Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Snowman…the Eighty Dollar Horse

 

Being into horse most of my life I love reading a good true horse story, I just finished this book….

eighty-dollar-champion-snowman-horse-that-inspired-nation-elizabeth-letts-hardcover-cover-art

Snowman was rescued from a slaughterhouse truck at an auction when he was only 8 years old.  He had been a plow horse and the owner  thought he was used up.   Harry de Leyer, a poor immigrant horse trainer who worked at a school for girls in Long Island  thought differently and purchased him off the truck for $80.00  A LOT of money back then for someone like Harry.  He saw something special in that horses eyes the first time they looked at each other.  Snowman earned his keep at the  girls school giving riding lessons. Not the prettiest, or the flashiest or the fastest,  but destined to have a wondrous jumping career you  only see in the movies…

It felt good to read about a true horseman who had a real bond with this gentle giant….he went on to have a jumping career of five years and beat some of the best of the best in a higher echelon equestrian society.  Harry also knew when enough was enough and retired him at the age of 13.

 

He sure doesn’t look like a plow horse here, does he?????? 

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He lived to the ripe old age of 26 when kidney failure ended his life with a humane euthanasia…people still can see his grave under the tree in his favorite pasture on the farm Harry and his wife owned in Long Island.   What a wonderful story of the life and times of the early 1950’s and the people who had the money to have champion show jumpers and how the new  Middle Class working man in America had his horse to cheer for also!  If you like horses and history, this is a great read.

8 comments:

Artful Gathering said...

Loved the post. Will have to check the book out. My husband and I rescued a horse that used to race in Florida.
He was at auction. He has bad feet but he keeps on eating. A very gentle horse. Our grand kids love him.
Have a great day! Glad I found your blog!

Perfectly Printed said...

Thanks for sharing such a great story!! Isn't great there are folks out there who will rescue a large breed animal?

Best chris

Linda Ruthie said...

I was just thinking, since I read all the time, that I should do a blog post on what I'm currently reading.
I'm glad you did as this sounds like a very good story.
Have a happy day,
Linda

craftyles said...

What a great story. He was a beautiful horse! Sounds like a great read.

Shirley Hatfield said...

I would hate to frighten people with the books I might be currently reading...lol! I like posts about books other bloggers enjoy...horse books make me cry! =D

NanE said...

Aww, what a sweet story Sandy! I know a young lady who rides and one of her horses is quite elderly, she would love this book! Have a great weekend, Nan

Erica of Golden Egg Vintage said...

This looks like just the kind of book that I would like to read! Thanks for letting us know about Snowman! :)
Erica

Unknown said...

Sandy, I thought of you a recent weekend ago when my SIL came to town for Dressage. I amazed myself in feeling so much more comfortable around horses. They cast a magical spell! Have a great week! E

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