After Seabiscuit and Jappeloup, the legend of Snowman and Herry De Leyer will soon be on the big screen.

The story of Snowman is not only a true tale of redemption and courage, but also a powerful symbol of hope that is now preparing to hit the big screen. Following in the footsteps of Seabiscuit and Jappeloup, the legend of the grey horse and his rider, Harry deLeyer, will also be turned into a film, produced by MGM and directed by John Gatins.

But who was Snowman, really?

It all began in 1948, in a small village in Pennsylvania, where a young grey horse was used for years as a draught animal. He spent eight long years enduring hard labour, sores and neglect, until his owner decided to get rid of him, considering him too old to be of any use. Put up for auction, no one seemed interested in him. His fate seemed sealed: unsold horses often ended up at the slaughterhouse.

It was then that Harry deLeyer, a riding instructor from New York who had arrived late at the auction, caught sight of him. He was looking for an inexpensive horse for the school where he worked. Something about that neglected grey horse struck him, and he decided to buy him for $80. It was the beginning of one of the most exciting stories in the equestrian world.

A new life under the snow

The horse arrived at his new home during a snowfall, and Harry’s children named him “Snowman”. From that moment on, the grey horse’s life changed: he was finally cared for, loved and respected. But his true talent was revealed by chance when he began jumping over all kinds of fences to return to Harry after being sold to a neighbour. This behaviour suggested a natural inclination for show jumping.

Harry bought him back and trained him patiently. Snowman, a former workhorse, showed surprising agility and total dedication to his rider. In a short time, they became an inseparable pair, ready to challenge anyone in competition.

Against all odds, at ten years old — an age when most racehorses are already established — Snowman won his first race. Thus began a career studded with successes: prizes, podiums, awards, until his consecration as Horse of the Year. He became an icon in the 1950s, a living symbol that even those who start at a disadvantage can succeed.

Despite offers worth millions, Harry never sold him. Snowman’s value was not just sporting: he represented a deep friendship, a life-saving bond between man and animal. After retirement, he lived peacefully until the age of 26, surrounded by the love of those who had saved and admired him.

A true story turned into a movie

The Snowman story has already inspired the best-selling book The Eighty Dollar Champion by Elizabeth Letts, and is now set to become an MGM film, directed by John Gatins (who previously directed Flight and wrote the screenplay for Coach Carter). The film project aims to bring the epic story of this extraordinary horse and its remarkable rider to the big screen.

In addition to the film, a documentary entitled Harry & Snowman is also in the works, which will recount the incredible bond between the two through archive footage, interviews and original film clips.

In a world that often tends to discard what is not perfect, Snowman’s story reminds us that the value of a living being is not measured by its past, but by the possibilities it can have if someone places their trust in it.