First published 2011
Harry de Leyer spots something special in a beaten-down white horse heading for slaughter and pays eighty dollars to save him. The Dutch immigrant names the horse Snowman and brings him to his Long Island farm, where the gentle animal thrives. Financial pressures force Harry to sell Snowman to a nearby farm, but the horse has different plans. Snowman escapes and returns to Harry's barn, trailing a tire and broken fence boards behind him. Harry realizes he made a mistake and decides to train this unlikely candidate for show jumping. Together, they begin competing against expensive thoroughbreds and wealthy riders in the elite world of equestrian sports. Their partnership faces skepticism and long odds as they work their way up through competitions. The story builds toward their appearance at Madison Square Garden's National Horse Show in November 1958, where this improbable pair competes at the highest level of their sport. Their journey captures the spirit of Cold War America and proves that extraordinary achievements can come from the most unexpected places.
Genres: biography, historical-fiction, 20th-century, american
Vibes: emotional, inspirational, thought-provoking
Tropes: against-all-odds, underdog
Setting: Long Island, Madison Square Garden, National Horse Show
Period: 1958
329 pages · Hardcover · Ballantine Books