Film review: 'Harry and Snowman'

Sometimes you just know where you belong, and with whom. The engaging documentary "Harry and Snowman" vividly proves how wonderful the realization of that concept can be. Especially when it involves an animal.

In 1956, Harry deLeyer attended a horse auction in Pennsylvania and rescued a plow horse scheduled to be slaughtered for $80. Soon later, he sold the horse, which he named Snowman, to a farmer who lived six miles from his ranch. But Snowman kept turning back up at Harry's. Building the fences higher and even attaching a tire to Snowman did not dissuade the gray gelding from being with his soulmate. And Harry came to the realization that Snowman was an incredible jumper.

A Dutch immigrant, Harry had been around horses all of his life. Stateside, he was an equestrian instructor for 22 years at a private girl's school. Amazingly, within two years of acquiring Snowman, he honed his jumping skills to the point of competing at Madison Square Garden's prestigious National Horse Show.

In 1958, the once doomed work horse became the first to win the triple crown in show jumping. It was not only a lucrative honor, but also one that garnered Snowman worldwide recognition as the "Cinderella Horse."

Director Ron Davis explores the incredible bond between Harry and Snowman through archival film footage, photos and interviews with his family. Snowman's jumping skills are absolutely thrilling to watch. Due to excellent editing, the documentary flows with an ease akin to that of Snowman's talent. As Harry is nearly prone on Snowman's back, Davis captures how the two became one, as they did in life.

In an extraordinary revelation we learn that during WWII, in the Netherlands, Harry became involved in the underground. When the Germans made his school into a concentration camp, he helped hide Jews and saved starving, abandoned war horses. Harry's heart was that of a hero's and at age 86, it remains such.

There's a belief that rescued animals realize their lives have been saved by those whom adopted them. And in doing so, an undying love and eternal love is created. In closing, Harry observes of Snowman, "He made me." I'm certain Snowman felt likewise.