New Book Details the Extraordinary Achievements of One Woman and Her Amazing Horse, Lukas

Online, January 31, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Seventeen-year-old thoroughbred gelding Lukas, widely recognized as the world's smartest horse and holder of the world record for most numbers identified in 60 seconds, in collaboration with his trainer, Karen Murdock, has released the second edition of his hit book, Playing with Lukas.

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."

Lukas is an off-the-track thoroughbred gelding who reached international acclaim following his YouTube debut in 2009. His legendary story has spread to fifty-one countries and his media links continue to grow. Lukas has been profiled on NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, HLN and Inside Edition and in feature stories released by the Associated Press and America Online. His journey has been heard on Pet Talk Live Radio, Pet Life Radio, Pet Place Radio, All Paws Pet Talk Radio, RFD-Radio and Animal Talk Radio. Lukas was nominated for the 2010 Equine Vision Award sponsored by Pfizer and American Horse Publications and he's been invited to participate in the Wounded Warriors program.

For more information about Lukas and his accomplishments, please visit www.PlayingWithLukas.com. To schedule an interview, review Playing with Lukas or the accompanying documentary, please contact Karen Murdock via email at [email protected] or by phone at (714) 403-7730.