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Snowman
I read this book on Snowman when I was a child. After seeing the references to Elizabeth Lett's new book, "The Eighty Dollar Horse...," I went to my bookshelf and pulled this one off. I have had it for years and it is not one which will be culled. Other reviewers of the Letts book remarked how the story is as much about Harry as Snowman; this is true. This book and story grabbed my horse-hungry heart years ago and has never left it.
131 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1961
80 people want to read
About the author
Rutherford G. Montgomery
93 books18 followersRutherford George Montgomery
Also published as Everitt Proctor, Al Avery, Art Elder, A.A. Avery and E.P. Marshall.
Montgomery was born in Straubville, Sargent County, North Dakota, "a true ghost town" as of 2005. to George Y. and Matilda Proctor Montgomery. He studied at Colorado Agricultural College, Western State College of Colorado, and University of Nebraska; taught elementary school in Hot Springs, Wyoming; and from 1917 to 1919 served in the United States Air Corps. During the 1920s, he worked as a teacher and principal at junior and senior high schools in Montrose County, Colorado.
Montgomery married Eunice Opal Kirks in 1930; they had three children. He served Gunnison County, Colorado, as a judge from 1931 to 1936 and as county commissioner from 1932 to 1938, then became a freelance writer.
While still at school, Montgomery began writing stories about the wild animals that lived around his family's farm. He went on to write books about aviation and the people, landscapes and animals of the American West, particularly horses. In all, he wrote more than 100 books.
From 1941 to 1946, Montgomery was a writer for Dick Tracy. He worked as a creative writing teacher 1955–57 and as a scriptwriter for Walt Disney Studios 1958–1962.
From Wikipedia
Also published as Everitt Proctor, Al Avery, Art Elder, A.A. Avery and E.P. Marshall.
Montgomery was born in Straubville, Sargent County, North Dakota, "a true ghost town" as of 2005. to George Y. and Matilda Proctor Montgomery. He studied at Colorado Agricultural College, Western State College of Colorado, and University of Nebraska; taught elementary school in Hot Springs, Wyoming; and from 1917 to 1919 served in the United States Air Corps. During the 1920s, he worked as a teacher and principal at junior and senior high schools in Montrose County, Colorado.
Montgomery married Eunice Opal Kirks in 1930; they had three children. He served Gunnison County, Colorado, as a judge from 1931 to 1936 and as county commissioner from 1932 to 1938, then became a freelance writer.
While still at school, Montgomery began writing stories about the wild animals that lived around his family's farm. He went on to write books about aviation and the people, landscapes and animals of the American West, particularly horses. In all, he wrote more than 100 books.
From 1941 to 1946, Montgomery was a writer for Dick Tracy. He worked as a creative writing teacher 1955–57 and as a scriptwriter for Walt Disney Studios 1958–1962.
From Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 6, 2013
My mother got this book at a yard sale when I was a child I believe - I loved how I could actually "see" the places that were being discussed in the book. I am from the area where the story took place, and as much as it has changed, this book helps me remember what it used to be like. Every time I read it, I cry and then I get happy :-) I never tire of the story. My copy was personalized with a note from Harry DeLeyer himself and I consider this book one of my most prized possessions!
November 18, 2014
As soon as I saw this old book referenced in the nonfiction account, The Eighty Dollar Champion, I knew it was right up my alley and I had to read it. Turns out this book is ridiculously hard to find, though, so I'm very happy I was able to borrow a copy from another library.
This is a slightly fictionalized account (but illustrated with real photos) of how a hard-luck no-name farm horse was purchased from the kill buyer by a skilled riding instructor, turned out to have a phenomenal talent for jumping, and ultimately was trained into a two-time national champion and became a minor legend. What great way to tell this story - the writing is vivid but tight, focusing entirely on the horse/his connection with De Leyer on the journey from post-auction purchase to his crowning achievements at the National Horse Show.
This is a slightly fictionalized account (but illustrated with real photos) of how a hard-luck no-name farm horse was purchased from the kill buyer by a skilled riding instructor, turned out to have a phenomenal talent for jumping, and ultimately was trained into a two-time national champion and became a minor legend. What great way to tell this story - the writing is vivid but tight, focusing entirely on the horse/his connection with De Leyer on the journey from post-auction purchase to his crowning achievements at the National Horse Show.
February 13, 2024
An interesting read about Snowman and Harry de Leyer. I knew nothing of this horse until I picked up this book. It is a much shorter and, I’m assuming, easier read than the one written for adults. I smiled at parts, read faster in others and didn't want to stop reading.
If you enjoy stories about real horses but aren’t interested in big, fat books about them, try this. It was clean and easy to read.
If you enjoy stories about real horses but aren’t interested in big, fat books about them, try this. It was clean and easy to read.
March 3, 2017
My mom read this book in 1962, and has her name in it from then (my mom is much older than most of my friends' parents). Over the 2016 holiday season, my mom went and saw the movie that came out about Snowman and loved it, which is now on Netflix. She still had her copy of the book and said I should read it, which I just did. It was a really fascinating and endearing story. Pretty incredible!
July 23, 2016
Every horse lovers dream story--a horse at the killers auction purchased for next to nothing becomes international show jumping champion. Nicely written story sure capture the imagination of young and old.
January 13, 2012
Liked it almost as well as the newer book.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews