Reginald William Rives (1861-1948)
Reginald W. Rives, Whip & Horseman, of New York & Montecito, California
He was born in New York City. He was educated at St. Paul's School, Concord; Columbia College, New York (1882) and Columbia College Law School (LL.B., 1884). He served his apprenticeship with the legal firm of Olin, Rives & Montgomery and was admitted to the Bar in 1887 but never practised. In 1891, he inherited Carnwath, the family estate in the Hudson River Valley where, "he became an ardent farmer and devoted himself to the development of his property on a business basis... maintaining a noteworthy stable of harness and saddle horses". He twice served as Town Supervisor of Wappinger in Dutchess County, N.Y., and for sixteen years was President and General Manager of the Dutchess County Agricultural Society. He was also President of the State Agricultural Society and President of the Hudson River State Hospital.
He inherited his father's passion for coaching and was elected a member of The Coaching Club in 1883. He became recognized as a leading four-horse coachman and served as President of the club from 1933 until his death in 1948, during which time he authored, "the most authoritative work" on American coaching: "The Coaching Club: Its History, Records & Activities". Between 1914 and 1925, he was Secretary-General and General Manager of the National Horse Show Association of America. Having become an authority on horses, he was much sought after as a judge at all the most prominent shows in the United States and Canada, and also at the International Horse Show in Olympia, London.
In New York, he originally divided his time between 42 East 31st Street in Manhattan (his first wife's property) and Carnwath. He sold Carnwath after his divorce and moved to Santa Barbara, California, where in 1916 he built "Casa del Sueno" at Montecito. He returned to New York in 1925 and lived in an apartment at the Hotel Ambassador. He was married twice and had two children by his first marriage. His first wife, Mary, was the daughter of Edward Henry Bulkeley of New York. They were divorced in 1912 and the following year he married Mrs Elizabeth (Struthers) Taylor. He died in New York City.
He inherited his father's passion for coaching and was elected a member of The Coaching Club in 1883. He became recognized as a leading four-horse coachman and served as President of the club from 1933 until his death in 1948, during which time he authored, "the most authoritative work" on American coaching: "The Coaching Club: Its History, Records & Activities". Between 1914 and 1925, he was Secretary-General and General Manager of the National Horse Show Association of America. Having become an authority on horses, he was much sought after as a judge at all the most prominent shows in the United States and Canada, and also at the International Horse Show in Olympia, London.
In New York, he originally divided his time between 42 East 31st Street in Manhattan (his first wife's property) and Carnwath. He sold Carnwath after his divorce and moved to Santa Barbara, California, where in 1916 he built "Casa del Sueno" at Montecito. He returned to New York in 1925 and lived in an apartment at the Hotel Ambassador. He was married twice and had two children by his first marriage. His first wife, Mary, was the daughter of Edward Henry Bulkeley of New York. They were divorced in 1912 and the following year he married Mrs Elizabeth (Struthers) Taylor. He died in New York City.
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Contributed by Mark Meredith on 08/05/2022 and last updated on 12/03/2024.