New Life for RHS Horse Tamer

Friday, 10 February 2012 00:00

Alumni and students organize to preserve statue, now removed for safe keeping

The Roslyn school district’s request for help with support to save the Horse Tamer has been answered, as a group of alumni and current students have come together to organize a fundraising campaign to restore the statue.

The group, calling itself Friends of the Horse Tamer, aims to raise $150,000 to completely restore the statue, rebuild the pedestal and re-landscape the circle in the front of the high school. They are confident that the generosity of the Roslyn community, and the many thousands of alumni who have graduated from Roslyn High School, will enable the school district to preserve this important historical monument and irreplaceable symbol of the high school.

The Horse Tamer has long been in serious need of repair or restoration. Its condition became dramatically worse over the winter of 2010-11, as large pieces of stone began to come loose and fall to the ground. As an emergency measure, straps were installed to prevent a total collapse. With a commitment to underwrite the entire cost by Friends of the Horse Tamer, the district had the statue moved on February 3 to North Shore Architectural Stone in Glen Head, which is nearing completion on restoring the second horse tamer. That statue had stood in its original location until 2010 and now appears destined for Gerry Park in Roslyn. The high school’s statue will remain in storage and safely out of the elements until sufficient funds are raised to begin the restoration.

The sculpture has stood in the circle in front of the high school’s main entrance for more than 50 years. It was one of a pair that had been commissioned more than a century ago for the grounds of the Mackay estate, on what is now Country Estates. It was resurrected at the high school in the late 1950s, with private funds, when the estate was being demolished and ground was broken for new homes.

Donations, large or small, are gratefully accepted. They can be sent to Friends of the Horse Tamer, Box 322, Roslyn NY 11576 (checks payable to Roslyn Public Schools).

Contributors may also participate in a special commemorative brick purchase program. Please direct questions to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . A website and Facebook page are in production and further information will be posted as fundraising efforts get under way.

Important note: If anyone is aware of the location of any parts of the statue that have gone missing over the years, their return would be appreciated.  The return of these parts would greatly assist in the restoration process. Please contact the Community Relations Department at 801-5090 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .