Retired racehorse Lukas learns new tricks as CANTER Spokeshorse for California

Lukas (Karen Murdock photo - used by permission)

Could Lukas be the world’s smartest horse?

California horsewoman Karen Murdock calls it horse play. Others might tag it equine trick training. Either way, Karen Murdock’s 16-year-old retired racehorse Lukas has become a smart star on television, all over the internet and in print.

Lukas now serves as a spokeshorse, representing California for The Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses (CANTER).

Karen Murdock, of Walnut, California, first found Lukas in a sale advertisement on HorseTrader.com, where the 10-year-old retired racehorse was described as a green project. Enlisting the help of a trusted horse hauler, she took the retired thoroughbred gelding to her home stables and began building his trust.
 

Lukas performs the Spanish walk (Karen Murdock photo - used by permission)

At the time, Lukas was virtually unmanageable. He was retired from thoroughbred racing at age two. A pair of bowed tendons prevented the horse from ever starting an actual race.

For years, the chestnut gelding would buck, rear and shy – even in a stall. Gradually, however, Karen Murdock built a relationship with the equine.

Now, six years later, Lukas possesses a full repertoire of tricks. At liberty, Lukas performs the jambet, piaffe, passage, Spanish walk and other top-level movements. He bends and bows and rests on the ground to allow Karen Murdock to sit atop his back. Using a special puzzle table, Karen Murdock has also taught Lukas to recognize colors, letters, numbers and shapes.
 

Lukas at liberty (Karen Murdock photo - used by permission)

Karen Murdock freely calls Lukas “the world’s smartest horse.” Clearly, the two have formed a lifelong bond. “I thought Lukas had been rescued, and it turns out he rescued me,” the owner-trainer recounted.

Excellent Equine Exposure

Lukas’ story has piqued press interest. Karen Murdock and Lukas have appeared on ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, HLN and many other channels. He is scheduled to appear soon on The Today Show. Dressage Today is planning a feature article on Lukas, to be written by Karen Murdock. Author and animal trainer Liz Palicka is writing a book to tell the horse’s story.

“Each interview focuses on Karen Murdock’s mission to help off-the-track thoroughbreds through CANTER,” reported Bonnie Adams, CANTER’s Southern California director. “Any donations CANTER receives will provide care for horses to be trained and then adopted.”

“We’re hoping to have a drink named after Lukas at the Breeder’s Cup,” Karen Murdock said. (The Breeder’s Cup will be held at California’s Santa Anita Park in November.)

Total trust (Karen Murdock photo - used by permission)

Recently, the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association offered Lukas a grant (funded by Oak Tree Racing) to film the amazing horse at work and feature him on their web-site.

“All I was hoping,” explains Karen Murdock, “was to try to help some horses and benefit equine rescues.”

Thoroughbred horse rescuers say they hope Lukas’ popularity will raise awareness of the need to place retired racehorses in suitable homes. Approximately 2,000 racehorses, ranging in age from two to six years) are retired from horse racing tracks each year in California alone. These horses may face a variety of fates, ranging from cross-training or adoption to neglect or even euthanasia.

Just this week, Karen Murdock took in another retired racehorse for training – one day after his last race. Mister B is an eight-year-old all-white thoroughbred gelding. Perhaps Lukas and Karen Murdock can teach this old horse a few new tricks, while continuing their mission to promote the care of former racehorses.

Here’s a video montage of Lukas and Karen Murdock in action: