Black Beauty begins life in a loving home. But his owners are forced to sell him, and Black Beauty's fortunes change. He is moved from place to place and job to job, often suffering cruel treatment and harsh conditions until a chance encounter leads to a new turn of events.
The narrative is all from the perspective of Black Beauty, a well-bred horse who during a course over 15 years tells us what he's seen, felt and experienced. His life is ever changing and takes us through almost all kinds of work horses were forced to do. We experience his pride, his grief, his pain and his joys, his high times and his downfall as he changes hands and his owners deal with him the way they think they are allowed to. Beauty, a lovely black stallion who enjoys his early life with Farmer Grey and subsequent move to Birtwick Park. There he frolics with fellow horses Ginger and Merry Legs and kindly stable hands John Manly and Joe. Unfortunately, hardships and injury force Beauty's move to a cruel Lord and Lady, hostile liveries, a kind but hard working cabbie named Jerry, and finally backbreaking labour before his return to idyllic pastures with Joe.