[QUOTE=BAC;4762854]
And I’m not sure how true this is, but someone told me that the property had been purchased by a client of Marty DeLeyer’s, who has his own farm, Dutch Manor I think it is called.[/QUOTE]
Correct !!
I had horses at Hollandia in the 70’s so I’m happy to see it continue as a farm.
As noted the new owners are clients of Marty. In fact, if you look at these links there are quite a few shots of Marty showing the Silver Oaks horses.
http://silveroakstable.com/sales_leasing.html
http://silveroakstable.com/services.html
Is Snowman’s grave in the subdivision or on the farm?
[QUOTE=Anne FS;8891321]
Is Snowman’s grave in the subdivision or on the farm?[/QUOTE]
The subdivision is built on what used to be the outside course, which was several acres of open field. I seem to remember Snowman was buried in one of the paddocks so I expect his grave is still there, unless it was disturbed during the renovations of Silver Oak.
I too knew the Deleyers well and also rode with Harry and others at Hollandia. If anyone knows where I might purchase a copy of the book “Snowman” or if they know the author, I would be very grateful. Thanks.
The name of the book is “The 80 dollar Champion” by Elizabeth (oops, I have forgotten her last name). Not particularly well written, but the story is good. There is also a documentary by the same name available on DVD which you may enjoy since you were “around at the time”.
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Which Snowman book? The one from 1962 by Rutherford Montgomery? Or the other recent book mentioned above?
The documentary Harry and Snowman is excellent. It’s available now on Netflix as well as DVD. I believe some of the same people were involved in making the new documentary Life in the Dog House, which is about the fantastic work done by Danny and Ron’s Rescue to save more than 11,000 dogs in the past decade. Danny Robertshaw and Ron Danta are great horsemen who branched out into dog rescue after Hurricane Katrina.
So what happened to the old DeLeyer property described in the original post? Did it stay a horse farm? I believe Harry DeLeyer lives in Virginia now.
The old Hollandia Farm is now Silver Oak Stables, they did a magnificent renovation of the barns and property and it is gorgeous and luxurious. Marty DeLeyer’s client is the owner of Silver Oak.
Glad to hear it. Thanks!!
MHM, Silver Oak is on the property of the second Hollandia Farm, where the de Leyers and Snowman moved to thanks to the great success of Snowman. It is only 26 acres, I think it was originally at least 40 or more acres, but the outside course was sold and became housing. The first Hollandia, a much smaller property just a short distance from Silver Oak, has been a housing development for many years now. 
It became Fox Hill after the de Leyers moved out and I rode at Fox Hill as a kid.
^ Interesting, thanks for the background information.
Amazing to think what a difference that one horse made in their lives! 
Both Snowman books and the documentary are available from Amazon. My public library has them, too. If your local library doesn’t, they can be borrowed for the price of postage through interlibrary loan.
Snowman’s grave is supposed to be under the pine trees close to the paddock where he was stalled according to the book by Elizabeth Letts…“The 80 Dollar champion”
Yes I read that but I remember Snowman and where his stall was and there is a large paddock across a driveway from his side of the barn, it has some trees but I don’t recall any pines. And except for that field, there weren’t any paddocks that were too close to the barn as far as I can remember. The indoor was almost directly outside that area of the barn.
I was wondering why the family sold the farm? Is none of them involved in horses anylonger?
BAC, I believe the pine trees spoken of were just a few large ones, right exactly there when you turned into the driveway, right next to the road. There weren’t many, but they were quite pretty and smelled great in the winter.
Durneet, My guess is they got a great offer and the family members still in the business wanted to get places further east, which was becoming the more horse friendly area of Long Island.
It was Harry’s affair with the woman who became his second wife and subsequent divorce from Johanna that caused the breakup of Hollandia. Johanna got the house and at least some of the farm in the divorce, but the property that made up the outside course had been sold off before that and became housing. I think it was after Johanna’s death that the remainder of the farm was sold, fortunately to someone who could afford to renovate the barns and property. It is now a stunningly beautiful and luxurious private equestrian facility. The surviving children are all in the horse business, most of them on Long Island although I think it is John who is or was based in Texas.
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Beaujolais I am not far away, I need to take a ride over and check out if the pines are still there!
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You can find the movie on TV
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