse Publications.

For more information, to interview Murdock, or to review the book or documentary Playing With Lukas, please contact Karen Murdock - info@playingwithlukas.com - (714) 403-7730. To watch the Playing With Lukas documentary please visit http://www.playingwithlukas.com