Local documentary focuses on equine champion

“Harry & Snowman” will be shown in the Kentucky Theatre at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Allyson Vannatta
March 31, 2016

The story of a Dutch immigrant and an $80 plow horse is finding success on the big screen. 

“Harry & Snowman” tells the life of Harry deLeyer, an international show jumper, and his horse, Snowman. deLeyer and Snowman won the 1958 horse show jumping Triple Crown — the American Horse Shows Association’s Horse of the Year, Professional Horseman’s Association Champion and Champion of Madison Square Garden’s Diamond Jubilee. Their success made them pop culture icons in the 50’s and 60’s. 

“It was a beautiful story and I was surprised it had never been on screen before,” said Ron Davis, the film’s director. 

This movie is centered on the relationship that deLeyer and his family had with Snowman.

Harry rescued Snowman, an Amish plow horse, for $80 off of a slaughter truck, and from that point on they transformed each other’s lives.

“He was more than a champion. He was Harry’s best friend and the families best friend,” Davis said. 

Davis said it was difficult to make the film because Snowman died in 1974, so they needed to find footage from his glory days.

Luckily for Davis, the success of the pair meant there was good footage taken of both Harry and him during different competitions.

 

He also got to work directly with the deLeyer family in the making of the movie. Harry’s family was able to help capture the essence of their story.

Davis said watching deLeyer ride again was one of the most memorable experiences from shooting, and he said he was often nervous because he did not want deLeyer to fall off or hurt himself.

He hopes that viewers will take away from the movie that, “Somebody else’s trash can be someone’s beautiful treasure.”

Being a Triple Crown winner was an outstanding accomplishment for Harry and Snowman, but Davis said, “the heart of this story is really the relationship.”

The official release date of the movie is Sept. 30, 2016, but the special advanced screening of Harry and Snowman is Thursday at the Kentucky Theatre, and the movie will be starting a 7 p.m.

For ticket information, visit:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/harry-and-snowman-tickets-21559845077

For any additional information, visit:

http://www.harryandsnowman.com