Timeless Lessons and Inspiration
I was a horse crazy little girl in 1956 when Snowman was discovered, and subsequently burst onto the show jumping scene with great success. Horse people knew all about Snowman: The $80 Amish plow horse snatched off the slaughter-bound truck to become one of the greats. Heady stuff for a horse crazy kid. The stuff of legends. The stuff of inspiration. The stuff of dreams.
The video chronicles Harry DeLeyer's life, a life that always revolved around horses, beginning at his father's farm in the Netherlands. He and his siblings knew all about hard work and putting the horses' needs first, as well as riding and jumping. When World War II broke out, surviving the Nazi occupation was serious business. Even so, young Harry always cared for the horses, at one time trying to save a thousand horses left behind by the Nazis (they commandeered any good horse they came across). After the war, he was sponsored and came to this country with his wife, where, once again, he eventually found work with horses, teaching riding, showing, and building his reputation as a trainer, with success as his students and children won many times in the show ring.
But, when he discovered Snowman, the curtains were lifted on an inspiring drama of friendship, loyalty, and overcoming the odds of being successful in a rich man's game on very expensive, well-bred horses. These things only happen in fairy tales . . . don’t they? Harry and Snowman's show ring accomplishments were legendary, and their names became household words in the horse set.
Such drive and devotion the horses had its cost: Harry's family perhaps came second to the needs of the horses. His whole life had always been, still is, the horses. Unless one suffers from the same affliction, they will never understand such a willingness to sacrifice whatever it takes to be with, to have, to work with horses, and the huge void being without them leaves behind.
Harry and Snowman is as much about Harry's life as it is Snowman's time with him. Success at anything demands a certain drive, unwavering determination, continued optimism, to succeed. Harry and Snowman were the perfect team, each with his own brand of iron will. Their wills went hand-in-glove, and they were partners, friends, family, neither would reach that pinnacle of horse show glory without the other.
Yes, I knew well Snowman’s story as a young girl, and it was a lesson taken to heart, that underneath a rough exterior could very well be incredible heart and talent, just waiting for the right person to come along and discover it. It was a treat to watch the vintage film footage from horse shows back in the 50s and 60s, to see Harry and Snowman in their prime, and beyond. It is a wonderful story, with a strong message, and just plain enjoyable to see some of the show jumping greats from back in the day. It is a story that still resonates all these decades later; it is timeless. Anyone who loves horses will certainly enjoy this program.
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