I still remember my birthday in the year 2001 when I was turning seven years old. My parents gifted this book as a birthday present. It was one of the books like ‘Adventures of Tom Sawyer’ that

A story told by a horse, in his own words. It is a story of how he was treated with affection and respect when he was a young and healthy horse, but how he fell into illness and despair as he was passed from one set of careless hands to the next. As a very young foal, the beautiful Black Beauty received some very sound advice from his mother.

This piece of advice lays down the plan for the book. Black Beauty does indeed pass through the hands of all kinds of men - good, cruel and foolish.

At his first place, the local squire’s hall, Black Beauty meets other horses who all have stories to tell about men and the ways they treat their animals. Black Beauty is very happy with Squire Gordon, but the household is eventually closed down when the squire goes to live abroad and all the horses are sold on. Squire Gordon makes every effort to find Black Beauty a good place, and indeed, does so, but no amount of effort can guard a horse from stupidity.

He is ridden carelessly by a drunk servant one night and falls because he has a broken shoe. The drunkard is killed, but Black Beauty is not blamed for that. They know it was the rider’s fault. Nevertheless, Black Beauty now has scarred knees from his fall and is no longer fit to be in a gentleman’s stables.

It is the beginning of the downward spiral for Black Beauty. No longer fit to be a gentleman’s horse, he is sold on, to work for his living. Black Beauty is proud and happy to work for a good master, but cannot work well if he is not cared for properly.

Read the book to see how Black Beauty enjoys the many kindnesses and survives the terrible mistreatments. Although this book is sad, I don’t think you will find it too sad to read. Black Beauty is a very understanding and forgiving horse and it does all end happily ever after. And as Shakespeare said “Alls well that ends well”

His story shows that even horses have feelings too, sometimes knowing more than we realize and that, well treated any animal will remain our true and loyal friends forever. This book is almost a collection of short stories, as each chapter relates a different episode in the life of Black Beauty and other horses who he meets along the way. A good book to choose if, perhaps, you prefer to read in short sessions.