Forever the Wild Mare

This exciting, award-winning, ground breaking, all-age story has helped to stimulate interest in natural habitat zoos, endangered species, Buddhism, prehistoric cave paintings, ways to curb juvenile crime, respect for nature and animals, and U.S. Congress' law-making. Set in the nation's capital, the book makes excursions into Central Asia and pre-historic Europe. First published by Dodd, Mead, 1963.

Jebby Andrews, a transplanted junior high student, tries to re-connect with his rural Shenandoah County, Virginia roots by becoming friends with the lonely Mongolian wild horse at the close-by National Zoo. An endangered species (Equus przewalski) this ancient breed has remained unrideable since days of the prehistoric cave paintings at Lascaux, France. Jebby wants to liberate the mare from her barren paddock and also ride her despite warnings from a wise Tibetan lama and kilted Scottish Central Asian explorer-ecologist who fear for the boy, who is already being harassed by a gang of roaming boys.

Jebby continues to seek his twin goals, leading to exciting midnight adventures at the Zoo and Washington's famed Rock Creek Park. This involves a U.S. senator, his young daughter, a Mongolian yurt, a Bactrian camel, redemption of the gang-leader and Jebby's fate as a bronco buster.

This fast-paced, well-researched prophetic novel has a timeless, close-to-nature quality. It has brought enthusiastic response from students of all ages. Its author was a founder of the Friends of the National Zoo and a well known nature and animal protection writer.

What Others Have Said About This Book:

"In Forever the Wild Mare, Ann Cottrell Free combines a unique setting, interesting characters, and moving plot to illustrate in youthful terms, what can be done in the Nation's Capital to provide a constructive program for the city's restless youth, while revitalizing a decrepit zoo...there is a wealth of factual information in this book of fiction - from remote areas of the world through the pages of history and back to Embassy Row in Washington, D.C...adults and youth alike will enjoy -- Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, William O. Douglas (1898-1980), in his review of the first edition inDefenders of Wildlife News Bulletin.  

"A really good book. It has so many exciting parts; I'm not really sure which is my favorite."   - Easton McAllister, Duveneck School, Palo Alto, CA

"Set in the National Zoo and Rock Creek Park, with the nation's capital crowding around, Free has done a really fantastic job of creating a sort of mystical global atmosphere that ranges from the plains of Central Asia, to the soft hills of Virginia to the rugged Scottish Highlands." - J.R. McAdory Jr., the Birmingham News

"For horse lovers, be they boys or girls, this is a must. For the smaller group of camel lovers it will also be delightful reading. Moreover, if you like Scotsmen, Buddhist lamas, United States Senators, delinquent boys or moral lessons - 'such here you'll find.' The fact is that, with the prodigality of the beginner in the children's field, the author has crammed enough themes, history, characters and 'moralitez' into one book to provide fodder for a whole bookshelf."   -- Helen A. Monsell, Richmond Times-Dispatch  

"It won't take readers long to understand why the publishers of this novel awarded it the Boys' Life writing award."   -- Mildred Ladner, Tulsa World