Fabish: The Horse that Braved a Bushfire

A powerful and beautifully illustrated picture book based on the true story of a brave horse called Fabish, who saved a group of young horses during the Black Saturday bushfires.

SHORT-LISTED: CBCA Book of the Year, Eve Pownall Award for Information Books, 2017

Fabish was a handsome grey racehorse. In his racing days, he wasn't the fastest horse, but he always tried his hardest. And when he retired, Fabish took care of the yearlings in a paddock far away from the training track. Fabish showed the flighty young horses what was expected of a racehorse.

One hot summer day, a wild wind blew up and the yearlings were restless. Then Fabish smelled smoke. Fire was coming, fast. The trainer threw open the gate and said, 'Go now!' Fabish neighed to the young ones and they galloped away. All through the night, the fire raged and the trainer battled to save the racehorses in the stables.

But what would become of Fabish and the yearlings? Could he save them from the firestorm?

Neridah McMullin is an Australian author who loves to write true stories. Her grandfather was a stockman and she learned to ride at a young age. When she read about Fabish, she went to meet the trainer at the farm in north-east Victoria. He told her about that terrible time, and how he had to set Fabish and the yearlings free to make their own way through the firestorm. He didn't think he would ever see them again.

Andrew McLean is an artist who has taught painting, drawing and art, but is now a full-time painter and illustrator of children's books. Andrew also visited the farm where Fabish and the yearlings lived, and saw the old stone stables where the racehorses were saved from the fire.