Ray Hunt in Equus

[Excess]

My my my. I just about peed in my birtches when I opened up the new Equus and saw that they had a rather extensive article about Ray Hunt in there. I know what I'm going to be reading for my nighttime story. =)

[KpH]

I found a copy oif a real old one in Equus from years ago about Ray tho, I have a great scrapbook of stuff.
K4H

[kewpalace]

when I opened up the new Equus and saw that they had a rather extensive article about Ray Hunt in there. I audited that clinic!! The one where the pix for the article was taken! Here's my pix from the clinic (kind of extra added illustrations for your reading):

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BYtmLVqybsp8

[cynthia peterson]

KewPalace, fantastic pictures, you have real talent.
deb bennett has that ray hunt clinic on a CDROM for members in the last issue. she really liked that "kathy" and her horse. and you surely have to admit she looked good!
any comments on the clinic?---i'm all ears, can't hear enough about ray and horses---

[kewpalace]

Thanks, cynthia, for your kind words. I love photography and when I can't ride, my camera is always in my hand. Sometimes when I ride, I have my camera in my hand, too! You just never know when that perfect opportunity will present itself.

I really liked Kathy & her gelding, too - they were my favorites of all the riders. He was a really neat horse and she seemed well suited to him.

This was the first Ray clinic I'd ever been to. If I had gone a few years ago, it would have gone right over my head. I've learned a few things since then (thank goodness) so that what he was trying to teach the riders did make some sense to me.

One nugget that seemed to elude some of the riders (but has stuck with me since then) was that Ray was not trying to tell them to work on a problem in a particular way, but to THINK about how to address the problem, how/why other attempts did/didn't work, to what extent they did/didn't work and how they could be done differently to acheive a better result. This has really resonated with me, especially in the current environment of "canned" books/dvds by the more commercial trainers, as there are so many nuances in communicating with your horse that a set answer does not always work or is not always the best deal you can offer you horse.

The hard part of this advice is that the rider has to THINK - THEY have to look at what they did, what they didn't do, how the horse responded, how the horse may respond to other attempts, what other things they could have done and how all of that affected or could affect the response they got from the horse. Many people are not ready for that kind of work, but want to be told exactly what to do to solve what they perceived was the problem. I know some people were not happy with what they felt they were not receiving, but others took the advice and worked it to their advantage.

Another "Ray-ism" that has stuck with me was that we as riders are responsible for everything having to do with the horse the minute we swing our leg over their backs until we're back on the ground. It's not really a matter of whose "fault" it is - the horse is only reacting to our communications to him and if the horse is "misbehaving" then we need to examine what we are doing to correct that behavior, to encourage it, to discourage it, or to prompt a different response than what the horse is offering. Again, it goes back to the rider THINKING about what he/she is doing to help the horse and how that can be better communicated to the horse to support the horse in handling the rider on his back.

A final thought that also stays with me ... when I hear people complaining that "My horse does [whatever]", I hear Ray saying "Well, why did you let him do that?" LOL. Going back to THINKING about what you the rider have communicated or not communicated with your horse. And all of it comes down to timing, consistency, patience and FEEL. :-)

[fantasia]

Thanks so much for posting your fabulous photos and words. I loved looking at them- several folks and horses made great pairs. Where was this clinic held? Thanks again

[kewpalace]

Thanks so much for posting your fabulous photos and words. I loved looking at them- several folks and horses made great pairs. Where was this clinic held? Thanks againGlad you enjoyed them!! The clinic was near the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and sponsored by the Rosebowl Riders. Quite a drive for me (especially going both days), but definitely well worth it! Gave me alot to ponder ...