Comments on: Ray Hunt http://www.oak-tree.us/blog/index.php/2009/03/15/ray-hunt The Rants and Raves of an Unsettled Mind Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:43:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Brian Baldwin http://www.oak-tree.us/blog/index.php/2009/03/15/ray-hunt/comment-page-1#comment-658 Brian Baldwin Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:55:02 +0000 http://www.oak-tree.us/blog/index.php/2009/03/15/ray-hunt#comment-658 That was Ray in a nutshell. Thank you. My moment was about 6 years ago in a clinic in Tucson, AZ. I had a little blue roan Hancock QH that was used as a roping horse. We were all trotting when Ray told everyone to stop. I was slowing down and wallering around, but not stopping. Ray yelled, 'you, on blue! What are you doing?' 'Trying to stop' I said. Ray bellowed, 'What do you have those reigns for?! If you aren't going to use them, whay are you riding?' I had always been trying to do as little as it takes, but not as much as it takes. This was an important lesson that I learned. And I still struggle with it today, trying to be light, and I always recall the direction from Ray. The secondary lesson of course was not to take it personally when Ray yelled. It was for emphasis, to be heard, and to get the point across. I respected Ray's being straight with me and we became friends. The last time I saw Ray was at Lee Smith's in Aguila, AZ not long ago. When it came time to say goodbye, shaking his hand, I thanked Ray for all he had done for me and my horse, and for everyone else and our horses. Ray put his hand over his heart and said, "Thank you son, that really does my heart good to hear that". Truly the last of his generation, Ray was not only a master horseman. He was a friend, and a kind, generous human being. God Bless Amigo. That was Ray in a nutshell. Thank you. My moment was about 6 years ago in a clinic in Tucson, AZ. I had a little blue roan Hancock QH that was used as a roping horse. We were all trotting when Ray told everyone to stop. I was slowing down and wallering around, but not stopping. Ray yelled, 'you, on blue! What are you doing?' 'Trying to stop' I said. Ray bellowed, 'What do you have those reigns for?! If you aren't going to use them, whay are you riding?' I had always been trying to do as little as it takes, but not as much as it takes. This was an important lesson that I learned. And I still struggle with it today, trying to be light, and I always recall the direction from Ray. The secondary lesson of course was not to take it personally when Ray yelled. It was for emphasis, to be heard, and to get the point across. I respected Ray's being straight with me and we became friends.

The last time I saw Ray was at Lee Smith's in Aguila, AZ not long ago. When it came time to say goodbye, shaking his hand, I thanked Ray for all he had done for me and my horse, and for everyone else and our horses. Ray put his hand over his heart and said, "Thank you son, that really does my heart good to hear that".

Truly the last of his generation, Ray was not only a master horseman. He was a friend, and a kind, generous human being. God Bless Amigo.

]]> By: Bronwen http://www.oak-tree.us/blog/index.php/2009/03/15/ray-hunt/comment-page-1#comment-656 Bronwen Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:47:36 +0000 http://www.oak-tree.us/blog/index.php/2009/03/15/ray-hunt#comment-656 Beautifully done. Thank you. Beautifully done. Thank you.

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