All-New Book of Amazing Facts, Vol. 2

11 In 1956, Harry de Leyer, a horse- riding instructor from Long Island, went to a horse auction. Due to his late arrival, he missed the best horses. All that were left were the rejects to be sent to the slaughterhouse. That’s when Harry spotted a thin plow horse already loaded onto the truck. As the horse and Harry caught one another’s eyes, something clicked. Harry offered its owner $80, named the horse Snowman, and began to use him as a training horse. Under Harry’s tender care, the eight-year-old horse regained his health but was eventually sold to a neighbor for $160. However, Snowman missed his redeemer so much that he could not be contained, jumping over any obstacle to get back to Harry’s farm. That’s when Harry realized Snowman had amazing jumping potential—and he took the horse back. This began Snowman’s wildly successful showjumping career. The former plow horse went on to beat all of the thoroughbreds, once winning two major jumping championships in the same day. He was beloved by riders of all ages and skill levels and became famous for his willingness to work with children and to jump over the backs of other full-size horses. Snowman appeared on numerous television shows, in books, documentaries, and was featured twice in Life magazine. He went from being a doomed plow horse to an international champion because someone had mercy and redeemed him. You can see why he was dubbed the “Cinderella Horse.” Did you know that Someone paid a great price to redeem you from a hopeless end and give you an endless hope? “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the L ORD , thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). Snowman The Cinderella Horse Animals & Biology