Based on the acclaimed 1877 novel by Anna Sewell, Black Beauty is the story of the life of a horse in Victorian England. Black Beauty (Allan Cumming) narrates this story from his birth as a horse in England to his later years. The story begins with the horse's early years as a farm horse. Black Beauty works for Farmer Grey (Sean Bean). The horse then goes on to be owned by Squire Gordon (Peter Davison) who badly mistreats Black Beauty enough for him to become injured. Black Beauty then goes on to London as a taxi horse for a man named John Manly (Jim Carter). Black Beauty's final years are also described as peaceful in a large rural farm.