A grey Arab, little bigger than a pony.

Vonolel was a nimble grey Arab horse purchased in Bombay by Field Marshal Lord Roberts. Roberts bought him while still a major, soon after the Lushai Expedition of 1871–72, and named him after Vonolel, the renowned Lushai chief whose son Roberts had defeated in that campaign.

The pair were a perfect match. Lord Roberts was only 1.62m tall (5 feet 4 inches), while Vonolel was little bigger than a pony. Nimble, sure-footed and even-tempered, he became his master's constant companion.