Lukas the thoroughbred horse has been given a certificate of appreciation by California State Assemblyman Curt Hagman for his successes. (The award is also shared by the horse’s trainer Karen Murdock.) Lukas has been documented as the world record holder for most random numbers identified in one minute by a horse. He identified nineteen numbers when tested officially. Murdock said, “This is the fastest we’ve ever done this. Guinness has very rigid specifications, so I couldn’t praise him and that was difficult!”

Some of the conditions required for making the record valid by official Guinness Book standards were:

• No equipment whatsoever to be used by the handler

• No touching or pointing by the handler or any other person

• The horse must return toward center after each number and make a conclusive selection

Lukas is seventeen years old and a former race horse who was abandoned because he didn’t do as well as expected on the race track. He was found starving in a yard when he was nine years old. Murdock was actually told to get rid of him when he was doing some things that people considered difficult, but she wouldn’t part with him. She taught him various activities like recognizing numbers, letters, colors, and shapes. He also does the Spanish Walk, Passage, curtsey, bow, rear, sit, jambette and other movements, without being forced. (Murdock does not use a whip.) He performs at non-profit benefits to raise awareness and funds.

Murdock said, “So many people have been curious about Lukas’ training that I’m very excited to be able to share him with other trainers, and hopefully influence methods on a broader scale. This is a system that I’ve spent a lifetime developing, incorporating elements from a wide variety of areas. I also draw heavily from my background as a psychiatric nurse employing scientific and systematic steps that produce maximum results.”

CLICK HERE to watch Youtube video about Lukas.