Characters

Horses

• Black Beauty :  The main character of the story, a handsome black horse. His first home is Farmer Grey. But then, he begins his career as a carriage horse for wealthy people but when he "breaks his knees" (i.e. develops scars on his "knees"--anatomically, wrists—after a bad fall) he is no longer considered presentable enough and is put too much harder work. He passes through the hands of a series of owners. Some of them are cruel and some are kind. He always tries his best to serve humans despite the circumstance.

•  Duchess—Beauty's mother, who encourages Beauty to be good from a young age.

•  Ginger—Named for her chestnut colour and her habit of biting, which is often how the spice, ginger, is described. Ginger is a more aggressive horse due to her traumatic upbringing.  

• Merrylegs—A short, white and handsome pony who is polite to humans and horses alike. He is ridden by the young daughters at Birtwick Park. Then, later on sent to live with the three ladies.

•     Max—Blac Beauty’s new partner at Earlshall Park.

•  Captain—A former army horse who witnessed horrific incidents in the Crimean War, although he was well treated and received no wounds. He lost his beloved master in the Charge of the Light Brigade. He became a cab horse for Jerry, where he works with Black Beauty.

People

•      Farmer Grey—Beauty's first owner, a good kind man who trains him well.

•      Jerry- A cabbie, who owns Black Beauty

•       Mr Douglas Gordon(Squire Gordon)-A very kind and loving master who was also the squire.

•     Joe Green- A stable boy.

•      Mr Jeremiah Barker—A kind owner who uses Beauty as a cab horse. Owns Captain and  Hotspur

•   The three ladies—His final home were he spent the rest of his days very well treated.