Snow
An unbroken horse.
A broken kid.
An unbreakable puppy.
Together, they break records.
Snow is a born leader but he doesn’t know it yet. Born to the lead Kaimanawa stallion and mare, he escapes the muster and hides in the Ureweras.
Kujoe is the fearless puppy who wants to prove himself. When he gets lost, he nds and befriends Snow.
Tuki is the Uawa kid lost in grief.
Shortly a fter Kujoe brings Snow home, the three lost souls are thrust into the spotlight by a YouTube clip of a startled Snow breaking a land speed record.
Pressured to race, there’s just one thing: Snow will only trust Tuki and Tuki has never ridden a horse.
Together, the trio overcome their fears on a journey from the wilderness to greatness.
About the book
Snow is a New Zealand story told at a gallop. Its chapters are named for the places on the journey – Kaimanawa, Te Urewera, Uawa, Kaiaua, Makaraka, Te Kupenga, Ellerslie, Santa Anita – as a horse born in the shadow of Mount Ruapehu finds his way to the coast of Tairāwhiti, and a young man and his whānau discover what they are capable of.
Along the way there’s a cantankerous father and a sharp-tongued grandmother, a reporter chasing the story of his career, a vet who knows more about racing than he lets on, a jockey coach who has seen it all, and a Staffordshire bull terrier with the heart of a lion. It’s funny, moving and proudly Kiwi, told with the warmth of the East Coast community that inspired it.
The story behind Snow
Snow was born of a life-changing accident. While recovering in Uawa, Grant McLachlan formed an unlikely bond with Kujoe, his neighbour’s Staffordshire bull terrier puppy, and watched a local boy training a white foal named Snow. The idea that took shape on those daily walks caught the attention of film executives, and a film option was secured before the story was even finished.
Through drafts, setbacks and a crash course in screenwriting, Snow became an allegory for Grant’s own journey: a tale of resilience, community, and the unexpected paths that lead us home.
Dedicated to Snow, Kujoe and Uawa.
Book details
Title | Snow |
Author | Grant McLachlan |
Publisher | Klaut |
Genre | Fiction · Novella · Family adventure / horse racing |
Setting | Kaimanawa Ranges, Te Urewera, Uawa (Tolaga Bay), Ellerslie and Santa Anita Park, California |
Length | 13 chapters · c. 165 pages |
ISBN | 979-8-3353-5265-9 |
Formats | Paperback, Kindle, Google ebook |
Release date | 29 September 2026 |
Where to buy
Paperback
• Amazon Australia
• Amazon US
Kindle ebook
• Amazon Australia
• Amazon US
• Amazon UK
• Google Play Books (ebook)
Promotional material
Snow was optioned by a studio before the book was completed. During Covid, those options lapsed.
Here is the promotional material prepared for the Cannes Film Festival, which effectively pitched the project to the market.
