A drab white former plow horse named Snowman—and his rider, Harry de Leyer—were the longest of all longshots at the 1958 National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden in New York City. But their win? That's the stuff of legend.
About MY BLUE-RIBBON HORSE
Harry de Leyer first saw the horse he would name Snowman on a bleak winter afternoon between the slats of a rickety truck bound for the slaughterhouse. He recognized the spark in the eye of the beaten-up horse and bought him for eighty dollars. On Harry’s modest farm on Long Island, the horse thrived. But the recent Dutch immigrant and his growing family needed money, and Harry was always on the lookout for the perfect thoroughbred to train for the show-jumping circuit—so he reluctantly sold Snowman to a farm a few miles down the road. But Snowman had other ideas about what Harry needed. When he turned up back at Harry’s barn, dragging an old tire and a broken fence board, Harry knew that he had misjudged the horse. And so he set about teaching this shaggy, easygoing horse how to fly. One show at a time, against extraordinary odds and some of the most expensive thoroughbreds alive, the pair climbed to the very top of the sport of show jumping. Here is the dramatic and inspiring rise to stardom of an unlikely duo, based on the insight and recollections of “the Flying Dutchman” himself. Their story captured the heart of Cold War–era America—a story of unstoppable hope, inconceivable dreams, and the chance to have it all. Elizabeth Letts’s message is simple: Never give up, even when the obstacles seem sky-high. There is something extraordinary in all of us.
Comments are disabled for this video.
Hi and welcome to Brightly Storytime. I'm Miss Linda. Today we're going to read about a horse
named Snowman and his family who believed he could be a champion. It's called My Blue Ribbon
Horse by Elizabeth Lentz, illustrated by Kayla Herron. Harry DeLayer was a horseback riding
teacher at a school for girls. He was on his way to a horse sale hoping to find a well-behaved
animal to buy, but he was running late. Would all the horses be sold? When Harry arrived,
the sale was already over. One truck remained, but the driver was ready to leave.
Harry peered through the truck's sides. A big white horse huddled up against the boards.
The poor creature was dirty and run down, yet had a gentle look in his eye.
What are you going to do with him? Harry asked. He already knew the answer.
Harry's stomach nodded in frustration. He thought horses who were past their prime
should be allowed to retire to green pastures with tender grass.
Harry's fingers clutched the money he'd brought to the sale.
Harry knew he shouldn't spend it on a neglected animal.
The riding students at his school liked fancy horses who could jump high.
Surely this old horse would never be able to jump.
The horse pointed his ears forward and stretched out his thin neck.
How much do you want for him? Harry asked. Oh, you don't need this one, the man replied gruffly.
I can pay $80, Harry said. The man grinned and accepted. He promised to drop off the horse at
Harry's barn later that day. Back home, Harry told his wife Johanna and their children about
the new member of the family. Their daughter Harriet was excited. He's a bit skinny and worn
out, her father warned, but he's a good horse. The family worked together to get a home ready
for him. They poured fresh oats and filled a stall with straw to make a soft bed.
It was past dark when the truck rattled into the driveway.
When the horse saw Harry, he whinnied. Harriet hoped he would notice her. She didn't need to
worry. As soon as he got out of the truck, the gentle giant peered at her. Fat snowflakes fell
from the sky, covering the mud stains on his back. Why don't we call him Snowman, Harriet said.
Every day, Harriet went to visit Snowman in the family's barn. When her father wasn't busy,
he let Harriet sit on Snowman's back. But the girls at the school liked other horses better.
They wanted to ride horses who could jump. Even though the family loved Snowman,
Harry would have to find him a new home. He wouldn't be able to jump in competitions.
And it was too expensive to keep him as a pet. One day, when Harriet visited the stable,
a boy was riding Snowman. His father gave Harry some crisp bills, and the boy took Snowman away.
Harriet missed his warm brown eyes, his gentle whinnies, and the soft whiskers on his nose.
Don't be sad, Harry said to Harriet. We found a good home for him. Harriet knew her father was
right, but she still missed the big white horse. A few days later, what a surprise!
Snowman was back, standing next to his stall with a twinkle in his eye. Where had he come from?
Snowman had jumped a pasture fence and galloped all the way home.
This won't do, Harry said. He needs to go back to the boy who bought him.
But Snowman came back again the next day. And again, and again. He couldn't bear to stay away
from the family who had saved him. Now Harry had a new idea. If Snowman could jump high fences,
maybe Harry could train him to jump competitively. He could enter Snowman in a show,
and maybe even win a prize. Every day, Harry trained Snowman. But with these lower fences,
Snowman almost didn't bother to pick up his feet. He stumbled and knocked down the poles every time.
Harry was puzzled. Why was Snowman so clumsy over these small jumps? The pasture fence was almost
as high as Harry's shoulders. Maybe Snowman liked to jump higher. Harry would give it a try.
Harry crouched forward and galloped the horse toward a high hurdle. Harry whispered a word
of encouragement and held the reins steady. One, two, three strides up, up, up he soared.
Harry felt as if they were floating on air. Now Harry understood the puzzle.
Every day, they practiced in the school's riding arena. Every day, Harry added another bar to the
fence. Every day, Snowman soared over the fence with ease. After a few months, Harry believed
Snowman was ready. He wanted to enter him in a show. The whole family worked to prepare the horse.
Snowman had never looked better. But what would people think?
Snowman would be competing against fancy thoroughbreds who cost thousands of dollars.
And to win the blue ribbon, the horse had to clear every fence without knocking down a single pole.
Harry and Snowman entered the arena. Snowman's coat glowed. His tail was shiny and silver.
But some people laughed. They thought he didn't belong.
Come on, Snowy, Harry whispered. Harry and Snowman circled the arena at a gallop.
As they got close to each fence, Snowman gathered his legs underneath him and leapt high
into the air, snapping up his knees to clear the obstacle with room to spare.
The people who had laughed at Snowman were quiet now, watching the big horse's performance with
surprise. Snowman and Harry cleared the last fence without knocking down a single pole.
They had done it. They had captured the silver trophy and the blue ribbon.
After that, Harry and Snowman were unstoppable. The Delayer family took Snowman to all the biggest
horse shows. Newspapers loved to write about the $80 horse beating the expensive thoroughbreds.
And at each show, Snowman won more and more fans. He continued to compete for several years,
winning trophies, ribbons, accolades, and love from the entire world.
Snowman wasn't a failure anymore. He was a champion.
Did you know that this book is based on a true story?
Snowman and his writer Harry were real and won many competitions together.
I bet you could learn even more about them at your local library.
Come back to read more stories together anytime you like,
or find more books to read yourself at ReadBrightly.com. Bye!
