tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13296248.post116374937576080909..comments2024-02-12T00:47:08.699-08:00Comments on David Weiss: Something GreatDavid Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00629153569649264575noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13296248.post-51615938209323229922013-06-14T12:38:41.649-07:002013-06-14T12:38:41.649-07:00I enjoyed the emails re Snowman. I went to the sch...I enjoyed the emails re Snowman. I went to the school on Long Island and have photographs of me riding Snowman back in 1959 and 1960. I also used to ride Lady Grey and Mr.de Leyer used to take a few of the girls to horse shows on a Sunday. I used to ride Lady Grey and have a few pieces of silver from winning with her. She was a lovely older mare and a great teacher. I had a very bad accident there in 1959 and was told I was never going to be able to ride again. I was sent home to recuperate for a few months but when I returned to school I could not stay away from the stables. Finally my mother came to see Mr.de Leyer and he and I convinced my mother that I could ride Snowman sidesaddle and he would be quiet. My mother had always ridden side saddle and she said if I was ever going to ride again this was the way it was going to be. Harry agreed and I learned to ride that way on Snowman. I have pictures of me on Snowman and my roommate on Lady Grey. This book and UTube have brought up a great deal of memories. Thank you for your blog.a former studenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08605845519686730206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13296248.post-8386129384809141222012-01-08T15:39:34.483-08:002012-01-08T15:39:34.483-08:00Oh - and if you want to see really unnatural equin...Oh - and if you want to see really unnatural equine behavior, I used to carry baby pigs around on my little mare, and she never turned a hair after I taught her about them. Anyone who has ever been around a horse understands the sheer terror hogs cause in horses.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13296248.post-13420208455070497302012-01-08T15:37:49.216-08:002012-01-08T15:37:49.216-08:00I grew up in ranch country, and we preferred our h...I grew up in ranch country, and we preferred our horses calm and easy to work with. The breeds of choice were a local mix of light horse with a bit of draft blood known as a pudding foot, old style mellow, non-TB Quarter Horses, and Standardbreds with an occasional old time Morgan tossed in.<br /><br />Snowman would have fit right in in looks with the pudding foots.<br /><br />This trend among those who actually expect horses to do something remains, and can be seen today in the various Foundation Quarter Horse groups that limit participation to animals with no more than 1/8 TB - because the modern "show" QH is an hysterical ninny.<br /><br />For the same reason old style cowboys only rode geldings. People used to marvel at a little mare I had who didn't show the usual intermittent behavior of mares. The secret - old style pennies in the watering bucket kept her romantic notions to a minimum.<br /><br />Go Snowman! An interested horse can be amazing to work with. People who scream that what was done with Snoman and Lady Grey tend to have their experience with equines limited to ring riding and reading the old temperance tract, Black Beauty.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13296248.post-4592167316478723102008-06-12T16:36:00.000-07:002008-06-12T16:36:00.000-07:00The story written here is not only amazing but als...The story written here is not only amazing but also true. I am acquainted with a woman who not only knew the great Snowman, but also rode him. She was a student of Harry de Leyers at the time. I had mentioned Snowmans name one day because I'd seen a Briar horse model was made of him. With that this woman proceeded to tell me the exact story you have just read to the T. Only to follow it up with her own personal picture of Snowman jumping over Lady Grey. That very night I came home and looked up every thing I could find. The story matched perfectly. She told me how much Snowman loved to jump and how Lady Grey always stood still for him to jump over her. They performed this time and time again with out any incidents. If Lady Grey moved even an inch Swowman would tuck a leg even more or twist to be sure he never touched a hair on her. He was truely a great horse that loved his job and was thankful for the 2nd chance at life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13296248.post-54190309835562233512008-04-02T09:54:00.000-07:002008-04-02T09:54:00.000-07:00I agree that horses are not objects but when has a...I agree that horses are not objects but when has anyone ever heard a horse complain about doing what they love? If a horse choses to jump and then is given the oportunity to do what he is good at then what is the problem really? I think we as a society have come a long way in the area of animal care. Unfortunately we live in an imperfect world and that means trouble for some unfortunates but I believe that quality of life (which is what most animal lovers are so concerned with) would include giving opportunity to do what the animal shows a passion for. I have dealt with animals for much of my life and can say from eperience that if an animal cannot then the animal will not. What that means is that if the telent, drive, desire or ability do not exist then the animal will not willingly perform. Seems to me that Snowman was trying to send a message by jumping those fences. And I for one am happy to have been enriched by such an adoring story.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13296248.post-77403874348132395362008-01-09T17:36:00.000-08:002008-01-09T17:36:00.000-08:00I came across your site because of a bizarre conne...I came across your site because of a bizarre connection in southwest China when I saw a stranger wearing a Ward Melville High School tee shirt. I hadn't heard that name in more than 45 years.<BR/><BR/>Maybe you know that Ward Melville, a friend of my grandfather, had a lot to do with the North Shore Horse Show where Snowman won Jumper Champion. I saw him do it. Harry let go of the reins in midair and threw up his hands to show who was really in charge. That was the year he went on to win at Madison Square Garden.<BR/><BR/>That horse was so gentle. Other jumpers would pull their ears back in irritation and nip at you if approached in their stalls, but Snowman's ears would go forward. He was always interested. <BR/><BR/>If only we were all just plain interested... curious... wondering WHY is this here person behaving this way. <BR/><BR/>Most would be glad to tell us instead of taking it out on us.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Just some reminiscences and thoughts from an old lady!<BR/><BR/>mishasfriends.livejournal.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13296248.post-90418306682474308562007-07-27T04:07:00.000-07:002007-07-27T04:07:00.000-07:00Thank you for your words. I also needed to rememb...Thank you for your words. I also needed to remember that Jenkins Lloyd Jones quote. I also love "The Road Less Travelled." And I appreciate your testimony at the end. God is indeed watching over us, and at times I falter and murmur and wonder why we have to hurt so much. But if I hang in there and keep trying to do what I can, I again come to recognize how good He is.baodadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07138856207069033397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13296248.post-74163832777919724792007-01-29T12:49:00.000-08:002007-01-29T12:49:00.000-08:00Thanks for posting this story. It is one of my fa...Thanks for posting this story. It is one of my fav's and I have been looking for the vintage "snowman" book to add to my collection. It truly is a great reminder that everyone has hidden potential.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12348556990139519010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13296248.post-1164888843690185862006-11-30T04:14:00.000-08:002006-11-30T04:14:00.000-08:00Thanks David. That's a very helpful story and thou...Thanks David. <BR/>That's a very helpful story and thought.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13296248.post-1163771013688069332006-11-17T05:43:00.000-08:002006-11-17T05:43:00.000-08:00Love the story about the horse. I like the perspe...Love the story about the horse. I like the perspective. May you have a day.<BR/><BR/>MikeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13296248.post-1163758002448527702006-11-17T02:06:00.000-08:002006-11-17T02:06:00.000-08:00Nice positive post but the accompanying picture is...Nice positive post but the accompanying picture is truly shocking. Anyone who truly cares about animals would notice the lack of consideration these two guys are showing the two horses involved. Horses are not objects, they are sentient beings. They don't choose to jump over each other or to expose themselves and others to injury. Just imagine the scene if that stunt had failed. Oh by the way animal lovers are calling to boycott the movie Flicka for similar reasons (see http://www.animalperson.net/animal_person/2006/11/dont_see_flick.html)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com