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Post by angelsdream on Mar 13, 2009 11:43:21 GMT -5
Just got word that Ray Hunt passed away  Said he had been in the hospital and his wife went and got him and he died on the way home. We have lost a great man! SAD DAY CORRECTION: His passing was yesterday. Sorry. He was truly a blessing to all of us, including the horse. My heart goes out to his family and friends. |
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Post by nrly on Mar 13, 2009 14:09:26 GMT -5
am sorry to hear this, may the family have peace, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit with them at this time of their loss, and may we all eep him and his family in our hearts and prayers...
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Post by rubymountainkigers on Mar 13, 2009 14:17:52 GMT -5
Nola,
From those of us who knew Ray thank you.
Tim
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Post by fantasykiger on Mar 13, 2009 16:33:37 GMT -5
Ray hunt was a wonderful gentleman and a fabulous horseman. My sympathies go out to his family and friends.  |
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Post by Michelle Clarke on Mar 13, 2009 17:44:29 GMT -5
Very sad news to hear about today....Ray touched alot of our lives and was truely one of the greatest Horsemen ever to live. Many horses have and will have a better life because of the gift he shared.  Picture above of Ray Hunt and Walter Zettle (dressage master) at a clinic in 2006 they did together. |
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Post by mystickiger on Mar 13, 2009 22:35:07 GMT -5
My thoughts and prayers are with Carolyn and family. The horseworld lost one of it's great, great mentor/teacher/horseman. If you were ever privileged to know, work or even audit with Ray you will know what I mean.
I could go on for hours about my days with Ray but will shorten it to what I "heard" time and time again from him...."What I say today won't make any sense to you. But someday, you'll be riding and think..ahhh, that's he meant"! Oh, how right he was!
Ray Hunt eptimozied horsemanship, I will always cherish my signed copy of Cowboy Logic. Maybe someday I will figure out how to post pictures on this board and will post "Lil' Buck" aka Mystic and Ray Hunt. I took it as an honor when he said "boy. she's a dandy!" amongst all the quarter horses there!
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Post by fantasykiger on Mar 14, 2009 3:00:48 GMT -5
mystickiger... if ever you need pictures posted on here just email them to me and I will get them posted for you. Just put in the subject line that they are pics to be posted. fantasykiger@aol.com
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Post by rubymountainkigers on Mar 16, 2009 10:50:21 GMT -5
Ray's family has requested that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Ray Hunt Memorial Fund admistered by Capitol Area Therapuetic Riding Association. This organization can be contacted at catra.net or by calling Ben Nolt at 717-649-9822.
Tim
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Post by rubymountainkigers on Mar 20, 2009 10:08:27 GMT -5
To see a really nicely done slide show tribute to Ray go to www.westernhorseman.com. There are also a couple of really good articles about Ray on there. Ray's Memorial Service will be held next Saturday March 28th at the Mountain Home Middle School, Mountain Home, Idaho at 2 PM. Tim |
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Post by angelsdream on Mar 20, 2009 11:09:11 GMT -5
Awesome slide show of Ray. Thanks for sharing. It still breaks my heart about his passing. I hope his family is doing ok.
We had plans to attend his winter clinic - what an honor it would have been to work with him. He was truly gifted and a very sweet and sincere man.
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Post by rubymountainkigers on Mar 20, 2009 18:58:21 GMT -5
If you go to www.rayhunt.com you can view a really nice photo that I think sums up what kid's and therapeutic riding programs meant to Ray. I think it really shows another side of the essence of the man that so few folks realized existed. Tim |
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Post by rubymountainkigers on Mar 28, 2009 18:14:27 GMT -5
I went to the Memorial for Ray Hunt today. When I looked on that empty saddle with Ray's hat, chaps, riata and spade bit it really hit me hard that he's gone. I don't think words can describe what a loss this truly is.
It was a really nice memorial. Lots of good words were spoken, wonderful songs were sung and there was a photo show of Ray's life.
For me I guess one of the most important lessons I learned from Ray was when you think it can't be done or you think you can't understand it then you need to reach inside yourself and dig some more. It has to come from the inside and you've got to want it more than you ever wanted anything else in the world. There's no such thing as quit.
If Ray was here today I'm sure he would want to say one thing. "Think".
For those of you who were unable to attend I'd like to take the time to share with you some of the writings from the memorial so that you can remember him in your own way.
"I can't teach you this. I can only get you aware of it."
Ray Hunt
"We're the teacher but we can learn alot by listening to our horse."
Ray Hunt
When all the world stood and waited.
When civilizations watched and wondered.
When partridges flew away.
And the deer took flight.
One creature stood and asked;
Why does the King want me?
After all, I'm only a horse.
-Anom
Give the world the best that you have, and it may never be enough. Give the world the best you have anyway.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta
The following was written by Carolyn and read at the memorial.
Few of us will ever do anything that will be recognized or remembered by more than a handful of people. We are not great. We may be good, honest, hard working, loyal, kind, decent, or we may be otherwise, but we are not considered great.
Greatness comes along so rarely that when we see it we want to touch it. Ray Hunt allowed us to touch greatness, to be a part of it. He was a truly great horseman, who offered us all a chance to be a part of something great. Most of us will live long, happy lives, but will never again be this close to greatness.
Ray Hunt was one of the great motivators. He believed in you and had the capacity to make you believe in yourself. He believed in the horse and encouraged you to believe.
Whether you loved Ray Hunt or you didn't, you cannot deny his greatness.
Once you've known Ray Hunt you will carry him with you forever. You hear his voice, you see his face. You long for his approval.
You remember his tongue lashings and lectures. With each success you want Ray to know about it. You want to say "Look Ray, look what I'm getting done." With each failure, you want to apologize for not being right within yourself. Ray refused to accept "cant" and taught us not to use it as an excuse.
There are times you get tired of carrying Ray Hunt around. You want to be able to screw up and not hear him bark. Then you'll hear him tell you to adjust to fit the situation. Give something you never gave before to get something you never had. Observe, remember and compare.
The voice is never far away. He taught us that the horse and life are only going to give back what we are willing and capable of putting into them.
Ray Hunt was just a guy. He never aspired to to be famous, but wanted each one of us to be famous. He said, "If I'm ahead of you it is only by a fraction", and if we got there first, to come back and help him.
Ray Hunt was a legend in his own time. His legacy will live on through his students and all who come after. His dream was to someday see a child working with a horse that was mentally and physically perfectly attuned to each other. When the child was asked, "Where did you learn to to work with a horse that way?" The child answers, "Is there any other way?"
Tim
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Post by mystickiger on Mar 29, 2009 8:47:48 GMT -5
Tim, thank you for sharing Carolyn's words. The voice is never far away nor that grin!
Karen
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Post by Michelle Clarke on Mar 29, 2009 21:12:15 GMT -5
Tim, thank you for sharing your experience. His presence will be missed by many.
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Post by rubymountainkigers on Mar 30, 2009 14:15:49 GMT -5
Yes, that grin and those clear blue eyes that seemed to see everything, especially what you and your horse were doing no matter where you were at.
Tim
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