Ranch Academy is planning ( as sponsor) a series of stages, workshops and shows with Buck Brannaman in Europe.

The focus will be on the colt starting sessions, horsemanship and the ranch roping…if you want more informations about the schedule please send an e-mail to drew@ranch-academy.com ( we speak english, spanish & italian).

Texas longhorn Steer in Ft.Worth Historic District…Stockyards.

Fort Worth, Texas.

Cold, snow & longhorn cows parked near the trucks in the middle of the Historic District. We just walkin around. Thinkin about Ray. We are here to honor one of the most famous and great horsemen of the world. The place of the memorial is the Will Rogers Coliseum. A big huge place, mebbe too big for us …but many people are coming …

From Left Paul Dietz, Kip Fadland, Ricky Quinn, Drew Mischianti, Buck Brannaman, Buster McLaury ….Ray Hunt Memorial, February 2010.

The day after Buck ( Brannaman) calls us. He s arrived here with his smile , his long hoss trailer and his famous Buck’s face… We go checkin the horses and after is dinner time… We don’t talkin’ about Ray. Every time we do , i can see a tear on Buck’s face….We r at the Horseshoe , for this week the head quarters of the Circle of Trust” ( as Buck calls it)…a friendship clan , a pack of vaqueros, a kinda of family…in a word..WE ALL.

Natalia Estrada, Mary Brannaman, Jo-Anne Jackson, Reata Brannaman & the gang…

Mary, Reata, Shayne e Joe Ann, Ricky & Sara,the Hawaii girlsand few others. Sometimes with us there’s even Carolyne (Hunt)…Tomorrow is THE DAY and we go, all the bunch,in the  Buck’s big truck , to the coliseum. We have a plastic bracelet with  the famous ray’s quote “THINK” write on….

As we enter in the Watt arena we saw all the Ray’s stuff for sale…ready for the auction. Something about it made us sick, but we know that this sale is for a good reason. Helpin Carolyne.

The horsemen with Carolyne Hunt.

In the arena there are  Buck Brannaman, Buster Mc Laury, Martin Black, Kip Fadland,  Wade Black, Ty Van Norman, Ricky Quinn, Tom Curtin, Paul Dietz, some australian horsemen  and other Ray ‘ students. As speakers Bob Tallman e Sharon Camarillo..and…Pat. Parelli. Natalia and I we met Pat , his son and Linda.  Natalia give him a copy of Horsepower and start to visit pat for a while since they knows each other since some years.

Natalia estrada 6 all the Parelli’s family…

…meanwhile I’m with the terrific John Pfeiffer, our Ranch Academy friend from  Oregon, the friend of the mustangs… Him and his wife Toni they will be one of the most beutiful things of this trip…

John Pfeiffer & Drew.

The colt starting begins. All the guys try their best and some of em do it in the very Ray’s way…others don’t..

at nite we all went in a big covered place  where the banquet and the auction will be…the Great Shayne is super nice and bring us drinks and take care of us like only a real friend can do…After a kinda of Baxter Black show that give us some moments of pure laughing, a photo slide show of Ray start to play on the big screen. It is a very hard moment and few can keep the tears inside…..

The moment of the auction comes like a  shock. Slowly saddles, bridles and reatas of the Ray’s personal collection are sold …and it makes us little sorry about it but happy for Carolyne… After a while all is gone. A coffee and all of us needs to sleep…tomorrow will be another long day…

Buck Brannaman & friend…

Im happy to see how Buck works with his palomino colt. And i say this not only since he is my friend. You should see him easy, natural, relaxed in harmony…and Kip, Buster, Ricky… and the others…good job.

” im here to honor the memory of Ray, im not here for a competition…”say Buck when I reach him down near the round pen…

RAY HUNT.

Ray Hunt is now in another place. With his tuff body and his strong voice. He’s not more with us. He leaves us on the twelwe of march. My birthday. One year ago, i was in normandy to visit the beaches of the D-Day. My good friend Paul calls me and say…” Hey Drew…a legend is gone…Ray Hunt died today…”

I take a look outside the window of the reastaurant, down on the dark beaches and into the ocean. I do not like the idea that Ray is gone. It’s so hard, too hard.

..in few days will be a year. Ray Hunt. he’s gone. In a place that i hope it’s better than this one. Better they have some hosses for him , since i can t imagine the ‘ol Ray without a horse…

we just have to thank BUCK BRANNAMAN & CAROLYNE HUNT to let us be part of this memorial and RAY HUNT , simply to be what he’s. He will be with us forever, in our hearts everyday on our long journey along the FEEL.

Drew & Natalia.