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| Unbridled:
Dear Mr. Hunt,
I'm
looking forward to meeting you in July at the Grant Ranch!
I
have a nearly 5 year old Arabian, my first. She has been preceded
by quarter horses or grade horses and by mostly geldings. She is
so quick to learn and is very bright. Sometimes I think she may be
on the verge of boredom. My use of my horses is on a working
cattle ranch. She moves cattle and is familiar with fences, gates,
and lots of rattlesnakes. She gives me few problems.
My
"problem" with her is when I turn her loose after riding.
She is very easy to bridle, but difficult to unbridle. She clamps
onto the bit and won't turn loose. I have tried to release her
very gently and try to get her to drop her head and release the bit.
Perhaps her teeth are sensitive, and she is trying to escape the pain by
grabbing onto the metal and take it with her. I use a d-ring
snaffle on her now. She does play with the bit and lips it a lot
while she is bridled. You'll meet her in July and we
can further discuss it, but maybe you can lend insight before more work
this spring. Thank you.
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| Ray's
Reply: Hold
the bit up in her mouth, at some point she will start to work her mouth.
Release the pressure of the upward pull, but don’t try to take it
completely out of her mouth. Just relax it, and then tighten it again by pulling it up.
Do this until she relaxes enough to let the bit slide out of her
mouth. |
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| Fear: I grew up riding horses. Then I was not able to be around, or ride horses, for 24 years. Now I am starting to ride again, (I am 48 years old) and that is wonderful! The only problem is that when I am on the ground, leading my horse or working in the round pen, I am absolutely terrified that I am going to be kicked or run over. I have no fear when I am riding, even when my horse crow-hops, or runs a little fast, but when on the ground I am really afraid. How can I overcome this? Is there a book I can read, or a tape I can listen to? I love horses, and it really makes me angry that I have this fear. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated! I really admire your work with horses....Thanks! | |
| Ray's
Reply: You
are only going to conquer this fear, by exposing yourself to the
situation. I don’t know
what kind of horses you are working with, but most horses wouldn’t run
over you unless spooked from behind.
You can read a hundred books, but you are just going to have to
experience this personally to get to a point where you feel confident. |
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| Buying a horse: Hello, My father is talking about getting me my own barn and horse. I have good experience, however, I don't know how to train a horse or even what to look for when buying one. I want a good, smooth horse, with a medium speed, who I can ride English saddle. I live in Kennesaw Ga. Can you help me? | |
| Ray's
Reply: Lucky
you. Find someone that you
trust and respect to help you input.
Study photos of horses that you admire.
Marie Biggerstaff in Spartenburg
S.C. has an excellent eye for a horse. You might want to consult
her. |
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| Curious
horse: I have a 4 year old APP since
he was a weanling. He has a great personality-willing to learn ground manners and very friendly and curious. One of his habits though has me confused-when I come up to him, he likes to stick his nose right up to my face and start smelling. I was discouraging him by pushing his head back, but them I watched him do the same with our dogs, and wondered whether he would be more comfortable around me if I let him sniff a few times. Should I push his head away all the time- he's only nipped once and of course I reacted then. But I don't want him shying away from hand every time I pet or bridle him. |
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| Ray's
Reply: I’ve
had horses that do this and I allow it up to a point. It is just their natural curiosity and you can use that to
your advantage, just don’t let it get out of hand.
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| Gnasher:
I have a three year quarter
horse gelding with a problem we cannot seem to solve. He is US bred, and I
bought him a year ago from Holland where he had an initial 4 month basic
reining training. He has been in training in Denmark for the past 8 month
with one of Bob Mayhews student trainers, and seems to be doing well as
such. He is a very gentle minded horse out of Shining Spark, But never
mind the any fancy names etc., he is my best partner and companion, but
nevertheless a gnasher.
I am not a master using the English
language, so please excuse any terminology that may not be applicable to
this specific case. By gnasher I mean he keeps chewing and worrying about
his bite, and it is very difficult to keep him concentrating about the
actual groundwork. Even when we try to do slow and gentle circles, he
seems to be wandering off gnashing heavily on his bit with a far off
expression in his eyes, and on a zigzag course we have a hard time to
correct. We use an ordinary soft snaffle bit, and have recently tried to
control the gnashing with a nose drop. It worked actually for a few days,
but then he reverted to the old ways, only now with a lot of foaming
salvia being produced. Otherwise he is very responsive and sensitive, and
I will do anything it takes to accommodate him. However we have a very
limited supply on experienced and responsible counseling in this market,
and any advice you may give will be greatly appreciated. |
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| Ray's
Reply: Have
you checked his teeth? Start
there. If it isn’t a teeth
problem, you are probably not in time with his feet when you take a hold
of the bit. |
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| Bud
Williams:
Bud Williams, livestock handler, from Lloydminister, Alberta,
Canada conducts low stress livestock handling techniques throughout the world. He could be referred in this world of ever growing myth of "whispering" as "The Cow Whisper.", and has even been called the "Ray Hunt of Cows." (That's a complement) His philosophy is to create consistent and calm responses from livestock using the tools of flight zone and pressure/release. Sound familiar? Through a lifetime (some 80 plus years) of experience, Mr. Williams has developed methods of moving and handling livestock that is only now starting to revolutionize the livestock industry. The acceptance has been slow and cautious. Question: Have you ever crossed paths with Mr. Williams, or heard of his techniques? He has used his methods successfully with reindeer, elk, fallow deer, horses, hogs, sheep and goats, as well as cattle. |
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| Ray's
Reply: It
is a compliment to be compared to Bud Williams. He is an extraordinary
stockman. I have never met
Bud, but we met his wife and watched some of his tapes.
I think he is right on.
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| Student
Study Materials:
I'm a Swedish girl who loves
horses. I'm writing a big essay in high
school about people who speaks with horses.
And it's hard to find
material about it. And I would really appreciate if you would like to
tell me about your work. How you do it, how you confront the horse, and
if all people can learn how to do it.
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| Ray's
Reply: There
is a book “True Unity” by Tom Dorrance that would tell you all you
need to know. |
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| People
Problems:
I have a TB mare with the
kinds of "people problems" associated with a youngster started
for the track. I originally got her as a potential broodmare
[she's 6] but since we got her in October and I wanted to find out more
about her, I started riding her. Given what I knew about her when
we got her, I was surprised at how kindly and willingly she tried to
please me. Her history: She went from the track to a rider
who was otherwise pretty good to her, but rode her in either draw reins,
a harsh bit, or a standing martingale. They said she was short-strided
and sold her. She isn't short-strided by nature, it's just that no
one ever asked her to lengthen her stride, nor did the tie-down make it
possible. She's mine because her most recent former owner thought
she had a "bad attitude" because when she went to mount, the
mare screamed, stood straight up, then bucked her off and ran away.
It wasn't a habitual vice, although I saw the mare do the very same
thing when we were still trying to find a saddle that fit her. I
literally bet my money it was back pain and not attitude. We found
a saddle she likes and she's never done it again. Someone also
suggested trying a chiropractor since if she's still uncomfortable,
it'll be hard for her to build trust if it hurts for her to do what I
ask.
Under the circumstances,
she's remarkably willing to try to please you, if you ask nicely.
She also has a lot of self-confidence. Trust is the big issue.
When we started working together, she was coldly polite, her eye was
suspicious. After I work with her, her eye's much softer and she's
happy to move closer to me. If I work her a couple days in a
row, each day I go out to the pasture to get her, her eye's a bit softer
and her step to the barn is more willing. If she has days off, her
eye is less soft and we do less work so I don't ask too much before she
tells me she's ready. [Sorry, that's the best explanation I can
give.]
She's also a pretty clear
communicator. One day soon after we'd gotten her, I could tell
from her eye and muscle tension that she'd rather not be ridden that
day, although I couldn't tell why. I groomed her and turned her
back out and repeated the routine until she told me she was ready.
She hasn't told me she didn't want to be ridden since that time. I
THINK we're on the right path, but I don't want to mess this one up.
When she's happy, she's there for you 100%. When she's not happy,
she tries to be civil and accommodating, and gives you time to figure
out what you're doing wrong. Now my two questions:
1. What do
you see from this description that I'm either doing wrong or should be
doing and am not?
2.
Actually, I really got her as a broodmare prospect. At her age, I
can either breed her now or wait [she's 6]. But I don't know
whether breeding her and working with her until she foals, then starting
again after she's weaned is the right route, or whether I should work
with her and wait to breed her until after we've developed more trust.
I'm thankful she lets me ride her, and is so willing and responsive,
given her past handling. But in the back of my mind, I'm wondering
if she'd be happier as a broodmare. That's one question I haven't
figured out how to ask her, so I guess I'm asking you . . .
Thanks for reading through
this long-winded explanation!
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| Ray's
Reply: You
are a pretty good communicator too. Yes
I do think she would be happier being a broodmare. I think she’ll be a better broodmare for what you have been
doing with her. A person
doesn’t and shouldn’t expect to develop trust and confidence instantly
or overnight. This mare has
been through a lot and will never be what she could have been.
Why not breed her and pass on the sensitivity to her foals and let
them prove her. |
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| Companions:
I have a 9 year old mare which I've had since she was 2. You can say
that I've learned her everything she knows, good and bad. We work good
together, especially on the ground. But sometimes she can be a little
reluctant to what I ask her to do. When heading home from a trail ride she
stresses a lot and shows sign of irritation when I try to get her mind on
something else. Riding with others can be a problem because she gets very
upset if we get far behind and she refuses to go far ahead the other
horses. Often I get the feeling that she does not want to be with me at
all, though she never bucks or tries to get rid of me. Lately we've done a lot of groundwork and I've tried to make everything more interesting and positive. She has become easier to catch in the paddock and seems happier. But there is still something missing in our companionship, if we went on a trail ride she would behave exactly the same. I want my horse to want to be with me and be ready to do what I want to do. I know that I am the one who must change and I think I already have. Right now I have run out of things to do with my horse, and I am afraid of falling back to the same, old track. I would be grateful for any advise from you and are looking forward to your trip to Europe. Thank you. |
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| Ray's
Reply: This
sounds harsh, but if you had more to offer your horse, she would want to
be with you. She isn’t
trying to buck you off or run off with you, so she is putting up with you.
You say you have tried to make the groundwork more interesting and
positive and she is responding by being happier.
Now try doing the same thing on her back.
Find things to do that are interesting for the horse, reward the
smallest try and don’t drill on certain things until they become boring. |
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| Lead
Ropes:
I'm curious to know what you think of
turning horses loose with a lead rope attached to their halter. I'm
asking in reference to horses that have not had any experience
with ropes, other than for basic leading and tying lessons. I've seen
horses go into a running panic when the lead rope starts chasing and
slapping at them. I've seen the potential for injury, and yet I've also
seen horses learn to accept the rope and then be quiet if their lead
rope ever drops on the ground, which I believe makes them safer and more
dependable to be around. I shall look forward to your insights regarding
this subject.
Thank you for "being there for the
horse."
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| Ray's
Reply: I would never turn a horse loose with a lead.
To begin with I would never turn a horse loose with a halter on.
You can get a horse safe and dependable without exposing them to
that kind of mental and physical punishment. |
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| Bucking:
Hi Ray I feel privileged
to be able to put forward my question to you. My horse was green when I
got him and had been broken in the traditional outback way down under. I
am in my fourth year of PNH and my horse
and I are coming together as one. I have just one hurdle to cross and
that is when I ask for the canter he will every time buck. On the ground
he respectfully circles at all gates with the saddle on. Of course I
know its me and my emotional fitness because when I ask for the canter
its not with great conviction because I'm anticipating the buck. I feel
like its only a matter of time because I haven't come off yet. My
instructor says I need to be able to push him through (he reminds me
that what I am attempting is level 3 stuff). But seeing as when I first
got him he wouldn't even go forward at all and now we have a harmony and
a soft trot.
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| Ray's
Reply: Your attitude and reluctance to canter is a real
factor. The horse is more
sensitive to our thoughts and feelings than we can ever imagine. You are telegraphing to the horse something bad is going to
happen if we lope. Think
about trying to more properly prepare your horse to canter.
Don't think about cantering, just ask your horse to extend the
trot. See how fast he can
trot and don't worry about what lead he is going to take. You can take care of that later.
When he does canter don't keep him cantering, back off and let him
trot again, then fix it up again and see how fast he can trot.
If you aren't thinking about the canter, you should have good
results. |
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| Horsemanship class: Ray could you please tell me what is covered in your horsemanship classes? I am thinking of attending your Montana clinic. | |
| Ray's
Reply: The
Horsemanship class includes exercises designed to acquaint the rider with how
the horse moves and the aids and cues to use so the horse can do what we'd
like him to do. Mentally the
horse and rider need to be attuned. The
horse tries to do what we'd like him to do.
His problem is, "human, what do you mean".
We are trying to reach a harmony between horse and rider.
The rider needs to learn to prepare the horse to react in a way
that is natural and understandable to the horse. |
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Mare &
Foal: Ray &
Carolyn, I know that you have been breeding and foaling out horses for
many years and I would like your to hear your views on these subjects. I
lost a beautiful Mare and her Foal this week during foaling. She had a
twisted uterus and breech presentation. She lived in a big pasture (40
acre) with good grass most of the year. We hand bred her without any
restraints, and let her tell the Stallion when she was ready. She was
vet checked prior to breeding and ultrasound 15 days after. I had moved
her to a small paddock near the house so I could watch her a month or so
prior to due date. During Foaling she kept getting up and down like she
was trying to get positioned right. I called the Vet, but we live out on
a ranch, and by the time he got here it was too late. I'm just sick, and
I feel like somehow I let this Mare down. My questions are: Do you let
horses foal out in the pasture on their own, or do you bring them into a
stall or paddock, and how does this affect the horse? Do you pasture
breed, or hand breed, or AI, and does it make any difference to the
horse? Any other feedback you can give on this subject would be greatly
appreciated.
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| Ray's
Reply: We would prefer to pasture breed, but we do AI.
The mares foal outside in the pasture.
It is hard to lose a mare this way, but sincerely you did all the
right things. Sometimes it just seems to work out this way. |
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| Unpredictable
Mare:
I just finished one of your videos and it is
a pleasure to have found you so easily on the Internet. I hope you
can help us. My 10 y.o. mare who was home raised has given me
enormous pleasure in ways I would never regret and yet there have been
times that I just don't understand what I'm doing wrong. Our rides
seem to start out with bottled up excitement so I try trotting her out
the first mile or so...she seems to enjoy this and then relaxes
sometimes for the whole ride (10 or 20 miles) or at times seems can
become stimulated and can explode for what seems to be no reason at all.
She is easy in all aspects of ground care and handling, but under saddle
it seems that something is missing. She was professionally started
at 18 months for 30 days by a well known horseman in our area. His
method of training involved alot of heavy handling and whipping, a
running martingale always and sawing of the mouth. She became
heavy in your hand, her tail swished and bucked when whipped.
Being new to this I thought this was the way and sent her back each
winter for two years for a 60 day training or re-start as he said.
Today, years later and many clinics such as John Lyons & Monte
Roberts I experienced a Buck Brannaman Clinic
last summer which has changed my life with horses. I've come to
realize that I was never truly with my mare while riding...only
getting what I wanted as I had also been trained!! I've thought of
selling due to this behavior but can't at this time without trying this
method. My mare is now coming back from an injury since I saw Buck
and will be starting her new "job" soon. I've tried
herbs, massage, chiropractic, x-rays, new tack, dressage, etc....and she
has not changed. One thing stands out since that clinic that I
would like your opinion on. She has fought the bit her whole life
until we did dressage and we did arrive at times when she would work for
a short time on the bit always in a snaffle. Could it be possible
that my mare has "issues" around the bit in general and maybe
benefit from a bitless bridle" (side pulls, hackamore,etc...)?
Have you ever heard of this helping? When shes great there are no
words for the beautiful gaits she possesses and on the ground she is so
easy for everything. I bred this mare and have a great 3 year old
filly who is dynamic.. in training now with a gentler trainer who wants
to put her in the futurities this fall, possibly the Congress so I know
it was not neurological, maybe just a bad start. Please let me
know. Thank you so much for your time.
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| Ray's
Reply: I'm
glad that you had a chance to see Buck, so you have had a taste of
reality. The bit problem
could be old issues that have become a habit.
Start by having an Equine Dentist (we use Gary Biggerstaff) look at
your horses mouth and give you an accurate assessment of what is really
going on inside. You say that
when she's going right she is great.
With a mare this age you might never get her where she is
dependably "great". Look
at her history and realize that her past will always be part of her
present. You can help her,
but past experiences will always be there. |
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| Bucking: Dick is a three year old QH gelding that I have been riding for a month now. I round pen him first of all and he doesn't buck with the saddle but once I throw my leg over Dick, all hell breaks loose and he goes off bucking. What should I do, discipline him with the reins or pet him in reassurance that everything is O.K? So far neither one has worked. Got any suggestions? Dick has a really nice disposition other than this little quirk. | |
| Ray's
Reply: Do your groundwork and get him to turn loose
mentally. Round penning done
right is great, done wrong brings just the results you mentioned. |
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