In Memory of Ray Hunt

Instead of the usual reader photo of the week, we at NWHS would like to take a moment to remember Ray Hunt, who was a huge influence on so many of today's horse people. He will be missed.

Ray Hunt was born August 31, 1929 in Paul Idaho to parents Joel Eugene Hunt and Zua Stella Shangle Hunt.  The family moved to Mountain Home, Idaho in 1933.  Ray attended Mountain Home schools and worked with his father on the family farm.  Ray married Millie Randall in 1948.  In 1950 they moved to the Battle Mountain, Nevada area where Ray worked as a cowboy for the T Lazy S ranch.  In 1955 the family moved to California.  Ray continued working with horses becoming famous the world over for his pioneering methods.  Ray married Carolyn Lord in 1980 at Georgetown Lake, Montana.  The clinics grew to epic proportions with Ray helping people and horses both domestically and internationally.  Ray often earned recognition for his achievements including the Top Hand Award, being inducted in to the California Reined Cow Horse Hall of Fame in 2004 and being named the first Western Horseman of the Year in 2005.

Ray passed away March 12, 2009 in Denton, Texas after a long and courageous battle with COPD.  Ray is survived by his wife Carolyn and daughters Geri Van Norman of Tuscarora Nevada, Kathy Hunt of Salinas California, Elaine Black of Homedale Idaho and Julie Ristau of Kodiak Alaska, and sons Joel Hunt of Bruneau Idaho and Preston Lord of Mountain Home Idaho, eighteen grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.  Ray was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, two sisters, 1 grandson and 1 great grandson.

A memorial and celebration of Ray’s life will be held March 21, 2009 at the Oak Valley Ranch in Era, Texas at 1:00 p.m.  Open to the public.

A memorial and celebration will be held March 28, 2009 in Mountain Home, Idaho with the time and venue to be determined.  Please check back here for updates.  Open to the public.

A memorial and celebration will be held in Australia with details to follow.  

Please contact Bill Geddes

(Brookfield) Tarooma

(07) 4628 3257

For those that would like to send cards please do so at the following address:

Carolyn Hunt

9698 E Hwy 20

Mountain Home, ID  83647

In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Ray Hunt Memorial Fund administered by the Capital Area Therapeutic Riding Association. It will be used solely in support of programs dedicated to horseback riding for people with disabilities.  Ray was impressed by how the horses were able to impact people with disabilities in such dynamic ways and this program really meant a lot to him.  All donations are tax deductible.  For more information on CATRA please go the website:  catra.net or contact Ben Nolt 717 – 649 – 9822.  Capital Area Therapeutic Riding Association, Inc. is a Not-For-Profit Organization Recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.