De Leyer Named as Recipient of Pegasus Medal of Honour

Source :  USA Equestrian, Inc.

Harry de Leyer, 75, of Dyke, VA, joins Charles Crabtree of Simpsonville, KY,
as a recipient of the 2002 USA Equestrian Pegasus Medal of Honor.

One of 12 children, de Leyer was born in the Netherlands. He learned to
ride as a member of an agriculture youth group and in 1950 he moved to the
United States with just $160 in his pocket. In the mid-1950's he became the
riding instructor at the Knox School on Long Island in New York while
operating his own Hollandia Farm in nearby St. James. It was during this
time that de Leyer discovered a horse that was on it's way to slaughter.
Despite the ragged appearance de Leyer purchased him for $80, $20 more than
the going rate for a slaughter horse and named him Snowman. This pair went
on to hold the AHSA Open Jumper title and to dominate shows like the
National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden.

The Pegasus Medal of Honor was created as an annual award to recognize
individuals who have exhibited outstanding service to horses and the sport.
Through their dedication, recipients of the Pegasus Medal of Honor have
attracted people to the sport and contributed to horse sports by advancing
its popularity. Harry de Leyer and Charles R. Crabtree will receive a
commemorative USA Equestrian Pegasus Medal of Honor to be formally presented
at the Pegasus Dinner held during the USA Equestrian Annual Meeting, January
15-19, 2003, at the Marriott Griffin Gate in Lexington, Kentucky.

About Harry de Leyer
* Riding instructor at the Knox School, a college prep school for girls on Long Island in mid-1950's
* Owned and operated Hollandia Farm
* 1957 Long Island horse show circuit champ with Snowman
* Became one of the first professional riders to successfully compete at the best shows in the country without a major sponsor or owner
* During the first full year in open jumper classes with Snowman, they captured seven championships and four reserves
* 1958 AHSA National title
* 1958 Professional Horseman's Association open jumper championship
* 1958 and 1959 National Horse Show's jumper champion
* bred, trained and rode Dutch Crown to many grand prix victories in the 1970's and 1980's
* Rode Sinjon who was fourth at the 1960 Rome Olympics with George Morris
* Several books were published about de Leyer's horse Snowman, including the 1962 edition titles Snowman, by Rutherford Montgomery
* AHSA high-point champion in 1958, 1959 and reserve in 1960