Horses and ponies are greatly loved as pets and companions, and their owners inevitably learn much about their behaviour and language. We may think we understand what our pets are saying and why, but there is so much more reason behind it all, if only we could view it in the proper context of their natural conditions. To most of us this fascinating world of horse and pony society remains like an unknown parallel universe, waiting to be discovered.

We are fortunate that we can now peek into the real world of horse society through the eyes of people who have spent their lives observing mustangs in America, horses in the Camargue in France, ponies in the New Forest, and on Exmoor and free-living Przewalski horses. These studies on free-ranging horses and ponies reveal a marvellous unity – how behaviour, communication, and social structure adapt the animals to survive and prosper in their natural environment. But these can only be interpretations of what we see in human terms – however much we try, we cannot hope to get into the minds of these wild animals, and really know what is going on.

I wrote Cabal to try and provide a window into this world for all readers – young and old. The story begins with the birth of Cabal, a young filly, in the setting of the breed's natural environment of the New Forest. As the story unfolds, we become acquainted with her surroundings through her eyes and learn the normal behaviours of a foal. It follows her life experiences from the first summer, through to the privations of winter, growing up and eventually to her abduction by a young stallion. The story ends with the birth of her first foal and the jealousy aroused when the stallion begins to extend his harem.

I describe many aspects of pony biology and include intimate details of their behaviour. It is illustrated throughout with many line drawings, and is intended also to introduce readers to the natural history of the area. Cabal is the result of my long-term personal fascination with the New Forest environment combined with a naturalist's interest in the behaviour and activities of ponies as animals.

LINKS

Cabal - The Life of a New Forest Pony

Photos of Ponies, The New Forest Scenery, Butterflies and Dragonflies

The Squirrels of Silwood Park - an ebook on the behaviour of Grey Squirrels

Human Intelligence, the Developing Cuckoo - an ebook on our destiny