Harry de Leyer and his horse Snowman are the stuff of equestrian legend. Their story is a testament to the power of connection, trust, and perseverance between humans and animals. One of the most beautiful stories in the horse world is about to be told to you.
Harry de Leyer was born in The St Oedenrode in the Dutch province of Noord-Brabant in 1928. He was raised on a horse farm and frequently participated in show jumping contests, but when the Gᴇʀᴍᴀɴs ɪɴᴠᴀᴅᴇᴅ Holland in 1940, many of the Dutch horses were ᴋɪᴅɴᴀᴘᴘᴇᴅ.
Harry demonstrated his riding abilities and expertise while working on tobacco plantations in the South until he was hired as a horse groom. The thin horse with the missing shoe, cut knees, and tackle rubs all over his body cost Harry $60 from the meat vendor and $20 for delivery.
A local doctor purchased the Snowman from Harry because he shared Harry’s desire for a calm horse for himself and his children. Harry typically sold several of his horses after each school year. The doctor was siсk of him and asked Harry if he could care for Snowman at his farmhouse.
Harry was quite interested in Snowman’s ability to jump out of the paddocks, so he tested him over a four-foot fence. Two years after Harry savеd Snowman from the meat man, they won the Triple Crown at Madison Square Gardens in 1958.
Conversely, a snowman became the first horse in history to win the Professional Horseman’s Association Champion and the American Horse Shows Association Horse of the Year at Madison Square Gardens in 1959. The Snowman earned the nickname “Cinderella Horse” and became famous nationwide.
Their success was challenging. De Leyer faced skepticism from the equestrian community, who wondered if a former plow horse could succeed in the show jumping arena. Snowman also faced health issues, including a sᴇᴠᴇʀᴇ ɪɴᴊᴜʀʏ ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴛᴇɴɪɴɢ his career. But through it all, de Leyer and Snowman remained determined to overcome obstacles and prove their worth.
The story of de Leyer and Snowman captured the hearts of people worldwide. Their unlikely journey from a sʟᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀʜᴏᴜsᴇ to the top of the equestrian world inspired many, and their bond served as a reminder of the power of trust and connection between humans and animals.
In many ways, de Leyer and Snowman were pioneers of modern equestrian training. They demonstrated that a horse and rider could accomplish great things with patience, perseverance, and a deep understanding of an animal’s capabilities and limitations.
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