Thoughts of a friend of mine, Ray Hunt

This go round folks I would like to share just a little about a friend of mine. Mr. Ray as I called him, Mr. Ray Hunt.

There have been all kinds of stories written about Mr. Ray by various note takers and writers through the years. Sometimes I have to chuckle at the story lines. As quick as I read a couple of lines that say "Ray taught me...." Or "Ray was so understanding," I flag it. If they had said, "Ray fixed things up for me to...." I would have said "now there is someone who knew Ray Hunt."

Through the years a lot of folks/clinicians/RFDTV guru's, ect., have jumped on the bandwagon of what now days is called natural horsemanship. In my opinion many were riding the coat tails of the legendary Dorrance brothers, Ed Connell, Mr. Ray and other pioneers for self benefit. Mr. Tom, and Mr. Bill would roll over in their graves if they knew this art of horsemanship was being used for self advantage only. What is really a shame is most of these folks didn't make any effort to understand the underlying history of the Vaquero much less apply themselves to learn the art of the California bridle horse. Most want to chase a horse around in the round pen long enough to wind it real good so it would stop and look at them. Then presto another horse whisper was evolved. Mr. Tom Dorrance called this type "Shadow Riders." Defined as folks known for spending more time looking at their own shadow on the ground than feeling the horse underneath them. Mr. Ray referred to this type of human as a "Surface Rider," known as someone who only applied themselves just enough to scratch the surface. The best definition I have heard is by an Arizona cowboy friend of mine. "These folks that take a note or two seem to know more about a horse than anyone that ever pooped behind a pair of boots." I think you get the idea. Mr. Ray liked and helped those that helped themselves and really wanted to learn and help the horse. One of his favorite statements of encouragement was, "keep thinking, you will find it."

The picture I've shared of Mr. Ray, Cutter, and I was taken many moons ago. All three of us were untracking a little better then. Cutter was just started under saddle, Mr. Ray was still pretty waspy, and I was closer to 29 than 51. The first time I got to visit with Ray, no doubt turned my life around as far as horses.

Let me share a little about my times with Ray and through my eyes maybe help sort through some of the sayings, theories, and philosophy for those that never had the pleasure of meeting Ray Hunt. I treasure my time with Mr. Ray. Our relationship was our relationship, no one elses.

Never think Mr. Ray didn't have a little turn of the century cowboy in him. I remember a headstall/halter or two being slipped off a few colts as he was adjusting them, so to speak. Next thing you knew a flag come up with a slight ruffle and off you went. "Wanted to see if you could ride, see how the colt moved off freely without you fooling with its head, Don't you see," said Ray.

I often tell the story of the hackamore knot that Bill Black and Ray Hunt taught me to tie. Between the two of them I finally learned the knot. The hardest thing though was following Ray's instructions on tying it at a lope. The next time I was visiting with Ray he asked "get that knot tied?" "Yes sir, that's a trick at the lope." Then the set up come as he rolled his toothpick into the corner of his mouth and asked "Did you learn to leave your colt's head alone while you were loping?" See, Ray would show you where to find what you needed, but I never seen much of him taking someone by the hand. However one time after Ray's demo and explanation of feeling where the horses feet were at, there was one fellow that just couldn't get the idea of "your legs are their legs." Finally Ray said "man, if you had a ball and hit it with a stick, the ball would roll every time you hit it with the stick. If you quit hitting the ball with the stick what happens to the ball"? I don't know if the fellow got it figured or not, but I soon realized why Ray said, "I'm here for the horse."

The soft feel. In my eyes one of the most misunderstood slogans for folks has been the term, "soft feel." In my view I would describe it as having your horse broke at the poll on a loose rein, nice and collected, up underneath you with a purpose and a little drive, coming to you with a little prance its feet, floating in air. A deeper look at this idea is where Mr. Ray would teach the theory of "operate the life in the body to his legs to his feet, through his mind." In other words you get to the horse's mind by recognizing its body movement.

A good place to be. I observed Ray share this idea with a horse that was a little nervous about being rode at one end of the arena. The idea was to work the horse where it wanted to stay and share the human's idea that a good place to rest was the area in the arena it was afraid of or dodging. The horse got to rest or the pressure removed when it entered its flight-zone which eventually become a good place to be. This also is an example of making the right thing easy and the wrong thing difficult. But keep in mind Mr. Ray would add "difficult, not impossible."

Accept the slightest change, notice the slightest try. This was how Mr. Ray recognized the horses effort. Accept the slightest change. Give the horse a break, let it take its time to learn.

Fix things up. This was my favorite slogan and it probably opened up more doors than any, for me. Fix things up in your program so the horse can be successful. Give the horse a positive way out of the pressure your applying and allow it to learn.

Some more of Mr. Ray's words of wisdom:

"I'm here for the horse. By helping you, I'm helping the horse. I don't give a damn what you do, I care about the horse."

"The horse takes the place of my feet and legs; the horse is my feet and legs."

"These (the horses) are our teachers. I'm not the teacher, they are. Learn from them."

"Everyone knows how to do more (shanks, bits, chains, etc.) Very few know how to do less."

"The horse is a living, feeling, decision making animal."

"You need to get their response and respect."

"Some things may work, but not be right."

"The same thing on all horses will not work all the time, you must tailor your responses and requests for each horse."

"Feel, Timing and Balance."

"Observe, Remember and Compare."

"It's a feel following a feel."

"Make the wrong thing difficult and the right thing easy."

"Fix it up and let him find it."

"What happened before what you wanted to have happen happened?"

"Adjust to fit the situation."

"It's the little things that make the big difference."

"The horse didn't write the rules. The human wrote them."

"Notice the smallest change, the slightest try."

"The horse will tell you where he needs the help."

I guess any story about Mr. Ray would be unjust without the poem he often recited "The Man In the Glass" by Dale Wimbrow.

When you get what you want in your struggle for pelf,

And the world makes you King for a day,

Then go to the mirror and look at yourself,

And see what that guy has to say.

For it isn't your Father, or Mother, or Wife,

Who judgment upon you must pass.

The feller whose verdict counts most in your life

Is the guy staring back from the glass.

He's the feller to please, never mind all the rest,

For he's with you clear up to the end,

And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test

If the guy in the glass is your friend.

You may be like Jack Horner and "chisel" a plum,

And think you're a wonderful guy,

But the man in the glass says you're only a bum

If you can't look him straight in the eye.

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,

And get pats on the back as you pass,

But your final reward will be heartaches and tears

If you've cheated the guy in the glass.

There will be a memorial benefit for Ray at the Will Rogers Center at Watt Arena, Fort Worth, Texas, Feb. 27 to 28, 2010. Many of Ray's students will be there. For more information go to www.rayhunt.com.

Until we meet again I hope the good Lord blesses you, your family, and your livestock. Always remember "There's one bit that works on all horses, a bit of knowledge."

God bless, Pat

Pat Hooks is a day working cowboy from Texhoma, Okla. Hooks has taught clinics at national horse expo's and private ranches since 1989, and writes how-to articles for various national magazines, websites and is a published author. For more information on his books, DVD's, and clinics please go to www.hookshorseranch.com or call 580-423-7482.

Date: 11/2/09