World's Smartest Horse Wins Award

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!” (Source: pr.com)

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.” (Discoverhorses.com)

Image Credit: Sharon Fibelkorn, playingwithlukas.com

Read more: Do Good, Pets, horse

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Sabina A.

1:19PM PDT on Apr 10, 2011

I adore horses!!!they are so smart,and this horse is so beautiful!!!

send a green star

Jeramie D.

8:07AM PDT on Apr 10, 2011

Absolutely fabulous. What a wonderful horse and a wonderful woman. Yes, smarter than most people in government.

Claudia D.

6:00AM PDT on Apr 10, 2011

He's smarter then some people in our government

Abo r.

4:43AM PDT on Apr 10, 2011

Wonderful.thanks

Frederico D.

1:51AM PDT on Apr 10, 2011

Muito interessante.

Mirella N.

12:59PM PDT on Apr 9, 2011

wow he is amazing :)

Penny C.

8:55AM PDT on Apr 9, 2011

I do love horses.They are beautiful and smart.

Diane L.

7:25PM PDT on Apr 8, 2011

J M, are you serious? You think humans should "envy the talent" of a horse who can identify 19 figures? I certainly hope you can do that. I'd agree this is an intelligent horse, but he's really not that special. There's always a "trick" to teaching horses almost anything, and I'm willing to bet that's the case here. Even if he CAN identify 19 different numbers, sure not something a human should strive for unless they have some serious issues.

JM M.

2:49PM PDT on Apr 8, 2011

If only humans were this talented.

Kristen G.

6:28AM PDT on Apr 8, 2011

What a wonderful story! Thank you for sharing. I will have to give my thoroughbred a few classroom sessions to see if there is a secret genius hiding in him!