These are Knot-A-Tail's  honored Equine  stories.

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January 2010 Knot-A-Tail Honored Equine

Named as "The World's Smartest Horse",

Playing with Lukas   

An astonishing fact:  my horse Lukas receives over one hundred emails a day! How can that be you might ask, what could anyone possibly write to a horse about? 

Let me give you a few examples: "Thank you, Karen and Lukas, for changing people's perception of horses - I own a horse rescue and I have been getting more calls than ever from prospective adopters.  Lukas is helping to bring greater understanding and vast improvement into the lives of horses worldwide".  

"Lukas makes my autistic son smile, thank you from the bottom of my heart."  

"Lukas is like a beacon to the world - showing how truly remarkable and wonderful our equine friends are.  I always knew they had intelligence and emotions, now I can prove it to the skeptics I know."  

And one of my favorites, "I just had to tell you how much I love Lukas - since losing my horse 2 years ago, I've been so depressed I haven't wanted to ride.  I saw Lukas' videos on you-tube and realized how much I miss being around horses after seeing the bond that you two share.  Now, I'm going to 1/2 lease a friend's mare.  I'm so excited, thank you, Lukas!"

As glowing as all this sounds, it wasn't always this way.  Lukas (race name was Just Ask Mike) left the track as a two year old with two bowed tendons after three unmemorable race finishes. He changed hands several times and ended up emaciated and neglected in a backyard. 

He was rescued by Sue Smith, who took pity on the then eight year old chestnut gelding who said about him, “You could see every rib and his tail was a solid bat of dried mud."  Smith, a local trainer had hoped to eventually include him in her amateur jumping program.  According to Smith he still wasn’t fitting in after two years and I purchased him from her after seeing his picture ad in the local Horsetrader.

Working full-time as a psychiatric nurse, I had our (then) barn trainer begin some basic lessons with him. The plan was to take over myself and show him at lower level dressage shows.  In a very short time Lukas became sullen and resistant to the point of being extremely dangerous - bucking, bolting and spooking (even in his own stall!).  "He's a throwaway, Karen, what do you expect? Quit wasting your time on him,"  I was told by more than a few well meaning observers.  After 30 years of training horses, I had just about met my match with Lukas. 

Before giving up, I decided to fall back on my behavioral training experience (these types of dangerous behaviors are best dealt with by professionals) and also try to find out what he would enjoy doing.  My approach uses a very broad base of shaping (successive approximation), a specialized version of clicker training and a large amount of positive reinforcement.  So, I set about un-training by replacing unwanted behaviors with desirable responses. 

The particular responses that I chose to substitute happened to be tricks - fun and play being at the core of my system.  I've always used the trick training games as a way to create a connection and build confidence, willingness, focus and trust.  I also ascribe to strictly liberty (free and without any equipment) work to show the true significance and effectiveness of my style.  It must also be said that I employ patience and kindness, affection and appreciation - without which none of this would have been possible.

As I said before, I needed to find something that he would enjoy doing – and I found it! We started with the smile and we're still going strong.  To date, Lukas' repertoire includes:  posing, nodding yes and shaking his head no, a dry and wet kiss, fetching, being "blindfolded", catching, yawning, saluting, pedestal work, Spanish Walk (forward and backward), the stay and come, jambet (3 legged pivot), reverence, passage, bow, crossing his front legs, laying down while I sit on him, feet together (front and back), hide and seek (with his beloved green towel), acting lame, pushing a cart, and the rear.  Most of his acclaim, however, comes from his amazing abilities to spell, count, identify shapes and discriminate colors.

This once-upon-a -time "throwaway" has been on NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, HLN, and Equisearch. The Associated Press also recently released a feature story on him.  He is listed on both Yahoo and Google as "The World's Smartest Horse", and Guinness is considering a record on him.  His story - which has really become a love story between a woman and her horse - has been in countless magazines, newsletters, blogs and newspapers worldwide.

He is the official Spokeshorse for TROTT (Training Racehorses Off the Track) and a poster boy for the California Thoroughbred Breeder's Association.   He is also associated with Heal with Horses  - an equine assisted therapy group helping trauma victims.  He has been invited to attend the Grand Prix HITS Desert Circuit Horse Show, the Equine Affaire, The International Equestrian Festival, The Western States Horse Expo and America's Family Pet Expo.  Now, if only I could teach him to respond to his own mail!

http://www.playingwithlukas.com                 info@playingwithlukas.com     

 Honored Equine for December 2009  Victoriass

(Multiple World Champion)

"I wish you could "meet" Vicky...She is OH, SO SPOILED!! Loves peppermints...Can be temperamental...but gentle as a kitten with a "Special Needs" child. Vicky has used her in a handicapped riding program even though she has 24 World Champion Titles in many events. "  Carol Bracken

Victoriass's sire is a Texas Jack and her dam is an AQHA granddaughter of Peppy San Badger.  Vicky is a brown 1996 molly mule.  Vicky has many world and national championships in multiple open, amateur and youth events including, but not limited to: halter, showmanship, reining, trail, western pleasure, hunter under saddle, ranch riding, hunter hack, obstacle driving, pleasure driving, western riding and anything else she has ever entered. 

Vicky has also been used in a riding program for handicapped children where she shows the gentle side of her personality. 

Victoriass:

Knot-A-Tail's Honored Equine is a true member of the Bracken family. 

She joins right in.

 Yes, Victoriass does come in the Bracken home for her Christmas photo with the family.

Go ahead Vicky, take a Bow, you deserve it.

Since a mule doesn't reproduce, their value is in their training and performance ability. 

I think we would all have to agree that Victoriass has the pretty much proved her worth many times, but most of all, she's a very cool mule.  Love you Vicky

I love her ability to shift gears.  Go Vicky Go

Such a Beautiful Molly Mule.   Shine on, Victoriass

I admire Vicky on well she pays attention to her young rider.

Thank you Vicky for sharing so much with all the humans in your life. 

Our Honored  Victoriass

Thank you  Vicky, from the  Knot-A-Tail Crew.