All being used to describe Lukas, a 16 year old rescued, off-the-track thoroughbred owned and trained by Karen Murdock.  Karen's specialty has become the ability to create a special connection with horses by using trick training and games designed to build confidence; focus; willingness; ride-ability; athleticism and trust. Her success is apparent with Lukas - he is the only liberty horse ever in history to passage; spanish walk; jambet and he also freely performs the bow, obeisance and rear.  He also spells; counts; identifies shapes and discriminates colors, among his many other talents.  Karen has developed a progressive system based on kindness and mutual enjoyment for the horse and trainer.  The deep love; respect; joy and appreciation Lukas and Karen share is obvious to anyone that observes them.       Six years ago, following dressage competition training that didn't agree with him, Lukas had become extremely sullen, mistrustful and resistant to the point of being dangerous.  His bad habits included bucking; shying (even in his own stall!); withdrawal and difficulty with even small changes and requests.  Through her consistent and patient retraining, Karen and Lukas have developed a partnership that many have described as magical.  Her techniques can be used to correct any number of problems and become tools to approach issues and develop an almost limitless repertoire.  For both the trainer and the horse, it becomes a bridge to establish and deepen a very special bond as they learn to respond to each other in a new and fun way.  Play is really the basis of Karen's system - positive reinforcement being the most powerful, beautiful aspect of her training.  It provides a happy medium that naturally leads to quicker learning; eager responses without the use of any force whatsoever (Karen doesn't even own a whip!); better retention and broader generalizations.      Once destined for a bleak future, Lukas is now considered by many to be the smartest horse in the world.  He is using his new-found status to help horse rescues around the world by showing people how intelligent and wonderful a horse can be and the happy results of kind training.        Also, you can look for our upcoming book, co-written by the fabulous Liz Palika - dog trainer and author extraordinaire!  Mostly, thank you dear visitor and fan, for your interest in Lukas' story and letting us fulfill our purpose, "to help one horse at a time".                  If you would like to contact us about Lukas please email use by clicking HERE!Contact_Lukas.htmlshapeimage_4_link_0

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