The Eighty-Dollar Champion: Snowman, The Horse That Inspired a Nation Audiobook

" A very well written biography about a horse and its rider that beat impossible odds. I will admit the ending made me cry. "

" Very compelling read about one of the most interesting and successful open jumpers of all time. Letts provides a sense of being right in the story. The included photos also add plenty of visuals to the vivid descriptions. "

" I'm a sucker for a good horse story -- especially when it's true. Starts out with the horse on the way to the glue factory. Ends with him winning the national horse show open jumping championship in New York. Hurrah for Snowball. "

" I loved this story. It might be too much horse history and horse show background for someone not interested in horses- but I am interested in horses and I wanted to keep on and on reading. I was sorry to hear how some things turned out- but the main story is so interesting! "

" Great book, just needed about 75 pages cut out in the middle. Love Snowman! "

" I can't resist a horse biography...Seabiscuit, Man O' War, Ruffian. This one lacked some of the better writing that Seabiscuit and Ruffian had -- the author jumps around considerably and repeats information sometimes more than twice. In the end, I turned the last page and felt it had been worth the read. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves horses, especially if they are interested in show jumping. It is amazing to see how the sport of show jumping has changed during and since Snowman's reign as jumping king. This book is about a man and his horse, and like Seabiscuit, is a glimps into a time in history. Another of my favorite subjects. "

" If you enjoy horses, this is a great read! "

" this was a new genre for me. I don't normally read animal stories. But I really liked how this book played off of what was happening in our nation at the same time as Snowman's rise to fame. I'm nothing if not a fan of the underdog and this book let me cheer for one of the biggest. "

" I've always LOVED books about horses....and this one is a true story! "

" I really wanted to like this more than I did, but for whatever reason, the book just didn't grab me. The story is truly heartwarming, and Snowman is easy to root for, but the book seemed to plod along. "

" This was a great story about an amazing horse and rider. I could have used fewer chapters on the state of the world and more information about the De Leyers. "

" A book from the heart. Good read for folks who believe in the special qualitites animals bring to our lives. "

" Wow! What an inspiring read about an unlikely equestrian dynamic duo. Thrilling, indeed. A couple of unanswered questions remain when the book ends. The best books about four-legged friends are those that don't sentimentalize them. "

" Interesting story, I loved how it read more like a novel at times. At the same time, though, the bouncing back and fourth narrative structure annoyed me at times. "

" A good story for horse lovers. While the story about Snowman and his owner Harry de Leyer is impressive, the author included a lot of detail about horseback riding and show jumping that I ended up skimming over. Too much background, not enough story. Did not have the same impact as Seabiscuit. "

" A good book. A sad beginning but an uplifting ending. I enjoyed being back in the 1950's. "

" Wonderful, inspirational true story about a lovable old plow horse! "

" Some of the details are a bit boring but this was a great story! "

" Loved this story from begining to end! "

" Wonderful, heart warming story of a classic horseman and his love and respect for his horse. "

" The story itself is very good. The writing is mediocre at best. The lack of capitalization of "Thoroughbred" drove me nuts.I would recommend the book to anyone who knows about Snowman, but don't expect a literary masterpiece by any means. "

" Being a horse lover, I really enjoyed this true story "

" Disappointed. I could not get into this at all. Still waiting for a story/characters to develop. "

" A rags to riches story of a horse headed for the dog food factory. His new owner trained him to be a championship jumper. "

" Great story, very inspiring. Reads a little "textbookish." "

" As an avid reader of horse books as a kid, it was fun to revisit that world. The story is amazing, the structure of the book could be better as it sort of bounces around the narrative and meanders a bit at times. "

" Loved this book ! A must for any horse lover. The true inspirational story of an 80$ rescue horse who became the Champion of Madison Square Garden. The number one jumper in the UNited States! After all the gloom and doom I've been reading this was a refreshing change. "

" This story about Snowman was entertaining, informative, and inspiring. The horse's and his rider's determination is incredible as is his story. I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads. "