Friday, March 13, 2009

In Memory of Ray Hunt

We lost one of the world’s greatest horsemen yesterday. Ray Hunt passed away, and even up until the last moment, the “Master of Communication” was still teaching us how to find harmony with horses. On his website, there’s a clinic he was planning to hold at his ranch in Texas during the first week of April. He was the first person to introduce me to a better way to gain a horse’s trust and cooperation. He was one of my heroes.

What he taught me, at a time when no one I knew even thought about this, was that I had to look for even the smallest try, the slightest change from my horse and appreciate it and build on it.

“Don’t make the horse do all the work. He shouldn’t have to figure you out and learn to get out of your way to get things done. I don’t think anybody should have to get out of anyone’s way in life - a horse or a dog or anything else…. We can learn to understand one another if we listen to one another, if we respect one another’s thoughts.”

Ray Hunt wrote that in 1978 in his amazing little book, " Think Harmony with Horses". Thirty years later, he left this world knowing that a lot of people listened to him and a lot of horses are living better lives thanks to his efforts. My heart goes out to his wife, Carolyn, and his friends and horses. He will be missed by many and long and lovingly remembered.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, a true horseman. He influenced a lot of people and made the horseworld a better place.
Please come by my blog to pick up the Honest Scrap Award, for which i have nominated you.

William Evertson said...

Ray Hunt sounds like quite a man. Thanks for sharing that quote; I'm sure he will live on in the wisdom he has shared.

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Thanks for this beautiful tribute. He was a great man to be admired. He influenced millions of horse people and horses, too. We can all be grateful that he walked this earth and taught so many. He has left the world a better place.
What an amazing man.

~Lisa

C-ingspots said...

I just now found out and I am so very hearsick. He was my hero too and was the first person to show me a better way with horses. I am honored and a better person for having known him. Ray Hunt was a master horseman and an honorable human being. My heart is so sad.

Grey Horse Matters said...

He was one of the true horsemen, it's so sad to hear of his passing.

PFD216 said...

Thank you for your kind writings about a truely great horseman. We all feel loss at his passing. I know my life with my own horse has been enriched by his teachings.

John and Regina Zdravich said...

Yes, we have lost a really good and influential person in the horse-world. The world is definitely a better place for him having been here.

Rising Rainbow said...

What a great horseman! He will definitely be missed.

Hog Hunting Texas said...

Its very sad to hear this. We lost one of he best horseman.