“Harry and Snowman,” a documentary about a winning combination of horse and rider, will captivate moviegoers. The film plays this weekend at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center.
“Harry and Snowman” is much like “Dark Horse,” the documentary about a Welsh steeplechase champion that was shown at the Film Center earlier this summer. It describes unexpected success in a highly competitive equestrian world. Particularly in the 1950s, horses with fancy bloodlines and their blueblood owners or riders dominated show jumping. Called the “Cinderella Horse,” Snowman was different. Headed for the glue factory at age 8, he was rescued for $80 by Harry de Leyer, a private school riding instructor. The connection between the two was instantaneous. De Loyer, a Dutch immigrant, says, “Snowman was the most special to me; he was my best friend.” That friendship goes a long way toward making this film more than just a story about a winning horse. It illustrates the special attachment that can develop between humans and animals.
Like Snowman, Harry de Leyer, now 89, came from humble origins. At 16, he helped his father hide Jews in the German-occupied Netherlands as part of the Dutch Resistance. Tobacco growers from North Carolina whose son was buried on the de Leyer family farm after being shot down by Germans in World War II, sponsored Harry and his wife Johanna’s move to the U.S. Soon, Harry was teaching riding at the Knox School on Long Island.
After buying Snowman for the school, he eventually sold him to a nearby farmer. But the horse was bonded with Harry. No matter how high the fence, Snowman jumped it and made his way back to his chosen home. Recognizing his jumping potential, Harry reacquired him and began a training program. After three months, the two started a show-jumping career that eventually took them to the National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden. In 1958, Snowman took the Triple Crown there, including Year-End Jumper Champion and Horse of the Year. Repeating the feat in 1959, Snowman became the only show jumper to win Horse of the Year twice in a row. He became the subject of three books, and enjoyed a fan club. His owner appeared on “The Dick Cavett Show” as well as “To Tell the Truth.” MGM has optioned the Snowman story for a major motion picture.
As well as being a spectacular competitor, Snowman was part of the de Leyer family. He loved the water, and the eight de Leyer children would climb on his back for a swim, sometimes using him in place of a diving board. Once they grew bored with the show circuit, Harry and Snowman’s signature stunt became jumping over another horse. Continuing to compete into his 50s, Harry became known as “the Galloping Grandfather.”
Director Ron Davis uses traditional documentary techniques. In the ’50s, show jumping was popular enough to warrant regular newspaper reporting, and the director uses voiceovers from a New York Herald Tribune writer in “Harry and Snowman.” Other devices, like home movie and archival footage, as well as interviews with Harry and his children, enrich the film. Horse lovers will not be the only filmgoers to enjoy this feel-good documentary.
For showtimes and more information, visit mvfilmsociety.com.