John Rarey Views
John Solomon Rarey (1827–1866) was one of the nineteenth century horse whisperers, an important figure in the rehabilitation of abused and vicious horses during the 1850s. Originally from Groveport, Ohio, Rarey trained his first horse at the age of twelve. (His method of rehabilitating horses is discussed in the article entitled Rarey technique.)
The Rarey technique is a method of calming horses that have become vicious and fearful of humans due to abusive handling or other traumatic events. It is named for its inventor, John Solomon Rarey (1827–1866) of Groveport, Ohio, USA, who became famous for taming violent horses with it, and later for teaching it in various countries around the world.
Description:This portrait, which measures 52 by 38.75 inches (132.08 by 98.42 cm), was painted by Miner Kilbourne Kellogg in 1860. The painting is part of the fine art collection of the Ohio Historical Society. It shows John Solomon Rarey and Cruiser. Rarey (1827-1866), a native of Groveport, Ohio, gained international fame using kindness, firmness, and patience to train previously unmanageable horses. His innovative methods captured international attention and secured him invitations to tour Europe, Canada, and Russia. In what was perhaps the most famous of his demonstrations, Rarey tamed a vicious horse named Cruiser in three hours. Rarey was given the horse as a reward for his skill. He then went on to exhibit Cruiser and his techniques throughout the U.S. and Europe.
How did John Rarey do itt Was there a scientific basis to his amazing feats? Does his technique stand up in the light of current theories about animal psychology? In order to answer these questions, AMERICAN HERITAGE asked Dr. F. Dudley Klopfer of the department of psychology of Washington State University to read our article on Rarey. Here is Dr. Klopferj’s opinion.
John Rarey Images
