Tom Dorrance Benefit
by Jacki Cast
The benefit for Tom Dorrance was one of the most important and moving experiences I have ever had the honor of being a part of This was a weekend full of many twists of fate for me on a very personal level. I believe I met and made some life long friends while at the benefit for Tom. I don't believe in coincidences. I have a faith that insures a certain destiny. If I ever did question that faith before, I cannot deny it now. I am so very grateful to have met and visited with some kindred spirits. You have touched my life in a way that I could never explain, but I believe you know what I'm talking about. Thank you - and, my oh my, ain't it a small world?
This "report" will be broken into 5 different parts. This first part is about how I felt about the atmosphere and the purpose. Lots of impressions and lots of those feelings that feel like trying to write with an oyster when it comes to putting them all into words. I'm not sure I can do a fitting job by this event but here's my attempt . . . We came from all over the world to a place called Ft. Worth. Texas. California, England, New Mexico. Texas, Wisconsin, NewHampshire, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana. Kentucky, Florida, Kansas, New York, Arizona, Arkansas, Washington, and even New Zealand were represented - I could go on and on. Most all of us were there to honor, to remember, and to share a feeling for a man who has spent his entire life devoted to horses. His name is Tom Dorrance.
Tom wasn't able to attend but his presence was overwhelming. Ibelieve he would be pleased, and proud, and hopeful about what took place on February 24 & 25, 2001. Some of the words that kept popping into my mind throughout this weekend are honorable, inspirational, respectful, grateful, emotional, joyous, sincere, and genuine. I would say it was quite a fitting legacy. Ray and Carolyn Hunt were our hosts, our mentors, our examples, our teachers - along with some other really fine and gifted horsemen and women. There was quite a little bit going on in the arena all the time. My eyes got pretty tired trying to observe all of it. But. The one very consistent and overriding element was Ray's ability to see and know at all times. Some folks might say there was just too much
going on to learn anything. At other times in my life I may have agreed with them. However, there was not much that came from Ray's mouth and heart that didn't have value if a person was willing to listen.
Ray appeared quietly delighted and thankful to see all the sharing and heartfelt support that took place for, and because of, his friend during the clinic. By Sunday it seemed as though there was an urgency in Ray, an urgency to pass on everything he possiblycould. He seemed eager and committed to sharing as much as he possibly could about all that he has ever learned, or heard, or read,or seen, or come to know to be the truth about horses. I felt obligated to listen.
My husband, Sheldon, made some pretty astute remarks on our trip back home, "Ray's got a lot of things to say that NEED to be heard. He's trying to help folks understand that it's their job to convince the horse that THEY have something to say worth hearing. Ray's not really interested in training. He's interested in teaching." I couldn't have said it better myself.
This benefit was so much more than about horses. The Hunts, and lots of the other folks there, are trying to teach us all something about values, integrity, family, honesty, lasting friendships, and what it means to care deeply. Hypocrisy and egotism did not have a place at this event. At least these are the kinds of things that I came away with. I've seen Ray once before, and this time I really walked away feeling like I am beginning to bring that bigger picture into focus.
These folks honor their loved ones. They don't mince their words, they aren't too interested in being politically correct, and they do care deeply. Ties that bind are something lots of folks don't spend too much time thinking and feeling about. But, if we don't start thinking along those lines, we aren't entitled to expect our horses to develop that kind of tie with us. There were lots of emotional moments for Ray and for so many of us others. At the end of the workday on Sunday, Ray personally gave each and every participant a dollar and told them it was from he and Tom's heart. It was one of the most moving and honorable things I've ever witnessed. That was a moment I pray that I never forget. Yes, I believe Tom would be hopeful.
These are quotes from Ray during the Colt Starting on Saturday February 24, 2001. When I use all caps I don't mean to scream, I mean to emphasize.
"You'd like to be proud of what the horse sees in you"
"Think of Tom sitting on your shoulder"
"If it was his idea there'd be nothin' to it - but it's not his idea"
"Feel, timing, and balance"
"Work with your horse as though Tom were right there looking over your shoulder"
"What I'm trying to tell the horse is that everything's gonna be OK"
"That's the best he could do at THAT time"
"If he wants to move his feet give him a job to do"
"If you can't get the neck to soften you'll have trouble gettin' the body"
"Notice the slightest change and the smallest try - lot of times we try to get too much too soon"
"It's hard to get people to work where the horse is at. Lot of times they drag the horse down to the human level. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you work from where the horse is at"
"Feel OF him, feel FOR him, and go TOGETHER"
"Get off him before you wreck him"
"He didn't really want to be that way - he just didn't know how to be any OTHER way"
"It doesn't matter what the horse does as long as you KNOW what they did"
Horsemanship Class quotes February 24, 2001
"This is not a contest. We're trying to show Tom what we've learned"
"What was his attitude like - or do you KNOW?"
"Make your decision ahead of time so your horse can make a plan"
"Give your horse time to feel back to you and you to feel back to him"
"That's our goal - it may not be that way today, but that's what we're looking for"
"Learn to make some plans"
"Pick up a real nice soft feel - some day you might call that
collection, but right now it's a soft feel"
"His rhythm and your rhythm should be the same"
"We're always trying to do less. We want to turn as much over to the horse as we can"
"As the human gets more sure he can ask the horse to hurry up with what they're doing"
Colt Starting class Sunday February 25. 2001
"It's the preparation for the position that means the most to your horse"
"The horse is always right - he never does anything wrong - never, EVER!"
"To me it's life - L.I.F.E, - a way of life. It has to come from the human - you have to give to the horse before you can take"
"I'd rather someone ask me for help than to sit here and see some of these things not working out"
"Manners don't cost a dime. Caring doesn't cost a person anything"
"The horse has a mind - you have to KNOW that"
"Set your dreams high and believe in yourself"
"The horse is the greatest teacher you can have"
"The horse has a mind - that's why he's so interesting to me"
"WHATEVER the horse does, you have to make something useful out of it"
"If you'll understand that the horse TRIED you'll be amazed at what you can do"
"I like to see all the sharing that's going on here"
"There's so many things to do besides the one particular thing you think you want to do"
"I don't know enough about it to be a trainer, but I do want to be a better horseman. I want to bring out the best in my horses."
"I can't teach you experience"
"All the horse is trying to do is survive"
"We wreck what Mother Nature put there. . .WHY??"
"I ride my horse. I don't ride the saddle."
"Most humans haven't taught their horse how to walk. It's the little things that count"
"Encourage or Discourage"
.
"These horses have expressions and they change. It's up to you to watch 'em and learn about them"
"If it isn't working, it isn't the horse's fault. The human is responsible for what's taking place"
"Adjust to fit the situation. Do whatever is necessary to get the job done - as much as it takes, but as little as possible"
"The horse is entitled to his thoughts"
"Prepare your horse better. Get better at being where the horse is. Catch up on the basics"
"Concentration, coordination, and reflexes"
"Confidence is being prepared for the unthinkable"
"My friend knows how to meet the horse's needs and how to draw on those needs"
"I believed everything my friend had to say. I don't know WHY I believed him, but I did"
"I don't know where I'm going, but I'm not lost"
"You're not fooling the horse"
"Before the horse leaves I'll take them until they can figure out how to wait"
"The horse's mind is ALWAYS working"
Horsemanship and Misc. quotes Sunday February 25, 2001
"I have Mother Nature sittin' on one shoulder and Tom on the other"
"Observe, remember, and compare"
"Be aware of being aware"
"You want your horse to know they're a winner"
"The human doesn't know when to quit"
"The horse might get worse before they get better"
"You fix it up so they can do it for themselves"
"It's good for the horse to find out that they CAN even if it isn't to their liking"
"Get the horse's mind to change"
"You can pick a plan if you have anything to think with"
"Do it for YOU, not for someone else"
"Tell him what he needs to learn if you have ANY idea"
"He may not learn it today - but he'll never learn it if you don't offer it to him"
"He's an animal that feels, and thinks, and makes decisions, and learns"
"He knows when you know and he knows when you don't know"
"If you can get your horse straight, you'll have 1/2 your battles won"
"How can your horse know if YOU don't know?"
"Let your horse do your thinking for you"
"I think Tom would be proud of all of you and that's how we'd want him to be"
Peace to You & Yours-
Jaki & Dancer in Texas
