R. S. Summerhays Explained

Reginald Sherriff Summerhays (often known as R. S. Summerhays) was a British expert and author in equine matters.

Biography

At the age of 32 in 1914, he was appointed by the British War Office as a Civilian Remount Purchasing Officer, with the duty of purchasing horses for World War I. Later he served as part of the Army Service Corps. In the early 1920s he rode in the three horse endurance tests of 60miles a day for five consecutive days. He then became Managing Director of one of the largest hunting, hacking and pony establishments in the country. Later he became editor of the journal Riding, retiring after thirteen years. It was then he published the first of his equine titles.^[1]

Other interests

For over 40 years Summerhays was a horse show judge as well as serving on the boards of many horse breeding societies. He was also president of the Arab Horse Society. His interests included polo. He was the originator of the Horseman's Sunday and also of the Horse and Pony Breeding and Benefit Fund.^[2]

Bibliography

Here's Horse Sense
From Saddle to Fireside
Elements of Riding^[3]
Elements of Hunting
Riding For All
Observer's Book of Horses and Ponies
The Problem Horse
It's A Good Life With Horses
Summerhays' Encyclopedia for Horsemen^[4]
Our Horses Horses and Ponies
Riding on a Small Income
The Story of the International
The Young Rider's Guide to the Horse World
A Lifetime with Horses
Arabian Horse in Great Britain (1967), London, Country Life Ltd.^[5]
The Arabian Horse (1974) A.S. Barnes,,
In Praise of the Arabian Horse (1954) coauthor with Staveacre F. W. F. The Arab Horse Society & J A Allen ASIN: B000WI33ZY
The Courthouse Arabian Stud (1966) H.V. Musgrave Clark; Rev edition

Notes and References

Taken from the dustwrapper of Elements of Riding, published by Country Life in 1962
Details from dustwrapper of a reprint of the 1937 Elements of Riding published by Country Life
Details of the list taken from the half title page of a 1937 Country Life copy of the book
Book: R. S. Summerhays. Summerhays' Encyclopedia for Horsemen. 1952 . revised 1962. Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd.. London, England.
Web site: The Arabian Horse . University of Chicago Library . 2014 . 22 November 2014.