Joe (Mark Lester) loves his horse Black Beauty, and he cares for him as he grows from a newborn foal into a strong young horse. But when times get tough for Joe's family, they are forced to sell the boy's beloved friend. From there, Black Beauty finds himself traveling from owner to owner. His journeys take him to a rich family's estate, a dangerous coal mine and even the battlefields of India. Throughout all of Black Beauty's trials and adventures, Joe seeks to bring him back home.