The proof that the circus people knew neither the Rarey plan

The proof that the circus people knew neither the Rarey plan

The proof that the circus people knew neither the Rarey plan

Indeed, the proof that the circus people knew neither the Rarey plan, nor the results to be obtained from it, is to be found in the fact, that they continually failed in subduing unruly horses sent to them for that purpose.

A friend of mine, an eminent engineer, sent to Astley’s, about two years ago, a horse which had cost him two hundred pounds, and was useless from a habit of standing still and rearing at the corner of streets; he was returned worse rather than better, and sold for forty pounds. Six lessons from Mr. Rarey would have produced, at least, temporary docility.

After Mr Rarey had taught five or six hundred subscribers

After Mr Rarey had taught five or six hundred subscribers

After Mr Rarey had taught five or six hundred subscribers

After Mr. Rarey had taught five or six hundred subscribers, some of whom of course had wives, Mr. Cooke, of Astley’s, began to exhibit a way of making a horse lie down, which bore as much resemblance to Mr. Rarey’s system, as Buckstone’s or Keeley’s travestie of Othello would to a serious performance by a first-rate tragedian. Mr. Cooke pulling at a strap over the horse’s back, was, until he grew, by practice, skilful, more than once thrown down by the extension of the off fore-leg.

Of Paris misprinted Faucher in the American edition

Of Paris misprinted Faucher in the American edition

Of Paris misprinted Faucher in the American edition

Mons. Baucher, of Paris (misprinted Faucher in the American edition), the great modern authority in horse-training and elaborate school equitation, under whom our principal English cavalry generals have studied amongst others, two enthusiastic disciples of Mr. Rarey, Lord Vivian and General Laurenson, commanding the cavalry at Aldershott admitted Mr. Rarey’s system was not only most valuable, but quite new to him.

But with no taste for reading and no talent for generalizing

But with no taste for reading and no talent for generalizing

But with no taste for reading and no talent for generalizing

Dick Christian a genius in his way when on horseback unmatched for patience and pluck, but with no taste for reading and no talent for generalizing, used to conquer savages for temporary use by tying up one fore-foot, and made good water-jumpers of horses afraid of water by making them smell it and wade through it; so that he came very near the Rarey methods, but missed the chain of reasoning that would have led him to go further with these expedients.

The accomplished Colonel Greenwood

The accomplished Colonel Greenwood

The accomplished Colonel Greenwood

The accomplished Colonel Greenwood, who was equally learned in the manége of the Haute Ecole, and skilled in the style of the English hunting-fields, gives no hint of a method which reduces the time for taming colts from months to hours, and makes the docility of five horses out of six merely a matter of a few weeks’ patience.

The sporting newspapers of England and America were so completely off the true scent when guessing at the Rarey method, that they put faith in recipes of oils and scents for taming horses.

Served in an Hungarian regiment

Served in an Hungarian regiment

Served in an Hungarian regiment

Captain Nolan, who was killed at Balaklava, served in an Hungarian regiment, in the Austrian service, afterwards in our own service in India, and visited Russia, France, Denmark, and South Germany, to collect materials for his work on the History of Cavalry and on the Training of Horses, although he set out with the golden rule laid down by the great Greek horseman, Xenophon, more than a thousand years ago Horses are taught, not by Harshness, but by Gentleness, only refers incidentally to a plan for throwing a horse down, in an extract from Baucher’s great work, which will presently be quoted, but attaches no importance to it, and was evidently totally ignorant of the foundation of the Rarey system.

Courland Circus Riders have long known how

Courland Circus Riders have long known how

Courland Circus Riders have long known how

The methods he uses for placing a colt or horse completely in his power are not absolutely new, although it is possible that he has re-invented and has certainly much improved them. The Russian (i. e. Courland) Circus Riders have long known how, single-handed, to make a horse lie down by fastening up one fore-leg, and then with a rope suddenly pulling the other leg from under him. The trick was practised in England more than forty years ago, and forgotten. That no importance was attached to this method of throwing a horse is proved by the fact, that in the works on horsemanship, published during the last twenty years, no reference is made to it. When Mr. Starkey, of Wiltshire, a breeder and runner of race-horses, saw Mr. Rarey operate for the first time, he said, Why I knew how to throw a horse in that way years ago, but I did not know the use of it, and was always in too great a hurry! Lord Berners made nearly the same remark to me. Nimrod, Cecil, Harry Hieover, Scrutator do not appear to have ever heard of it. The best modern authority on such subjects (British Rural Sports), describes a number of difficulties in breaking colts which altogether disappear under the Rarey system especially the difficulty of shoeing.