A few months ago my husband and I watched an incredible documentary entitled “Harry and Snowman” about a horse trainer and his beloved horse. A moving Cinderella story, I was surprised Hollywood hadn’t made it into a movie for the big screen (“hint, hint”).
In the mid-1950s Harry de Leyer, a riding instructor at a prestigious all girls boarding school on the East Coast, was on his way to a horse auction. Late to the auction due to a flat tire, the remaining horses were boarding a trailer headed for the slaughterhouse. Harry locked eyes with a beautiful white horse and asked if he could take a better look at it. After the horse was unloaded, their eyes met once again. Seconds later their fates were changed. Harry paid $80.00 for the eight-year-old horse, previously used as a plow horse, and named him Snowman.
Shortly thereafter Harry turned Snowman over to a farmer who lived five miles away as payment of a debt. Harry had previously promised to give the farmer his next horse acquisition. Several days later, Snowman jumped the fenced and galloped the five miles to Harry’s doorstep. Harry returned Snowman to his owner with the suggestion that the new owner build a taller fence, which he did. A few days later, Snowman once again showed up on Harry’s doorstep. This time, Harry suggested the owner tie a large tire to a long rope tied to Snowman to keep him inside the corral. Once again, Snowman jumped the high fence, tire in tow, and showed up at Harry’s home, still attached to the rope and tire. Harry promised Snowman he would never part with him again. He paid the farmer for the debt and kept Snowman.
Snowman became the family’s pet. But realizing Snowman had a talent for jumping, Harry began to train him and soon after entered him into jumping competitions. And Snowman won. Again and Again. In two years, he went on to become the Open Jumper Champion two years in a row. Snowman became famous with television appearances, his own fan club, being the subject of magazine articles and books, and so much more. After he retired, he remained with Harry until his death at twenty-six.
Snowman’s story made me think about myself before I became a Christian. I was a “plow horse” just plodding along in life not fulfilling my real purpose until I became a Christian and asked for God’s direction in my life. I wonder how many others go through life never fulfilling the things God planned and purposed for them because they’ve never asked him what he wanted them to do with their lives.
Ephesians 2:10 says: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
While I didn’t become famous like Snowman, I did appear on television (twice on The 700 Club), and authored an award winning book. And we both have our similar Cinderella stories to inspire others.
Mary Therese Hutchinson 