Snowman jumping at Knox with Sandy Leopold Aboard
One of my readers was kind enough to send along this beautiful picture of Snowman with her mother aboard, taken when she was a student at the Knox School. One of the things that made the story of Snowman so especially inspirational for me was the fact that Snowman and Harry had day jobs. Sure, the glory of the spotlights and the allure of blue ribbons was there, but they also had the ordinary lives of those who have to work for a living.
Just like most other people, I learned to ride on a lesson horse. I was seven years old, and my mom signed me up for lessons. The way I remember it, I loved to ride from the very first moment, but my mom says that she got a punch card for a certain number of lessons, and that she had to encourage me to finish the series.
Lesson horses are patient, and kind. But their job is one of the most important of all. Generations of new riders take their first stop on a gentle old horse– a horse who may not be the most beautiful, but is often the most patient.
Without lesson horses, we would have fewer riders in the world.
Recently, I had the great joy of watching my littlest take his very first riding lesson. The pony he was riding was a patient as could be, walking around the indoor arena with the experience of an old pro. My son was a little nervous, but his kind instructor managed to get him smiling.
We all have jobs to do, some grand and some lowly. Some horses are champions, and others are the ones that bring new devotees into the world of horses.
And a few, a very few, somehow manage to be both: they can plod on the ground or soar to the stars.
Snowman was one of those.
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A wonderful tribute to all lesson horses. Thanks.
What a beautiful picture of a beautiful horse.
Oh, lesson horses! They are our unsung heroes. We remember them all, and they worked so hard for us. (Even when they were running away with us because we FORGOT that they knew how to open the riding ring gate and let their nose get too close to it and WOOSH away we went…)
To Silver, nameless pony with the Keep Your Pants On halter, Figment, Regalis, Bryani, and Splash, thanks guys.
This was one of the most fascinating things about Snowman’s story. The fact that he continued to return to the riding school and patiently teach others, that he continued to go swimming with the kids and at the same time was ready to be a champion in the ring , that he could walk through Manhattan and onto a sound stage with cameras. What an amazing temperament!
Just read the book about Snownan that my daughter got for me. Enjoyed it so much and can’t wait for both of my daughters to read it. I’ve also talked about it for a possible read for our book club. Even though none are from the horsey set, there is some great history about the changing times.
The picture of me riding Snowman was taken for the year book that was published in my junior year. What memories.
Thanks for a wonderful story.
The picture is an absolute classic, and thank you so much for sharing it! Please let me know if you decide to adopt the book for your book club. Sometimes, schedule permitting, I’m able to join bookclubs via Skype.