Snowman (horse)
Encyclopedia
Snowman was a former plow horse
on his way to the "meatmarket", that went on to become a champion in show jumping
in the 1950s.
Snowman was originally used only for farm work and in 1956 was headed for the slaughterhouse
at eight years of age. On that day Harry de Leyer, a Long Island, New York riding instructor, attended a Pennsylvania
horse auction looking for school horses. He arrived late and the only remaining horses were the "rejects" loaded into trucks bound for the dog food and glue slaughter house. Harry de Leyer made eye contact with a large gray horse that he purchased for $80. He first used Snowman as a lesson horse for children. De Leyer recognized talent in the horse after selling him to a neighbor and the horse then jumping fences at any height to get back "home." He then began training him as a show jumper
.
Snowman won prestigious classes only two years after he had been bought off the slaughter truck. His career lasted five years. He willingly jumped over other horses http://www.showjumpinghalloffame.net/gfx/sjhf_inductees/snowman2.jpg, and his calm disposition made him a favorite: he once won a leadline
class and an open jumper championship the same day.
Snowman also appeared on television shows (Johnny Carson
's for one, where Carson climbed on his back), was the subject of two books, had his own fan club, and was even flown abroad for "guest appearances."
Harry de Leyer kept Snowman through his retirement until his humane euthanasia due to complications from kidney failure at the age of twenty-six.
Inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame
in 1992, Snowman has been made into a Breyer horse model.
Snowman is the subject of the book Eighty Dollar Champion: Snowman, the Horse That Inspired a Nation by Elizabeth Letts
, published by Random House
in 2011.
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
on his way to the "meatmarket", that went on to become a champion in show jumping
Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
in the 1950s.
Snowman was originally used only for farm work and in 1956 was headed for the slaughterhouse
Slaughterhouse
A slaughterhouse or abattoir is a facility where animals are killed for consumption as food products.Approximately 45-50% of the animal can be turned into edible products...
at eight years of age. On that day Harry de Leyer, a Long Island, New York riding instructor, attended a Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
horse auction looking for school horses. He arrived late and the only remaining horses were the "rejects" loaded into trucks bound for the dog food and glue slaughter house. Harry de Leyer made eye contact with a large gray horse that he purchased for $80. He first used Snowman as a lesson horse for children. De Leyer recognized talent in the horse after selling him to a neighbor and the horse then jumping fences at any height to get back "home." He then began training him as a show jumper
Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
.
Snowman won prestigious classes only two years after he had been bought off the slaughter truck. His career lasted five years. He willingly jumped over other horses http://www.showjumpinghalloffame.net/gfx/sjhf_inductees/snowman2.jpg, and his calm disposition made him a favorite: he once won a leadline
Leadline
Leadline is a horse show class for very young children, generally under the age of 7 years. An adult or older child actually leads the horse in-hand, while the child that is judged sits on the horse and usually holds the reins, but only for the sake of appearance, the actual control of the animal...
class and an open jumper championship the same day.
Snowman also appeared on television shows (Johnny Carson
Johnny Carson
John William "Johnny" Carson was an American television host and comedian, known as host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for 30 years . Carson received six Emmy Awards including the Governor Award and a 1985 Peabody Award; he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987...
's for one, where Carson climbed on his back), was the subject of two books, had his own fan club, and was even flown abroad for "guest appearances."
Harry de Leyer kept Snowman through his retirement until his humane euthanasia due to complications from kidney failure at the age of twenty-six.
Inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame
United States Show Jumping Hall of Fame
The Show Jumping Hall of Fame and Museum is an American organization located at facilities at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida. It came into existence in 1989 as a means to pay homage to the people and horses who have made outstanding contributions to the sport of show jumping.-Hall of Fame...
in 1992, Snowman has been made into a Breyer horse model.
Snowman is the subject of the book Eighty Dollar Champion: Snowman, the Horse That Inspired a Nation by Elizabeth Letts
Elizabeth Letts
- Biography :Elizabeth Letts was born on June 23, 1961, in Houston, Texas. She grew up in Southern California. As a teenager, she was a competitive equestrian three-day eventer. She attended Northfield Mount Hermon School and Yale College where she majored in History...
, published by Random House
Random House
Random House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
in 2011.