author
J. S. (John Solomon) Rarey
1827–1866
Known as one of the original horse whisperers, this 19th-century trainer won fame for calming and rehabilitating horses with patience instead of force. His demonstrations amazed audiences in the United States and Europe and helped popularize a gentler approach to horsemanship.
2 Audiobooks
A New Illustrated Edition of J. S. Rarey's Art of Taming Horses With the Substance of the Lectures at the Round House, and Additional Chapters on Horsemanship and Hunting, for the Young and Timid
by J. S. (John Solomon) Rarey
Tachyhippodamia; Or, The new secret of taming horses To which is added The breaking, training, and taming horses
by Willis J. Powell, J. S. (John Solomon) Rarey
About the author
Born in Groveport, Ohio, in 1827, John Solomon Rarey became famous for working with horses that others considered dangerous or impossible to handle. Reports about his skill spread widely in the 1850s, and he built a reputation for using calm, humane methods at a time when harsh treatment was common.
Rarey’s name became especially well known through public demonstrations and through his writing on horse training. He traveled in both the United States and Europe, where his handling of difficult horses drew major attention and made his methods influential far beyond his home state.
He died in 1866, still a relatively young man, but his legacy lasted. Rarey is remembered not just as a showman, but as an early advocate for kindness, patience, and trust in working with animals.