Tachyhippodamia; Or, The New Secret of Taming Horses

Rarey, J. S. (John Solomon), 1827-1866Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

Rating 3.0

Word count: 193K words
Chapters: 20

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Tachyhippodamia; Or, The new secret of taming horses by Powell and RareyAuthor: Rarey, J. S. (John Solomon), 1827-1866,Language: English, Class: SF: Agriculture: Animal culture, Release Date: May 18, 2016

Editor's review

This is a short horse-training pamphlet left by the 19th-century horseman J. S. Rarey, with the original English text released free by Project Gutenberg. Its value lies not in literary quality but in its status as a historical document: readers can see a typical 19th-century Western approach to horse training—emphasizing gentle contact and trust-building instead of rough coercion—along with a concrete set of techniques. The book's detailed observations of horse behavior are useful to anyone studying the history of animal domestication, the history of equestrianism, and early modern practical technical manuals. The text is in English and not long, making it suitable for reading straight through or in selections as a historical source. Note that its techniques were based on the horse-use conditions of the time; modern readers should view them critically and not directly copy the procedures. Suitable for readers interested in equestrian history, animal behavior, and old practical manuals, as well as those who want to practice reading English nonfiction.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Research-oriented readers interested in the history of equestrianism and animal domestication
History enthusiasts who want to learn about 19th-century practical technical manuals
Readers with basic English reading ability who want to read short English nonfiction
Practitioners in horse-related work who want to understand traditional training approaches

Not a good fit for

Readers with no English reading foundation at all who need a Chinese translation
Beginners looking for a systematic modern equestrian training course
Readers expecting literary narrative or a complete theoretical system

Reading tips

Start with the table of contents and preface to understand the author's era and purpose in writing
Treat the methods as historical sources rather than an operating guide; when encountering specific steps, consider them against modern animal welfare concepts
If English is difficult, read closely paragraph by paragraph with a dictionary, keeping each session under ten pages
After reading, consult public-domain materials on equestrian history to help understand the book's place in the field

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable for use as a modern horse-training course?

Not recommended. It reflects 19th-century training concepts and methods, which are far removed from modern equestrian training and animal welfare ideas. It is better read as a historical document; for actual horse handling, rely on modern professional textbooks and guidance from veterinarians and coaches.

Can I read this book if my English is not good?

This is the original English text, and as an old practical manual, some terminology and sentence structures are difficult for beginners. If your English foundation is weak, reading will be laborious; you can start with dictionary tools or choose equestrian history materials with Chinese translations.

Is this book long? How long does it take to finish?

The materials indicate it is a short horse-training pamphlet with limited English text. Readers with intermediate English reading ability can finish it in several sessions; if doing close reading and note-taking, you can slow down appropriately.

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Rarey, J. S. (John Solomon), 1827-1866 Author · American · 1827–1866

J. S. Rarey (John Solomon Rarey, 1827–1866) was an American horse trainer known for his gentle method of taming horses. He opposed subduing horses through violence and intimidation, advocating patience, understanding, and gradual steps to build trust between horse and human; his approach drew wide attention in European and American equestrian circles in the mid-nineteenth century. Two of his works are held in this collection, A New Illustrated Edition of J. S. Rarey's Art of Taming Horses and Tachyhippodamia Or, The new secret of taming horses, both centered on the craft of taming horses, illustrated and combining practical guidance with summarized experience. Public information on his early life and specific career is limited; his influence lies mainly in the spread of his taming philosophy and the circulation of his writings.