In 1956, Dutch immigrant Harry de Leyer made a life-changing purchase when he bought a horse named Snowman for $80 at a Pennsylvania auction. Snowman, an eight-year-old former plow horse, was on the verge of being sent to the slaughterhouse. De Leyer, who had moved to the United States in 1950 and was working as a riding instructor on Long Island, saw potential in the gentle, grey gelding.

Initially, Snowman served as a reliable school horse, but his extraordinary jumping ability soon became evident. After being sold to a neighbor, Snowman repeatedly jumped high fences to return to de Leyer's farm, demonstrating his remarkable talent. Recognising this potential, de Leyer began training Snowman as a show jumper.

Within two years, Snowman and de Leyer were competing in and winning prestigious show jumping competitions. In 1958, Snowman won the American Horse Shows Association Horse of the Year, the Professional Horsemen’s Association Champion, and the National Horse Show’s Open Jumper Championship at Madison Square Garden. The following year, he repeated his success at Madison Square Garden, solidifying his status as a top show jumper​ (Horsey Hooves)​​ (Horse Network)​​ (Wikipedia)​​ (Horse Network)​.

Snowman's calm disposition and impressive jumping feats made him a favorite in the media. He appeared on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson and other television programs, further endearing him to the public. Snowman continued to compete successfully until his retirement in 1962. He lived out his remaining years on de Leyer's farm, passing away in 1974 due to kidney failure​ (Horse Network)​​ (Wikipedia)​​ (Wikipedia)​.

Snowman's story was immortalised in the 2011 book "The Eighty-Dollar Champion" by Elizabeth Letts and the 2016 documentary "Harry & Snowman." His legacy endures as a symbol of resilience and the transformative power of second chances​ (Horsey Hooves)​​ (Horse Network)​​ (Wikipedia)​.