The Essential Fergus the Horse: The Life and Times of the World’s Most Popular Cartoon Equine

In the late 1990s, a little bay horse with white socks and a blaze was born. Dubbed "Fergus," he has now traveled the world many times over by print, web, and satellite, inspired a line of merchandise, and gained a devoted following in the hundreds-of-thousands on Facebook and other social media. Who is this horse and how can we explain his magnetism? What makes him so special?

Fergus the Horse (Equus hilarious) is the creation of Jean Abernethy, and the truth is, he isn't meant to represent any one breed or discipline. Perhaps it's this generic "everyhorse" quality that's led to his popularity. "When fans write, 'Fergus reminds me of my horse, ' I cannot be paid a higher compliment," says Abernethy. And it's his expressiveness, honesty, charm, and keen sense of humor that truly wins our hearts.

Now Abernethy has brought together the backstory of Fergus the Horse--how he came to be, his early years, the history of his "friends"--and combined it with his "greatest hits," including most-loved comic strips, some personal sketches, and brand new additions. The result is a lively, colorful, highly illustrated treasury that will entertain anyone with an eye for a horse and a need for a laugh.

Jean Abernethy has been producing equestrian-related drawings, horse portraits, and horse cartooning for more than 30 years. She has illustrated several books and instructional articles, technical how-to drawings, and diagrams for instructional purposes. She has also done children’s and fantasy illustration. Her work has taken her coast-to-coast to farms and equestrian events where she’s been involved with a wide variety of horse breeds, sports and disciplines.