Probably the most popular horse story of all time, Black Beauty tells the story of one horse's long and varied life. On the one hand, a fully engaging novel and on the other hand, a strong statement against animal maltreatment, Anna Sewell's classic novel has enthralled readers since it was first published in 1877.

The relationship between humansand horses has been much the same for six thousand years. Mankind found early on that the horse could provide excellent transportation for humans and goods. The horse--this fleet and powerful,alert animal--was used as private and public conveyances;in commerce, farming, war, sport, and competition; and,typical to our species, as a status symbol.

Over the years there have been many who mistreated or brutalized the horse, and there have been some who instinctively dealt generously with the animal. It is the rare handler, over these thousands of years, who learned or sensed how to deal with horses in a manner that created artful and willing service.

As long ago as three hundred years before Christ, a Greek cavalry officer named Xenophon wrote a book called The Art of Horsemanship, which is still relevant today.Xenophon stated that you must be firm but not harsh with a horse, and never lose your temper: "... if your horse shies at an object and is unwilling to go up to it, he should be shown that there is nothing fearful in it..."Xenophon, a man of war, was not bellicose with the mounts under his care.

PART ONE

My Early Home

The Hunt

My Breaking In

Birtwick Park

A Fair Start

Liberty

Ginger

Ginger"s Story Continued

Merrylegs

A Talk in the Orchard

Plain Speaking

A Stormy Day

The Devil"s Trade Mark

James Howard

The Old Ostler

The Fire

John Manly"s Talk

Going for the Doctor

Only Ignorance

Joe Green

The Parting

PART TWO

Earlshall

A Strike for Liberty

The Lady Anne

Reuben Smith

How it Ended

Ruined and Going Downhill

A Job-horse and His Drivers

Cockneys

A Thief

A Humbug

PART THREE

A Horse Fair

A London Cab Horse

An Old War Horse

Jerry Barker

The Sunday Cab

The Golden Rule

Dolly and a Real Gentleman

Seedy Sam

Poor Ginger

The Butcher

The Election

A Friend in Need

Old Captain and His Successor

Jerry"s New Year

PART FOUR

Jakes and the Lady

Hard Times

Farmer Thoroughgood and His Grandson

Willie

My Last Home