Black Beauty begins his narrative by recounting his earliest memories. When he was first born, he lived in a pleasant meadow, with his mother, Duchess, and six other young colts. His mother emphasizes the importance of good behavior, and working hard to please whomever he serves; she tells him, “I hope you will grow up gentle and good” (4). Black Beauty and his mother are owned by a kindly elderly man, who is always very gentle with his horses. Their master is also protective of them, and prevents a boy named Dick from pestering the horses.

When Black Beauty is still young, he hears an uproar one morning. He learns from his mother and the older horses that a hunt is occurring. Black Beauty watches as a pack of riders and dogs pursue and catch a terrified hare. He then notices that, in the pursuit, two horses have been injured, and one young man has been thrown off, and broken his neck. The young man is the eldest son of Squire Gordon. The horse that George Gordon was riding is seriously injured, and a man comes and shoots the horse. Duchess seems disturbed by these events, and mentions that the horse was named Rob Roy.