The Eighty-Dollar Champion: Snowman, the Horse That Inspired a Nation

Oh my! Can I give a book 10 stars?? I loved this one! More even than Laura Hillenbrand's Seabiscuit, I think, and that's saying a lot. This is the true story of Snowman, a plow horse rescued from going on the knacker's truck (literally at the last possible moment) who became a national sensation as the underdog horse who beat out all the expensively bred and trained fancy show horses to become showjumping's Horse of the Year. Twice! I was amazed. The book is not just a horse story, however, but a beautiful love affair between man and horse; a loving portrait of Harry de Leyer, the Dutch immigrant and World War II survivor who believed in hard work and self-sacrifice and in nurturing horses to their full potential; and a peek into the show more privileged but rapidly changing East Coast horse show world of the 1950's, where a self-trained unknown "professional" owner/trainer/rider/groom seemed vastly out of place and unlikely to challenge the snooty rich "amateur" riders from large fancy stables. Little did they know! I had heard of Snowman, vaguely, from mentions in the beloved C.W. Anderson horse books I always devoured as a kid, and in passing as I read about other jumpers. But I did not know anything about his story, and it was a pleasure to read such a well-written and extensively researched book on him. I learned a great deal about the showjumping world of the 1950's (Riding helmets? Who needs helmets! Scary thought) as well as Snowman's particular story. To achieve what he did in the show ring was phenomenal enough, but to then go home and be a placid lesson horse for hundreds of girls day in and day out, as well as a beloved family pet to Harry's six children, was extraordinary. I was moved by the beautiful language, kept in suspense during Snowman's intense jumpoffs against formidable opponents, and brought to tears at a key point near the end. And I was thrilled to hear that Harry de Leyer helped greatly in the making of the book, and is still training new riders today, at age 83!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in horses, in rooting for the underdog (underhorse ;-) or in a fascinating look at America in the 1950's in general and the jumping/horse show world in particular. Having read in the book that a movie about Snowman was once in the planning stages but never got made, I sincerely hope that a Hollywood studio snaps this up soon and makes a film that does Harry and Snowman proud. If ever a story belonged on the big screen, this surely is it. Talk about heartwarming and dramatic! But READ THE BOOK! You won't be disappointed. (It goes on sale August 23; I was fortunate to read an advance copy for LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.) show less

The Eighty-Dollar Champion is one of those horse stories that should unquestionably become a Disney movie. When Dutch immigrant Harry de Leyer arrives at a horse auction in Amish Country Pennsylvania on a cold February day, the best horses have already been sold to the highest bidders and the bidding is over. No horses are around except for the ones that didn't sell that are being loaded up and sent away to be killed. Not wanting to return to Long Island, where he teaches schoolgirls to ride at The Knox School, empty handed, Harry spots a plow horse with a certain look in his eye that he's sure will make a good teaching horse. Eighty dollars later he's bound for home with a worse for the wear horse that is about to become a part of his show more growing family.

Snowman turned out to be just the calm, patient mount Harry had hoped for, quietly teaching new riders the skill. But when Harry tries to sell him to a local farmer to free up room in his stable during the off season, Snowman proves himself to be much more. Little did de Leyer know that his affable plow horse had a penchant for jumping and the heart of a champion that would lead the pair to fame and fortune in the dangerous sport of show jumping.

Elizabeth Letts didn't necessarily do Snowman's story many favors. Bulked up with unnecessary historical background (this just in, horses falling out of popular use for transportation by the 1950s) and a grating amount of repetition, likely in the name of creating some dramatic effect, fall flat. A little dramatic tension, a little reminder here and there of the significance of Snowman's success is understandable, but Harry de Leyer and Snowman's story is so inherently heart-warming and triumphant, there's really no need for Letts to go the extra mile to point out its significance. She goes many extra miles, however, to the point of her cumbersome sentimentality becoming downright patronizing.

Were in not for the inherent attractiveness of the story of a horse bound for death who defeats the odds to become a great show jumper, I might have laid this book aside unfinished. Happily, the meat of Letts' account of Harry's determination and skill as a horseman and Snowman's joy in jumping and eagerness to please the man who rescued him from an early death was enough to keep me hanging on. There's no doubt that Snowman's story might be a little lesser known, but it is easily as inspirational as any horse story going. By the end, I was happy to have "met" the irrepressible Snowman and the man who saw Snowman's worth long before he urged the horse to show jumping greatness. show less

“There was nothing worse than a horse movie in which it was obvious that the people who made it knew nothing about horses.” It’s obvious that the author, Elizabeth Letts, does know about horses and horse shows – thank goodness!

Grade-horse Snowman, once bought from a slaughterhouse trailer, became one of the best show jumpers in the country. He was brought along and ridden by Harry deLeyer in the 1950s and 1960s, when the horse world was going through a change from gentlemen’s sporting events to commercial businesses.

Since Letts drew from personal experience, interviews, and research, she was able to be thorough and detailed in her descriptions. The background of the era provided a rich setting without bogging down the story. show more She touched on many issues in the horse show scene that are still with us today – amateur status, the competitive difference between European shows and American, excessive use of training gadgets, and the influence of George Morris. (The passage about Mr. Morris being considered a child added some more insider humor.) Letts also covered deLeyer’s life from childhood through old age. At times this became too sentimental, with the underdog theme getting too much play, but it wasn’t enough to ruin the story at all. The author’s personal experiences allowed her to recount the sensations – from what it feels like to jump the big courses to the hairs that make you itch when you go swimming with your horse.

The downsides were few, and will most likely be corrected before going out to publication: unclear photographs, mislabeling, and a few typos. The time flow in the beginning makes it a bit hard to establish a good pace; thankfully, the timeframe of each chapter is included in the chapter heading.

Overall, “The Eighty-Dollar Champion” gets high marks. Even better, it gets the recommendation of a horse person to another – if you’re featured in “The Chronicle” every week or simply enjoy a hack around a course occasionally, you won’t be disappointed! show less

The Eighty Dollar Champion is the story of Snowman, a discarded farm horse destined for the slaughterhouse, who went on to win top honors in the world of show jumping in 1958 and 1959. It is also the inspiring account of Snowman's owner, Harry DeLeyer, a Dutch immigrant who lived through the Nazi occupation and moved with his young wife across the ocean to create a better life for his family. The bond between Snowy and Harry begins when Harry buys the beaten down horse for $80 after seeing a spark in his eyes, and blossoms into a tie so strong that when Harry tries to sell the horse after restoring his health, the horse responds by repeatedly jumping paddock fences to make his way back home.

This story might have all the makings of a show more syrupy Hallmark movie, but the book is, in fact, a fascinating study of the changing face of America in the 1950's and 60's as the elitism of horse shows gave way to the "everyman" spectator who began watching the sport on the new medium of television. The year that Snowman first won the National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden was the year when the horse shows ceased to be the bastion of the privileged. Letts details how the souring economy coupled with a struggling newspaper industry seeking any new angle to attract readers, aligned to propel Snowman's underdog story to even bigger attention.

Having no background in the equestrian world, I learned a good deal from reading this book, including the fact that the ASPCA was originally created to prevent cruelty to horses. There is a wealth of information about the different types of jumps, the things that can affect a horse's performance, and the manner in which horses are trained. Letts conducted numerous interviews with DeLeyer during the drafting of this work, and it shows.

With the exception of one or two slow moving technical sections on horse racing and breeding, Letts' easy flowing style makes this nonfiction account read like riveting fiction. What makes her narrative particularly special is the way in which she parallels Snowman's brush with death to Harry's first-hand experiences in the war, and identifies these as the genesis of their urge to live life to the fullest. Each came from humble beginnings, with a heart big enough to be a champion, and both rose to defy conventional expectations.

Of course, no horse lives forever, and though not unanticipated, by the time one gets to the end of the story, there is such an emotional investment in this pair, that a good supply of tissues should be at hand. All told, this was a wonderful account of a truly inspiring relationship between man and animal sure to be loved by horse aficionados and neophytes alike. show less

I loved this book. Before it arrived, I was a little afraid it would be a sentimental story about a wonderful pet. It was but it was so much more. Snowman was indeed a remarkable horse and athlete. Purchased for $80 just as he was headed for the knackers, this horse not only became a champion jumper, prizewinner of thousands of dollars but he was a common man's hero too. He was a calm-mannered horse in a venue where high-strung is a common description for the jumper.

The book went deeper than just the history of Snowman and his owner/trainer Harry de Leyer. The author gave background about many related topics such as horse trading, girls' schools in the 1950's, the history of Madison Square Gardens. This background helped round out a show more inspiring tale to a full-fledged story.

I'm very pleased that I was given an opportunity to read this as part of the Early Reviewers program. Thank you! show less

First Line: The horse vans parked along Seventh Avenue came loaded up with dreams.

Harry de Leyer needed a good horse, but by the time he fought through the horrendous winter weather, the only horses left at the auction were those on the truck headed to the slaughterhouse. Unwilling to admit defeat, he persuaded the truck driver to let him take a look at the doomed horses loaded in the back. A certain look in the eyes of a neglected plow horse spoke to Harry, and after paying the driver $80 for the horse, Harry took him home. At that point, the horse-- dubbed "Snowman" by Harry's children-- was probably the only one that knew he was poised at the beginning of his very own Cinderella story. This is the story of a plow horse turned show more schooling horse turned show jumping champion. It is the story of the man who saved his life, Harry de Leyer. Most of all, it is the story of the deep love the two have for each other.

The book grabbed me at the very beginning with the tale of how Harry found Snowman and brought him home. I was chomping at the bit for more, but Letts switched leads and began telling Harry de Leyer's story of life before and during Nazi occupation in the Netherlands, and the immigration of Harry, his wife, and children to the United States. Don't get me wrong: Harry's life is extremely interesting, but after that excellent beginning, his story almost ground the pacing of the book to a complete halt. I was tempted to skip ahead and get back to the horse, but I wouldn't let myself.

Once the chronicle of Harry's story caught up with Snowman's, the book took wings again. Letts' research and interviews give The Eighty-Dollar Champion the richness of detail that it needs. The show jumping circuit in the late 1950s comes to life, and I felt as if I got to know what it was like to work Snowman at his "9 to 5" job and then load him in the trailer to compete in shows.

After the stumble at the start, the book only took one more misstep as it headed for the finish line. As Snowman started to capture media attention, the author seemed to make a bid for comparison to Laura Hillenbrand's classic Seabiscuit by adding brief sections about the uncertainty of the era, how it needed a hero to believe in, and how the working class public focused on Snowman-- a very unlikely champion. These sections don't really fit into the book because the focus of The Eighty-Dollar Champion is a very narrow one: the relationship between a very special horse and a very special man. Attempting to bring the outside world into this just doesn't work.

Although I did find a bit of awkwardness in the book, I absolutely loved the story of Snowman. However, as a word to the wise for anyone who falls apart at the end of Old Yeller or who has had a beloved pet die-- keep a box of tissues on standby. You will need them. show less

The Eighty-Dollar champion tells the extraordinary story of Snowman, the most unlikely champion jumping horse you could possibly imagine. Harry de Leyer, a poor, but determined Dutch immigrant, finds him at an auction being loaded onto the slaughter truck. He looks like he could be a reliable and steady lesson horse at Harry's riding school, so Harry takes a chance and buys him. He does turn into a quiet, dependable riding horse and for a year or more that's what Harry thinks he is. Then Harry sells him and Snowman begins jumping out of his pasture to return to Harry, over increasingly higher fences and once with a tire tied to his foot. Harry realizes there is something more to Snowman, but figuring out how to bring it out turns into show more an adventure.

A heartwarming read for all the animal lovers out there, The Eighty-Dollar Champion is a perfect holiday season read. Its undemanding of the reader, just sit back and feel -good, inspired, and bask in the wildly fulfilled dreams of Harry de Leyer and Snowman. Don't expect too much depth, the characters are one-dimensional, good as good can be, and there are no surprises in the story. Snowman steals the show with his quirky personality and unexpectedly mischievous behavior. This is where Elizabeth Letts really shines, in portraying Snowman as a humble plow horse who was patiently waiting to show the world what he could do.

I listened to the audio version of this book narrated by Bronson Pinchot. His slow, steady reading set the tone for the book, matching Snowman's deceptively calm demeanor. show less