Photo Archives
Rex grew up in Ogallala, Nebraska with seven siblings who all trick rode in their youth. Here is an early promotional brochure highlighting each of the kids talents and abilities. The eldest, Denny was famous for roman riding his team of jumpers over a 1957 Chevy for show stopping performances around the country. Denny was standing on their backs on a wing and a prayer, hoping they would jump perfectly in sync. Of course there were often miscalculations on the take off resulting in many wrecks. Rex recalls many regulars taking bets on if he would make the jump that evening, lining many pockets with greenbacks.
One summer, Rex traveled with the Bentley Brothers Circus around the country. Last month while driving in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, he recognized the old Fairgrounds on route 7 where they performed many years ago. He recalled learning a great deal from the elephant, monkey and lion trainers. Rex is always willing to learn from any animal trainer so that he can apply their methods to his training.
Justin, the star from Black Beauty performing at the Olympics with Rex’s son, Ryan Peterson, age 3 riding bareback
Karen and David O’Conner meet Justin and Rex at the Olympics
This image was taken on the set of “The Horse Whisperer”, Directed by Robert Redford. Rex was riding on the ridge when the helicopter with cameras on board flew too low to the horses. The still photographer captured Cash rearing at that moment.
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Cari grew up in Lexington, Ohio to a family of equestrians. Horses were around from the very beginning and a part of every day. Here are her parents riding at a Ranch out west where the family often vacationed over Easter.
Cari’s grandmother jumping her favorite foxhunter, Grayless, always jumping in balance and style.
Cari’s first stable from FAO Schwartz at age 7.
Cari teaching her horse tricks in her youth. Buffy was a reliable mount who excelled in barrel racing, trail classes, western pleasure and always won the bareback dollar bill class at local shows.
Cari riding with her sister Elise at their farm in Ohio. Growing up riding all kinds of horses gave Cari the confidence and ability to work with any horse. Their grandmother, Mimi, was an expert horsewoman and demanded the girls learn to ride bareback before they could have a saddle. As a result they both have become accomplished horseman in their own right. They both learned a great deal from 4-H, Pony Club and competing on the local Horse Show Circuit.
In spite of growing up in Ohio with grandparents who fox-hunted and drove carriages, Cari was always cowgirl at heart, most comfortable in her western wear, always begging for a new pair of cowboy boots at Christmas.
One Spring, Cari was given an unbroke 3 year old Appaloosa to train. Simon was quite a character and had a stablemate Garfunkel, a goat. Years later when the story was recounted to Paul Simon about his namesake horse he exclaimed that he was thrilled that he was not the goat. Cari competed Simon in jumpers, eventing and trained him to perform many tricks including standing on the mounting block and coming into the foyer of the house for parties.
Most Happy Fella, was a horse of a lifetime, an outstanding athlete that Cari won many Show Jumping and Eventing Championships on. Fella was a hot Appendix Quarter Horse who would jump anything anywhere. He was notorious for standing on his hind legs which never phased Cari who had the utmost confidence in him. Fella lived to be 34, retiring atWindrock Farm where he roamed at liberty for years. Sometimes he would follow the other horses on a hack. These photos are from a Show Jumping competition at the Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio.
Cari and Fella had an amazing partnership. Fella was an appendix Quarter Horse with all of the athletic ability and speed necessary to be a champion. He had a great character, with strong opinions that he often voiced.
Rex Peterson’s Mentor, Glenn Randall, Sr. with one of his horses who was “Trigger”. Glenn was a master horseman who trained all the Trigger’s for Roy Rogers. The first Trigger was called Golden Cloud, a registered Palomino, half Thoroughbred stallion with a wide blaze and one left hind sock.
His golden color was highlighted by an exceptionally long snowy mane and forelock. Golden Cloud’s sire was a Mexican racehorse, and his dam was what Rogers called a “cold-blooded” palomino, most likely a Quarter Horse mix. At only three years old, he had already doubled debuted as Olivia de Havilland’smount in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). The stallions matinee idol’s looks and his amazingly tractable temperament marked him for stardom. –excerpted from Hollywood Hoofbeats