Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-05-21
Agricultural.
FROM the VI. stock Ournal.
HORSE TAMERS,

Most of our readers have doubtless read
some account ofthe late marvellous perform
ances of an American Horse Tanner in
England, which have created such sensa-
tion as to attract the attention of the Royal
family.
We confess our philosophy is entirely at
fault in relation to this manner of tanning
wild and vicious horses, and were it not
for the unquestioncd character of the
witnesses, we should consider this mans
pretensions "a humbug." That the horse
can be taken in "a wild state, full of life
exulting in his strength, and jealous of his
native freedom, and in the short space of
an hour, by the skill Of one man, be
completely reduced to the condition of a
meek and willing slave, is to us ncompre-
hensible. Bnt it is even more difficult for
us to believe, that the horse which has for
years been given to vicious habits, is stub
born, refractory and mschicvous, can in a
few moments be made to lay these ideas
and assume habits Of gentlcncss, and become
kind and tractab'c. We cannot, however,
deny that the evidence that all this and
even more has been done, is abundant and
unqucstionablc.
Mr.: Rarey is by no means the first who
has claimed this power over the horse. AS
early as 1900, an Englishman named Ring,
who was employed as an overseer by Col.
Richard Tilg ghman of Queen AIMS Co.,
Md, exhibited a wonderful power over
wild and vicious horses, performing feats
similar to those of Mr.. Rarey. 1t is said
that he subdued the widest young horses in
about two hours. Next after Ring comes
Drinner, who in 1919, advertised in New
Orleans that he could in few hours, and
without force, gentle and subduc the Wild
est and most vicious ho scs. That he had
a remarkable power over them, and was
able to perform what he advertised seems
to have been abundantly proved. Drnncr
died Of yellow fever near New Orleans,
after having communicated his secret to
gentleman in New Jersey, who, with the
secret, was blown up on the Mississippi
river, a few years after.
Then comes the more celebrated Irish
man, Sullivan, who died without COM
municating his secret, even to his son.
About 1888, man named Mmut,
hailing from Ohio, made his appearance in
the western part Of Illinois. Mount as
serted that he could, in an hour or two,
tame the widest horses, making them
perfectly quiet and submissive. This as
sertion he made good in number of ex-
periments, which astonished the natives.
Mount sold his secret to several persons for
So each. they pledging themselves not to
divulge it. Query-wllat has become Of
it? If it was worth anything could it
have been lost after being communicated
to several different persons!
But the performances of all previous
horse-tamers seem to be eclpsed by the all
conquering Rarcy. He has created quite
an excitement among horsemen in England
and has now gone to exhibit his powers
BET. re the French Emperor.
Rarey has communicated his secret to
several English gentlemen, who declare
that no drugs are used, and that the mode
of treatment is very simple and harmless.
MIR. Rarey says he appeals to what he
calls the intellect and affections of the
horse, and states that this is the secret Of
his success. He is slightly made man,
about 80 years Of age, the son of stock
farmer and breeder of horses in Franklin
Co., Ohio.