I Long.......

"A horse named Hondo made it necessary for Ray to change his ways.
Hondo made it clear that Ray could be broken, but he, the horse, could not.

"Everything I know now started with that horse," Ray said. "Hondo was a sticking, biting, kicking, bucking tough colt who might have killed me. Hondo would tell me, ‘Come on and try to break me, and I’ll break in YOU again.’ And he would have. But I had all winter to work on him. He was my only horse; without him, I was afoot. It was just him and me and I tried to put myself in his place. How did he get so afraid? What could I do to make him trust me? A horse that’s had trouble can’t believe a human will quit hurting them. I felt sorry for that horse who had to hold up his defence. You can’t blame him. I worked on him some and we got so I could get near him, then get on him. I’m not saying it was all love and kisses. You better believe it. Things could get pretty physical, pretty western. I’d go to bed at night and think about that horse, dream about him, then go back to work with him the next day."

In the middle of the winter of 1960-61, Ray took Hondo to Tom Dorrance.
"He’s a little old bow-legged cowboy; he’s the brain of it all. He can fix a horse so fast you never knew what happened. And who taught Tom? He says it was the horse. As soon as Tom came around me, Hondo would act like a lamb. And as soon as he left, I’d be riding a tiger again. I couldn’t understand. Something was going on but I couldn’t find it.

See, I was too forceful. The timing was good but the mental feel of how it could be wasn’t there. I couldn’t visualize it and the yielding wasn’t there. The horse was afraid of me. I thought I had to hurt him to get him rideable. I knew it wasn’t right. And pretty soon, I learned that to get respect, I had to give respect.

Sometimes it’s hard to figure out because a horse is so big and strong, but there’s a difference between firm and forceful. And there’s a spot in there, inside the horse, an opening where there is no fear or resistance, and that’s what I began looking for."

By the end of the year Hondo was gentle, smooth, athletic, and kind to be around, a horse the grandkids could ride.

Image is of Ray and Hondo accepting a first place award and is from an article which appeared in The Western Horseman, January 1995 'Ray Hunt; Western Horseman of the Year' - http://westernhorseman.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1166&Itemid=77

Ray's quote is from an article written by Gretel Ehrlich; the article was published in the 'Shambhala Sun' July 1998 - http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1991

shared from the Ray Hunt Horseman Facebook Page

 

This.....right here...is what I long for in my dogs.  I have a mini Hondo in my new dog......she is going to teach me more than I ever could have imagined that day I agreed to take her.  Though she is not kicking, biting, nor is she going to kill me.....well there are those days I wonder but.....she is tough. Pressure makes her put pressure back on.  One friend cleverly told me, in the nicest of tones and with a delivery that almost slid by...."Dot is a lot like you". Everything in me is seeking to understand her....and with this seek, I am getting to know each of my dogs a little bit better.  They are all thankful for Dot and me, the seeker changeling. 

 

As I ponder horses versus dogs, I wonder about the differences between "prey" animals and "predators".  I'm reading a few books right now, one about animals and behavior, the other my interaction with my dogs....and I assess and sort.  The interactions of a pack of wolves in the environment is different from those of a herd of wild horses in the high desert;  survival from the view of prey versus predator.  On the other hand, I hear the most incredible stories from my dog behaviorist friend about the amazing mad skills dogs can be taught.  My thoughts come full circle....natural intrinsic instinct of the working sheepdog shaped with training, understanding, respect and relationship to become an amazing useful dog.  And I'm right back to where I started from....how am I going to help Dot become all she can be with me?

 

I'm strengthening my skill of observation, looking intently for that littlest intent of give, understanding and trust.  I'm also working on timing.  I'm not stuck in a method...I've spent much time with many top and respected trainers to know there is more than one way to skin a cat. So I am seeking, more than a method, what will bring understanding and partnership for Dot. I'm also working on living 'one day at a time'; living in the moment and dying to expectation of where we should be by when.  I have friends who have Dot's siblings.....I work at killing the comparisons!

 

The training of the dogs brings such joy to my  life....I am so thankful for what each of them teaches me on the days I am up for the challenge.  As always, it seems to come back to me.....me becoming more of who I am and less of what I believe others want from me.  It is a good journey....

 

Seize the Day!