In the original introduction to Black Beauty, Sewell herself emphasizes that the book is intended more as a guide for horse care than simply as a story for entertainment. Education was extremely important to Sewell, and she expressed that part of her goal was to promote “an understanding of the treatment of horses” through her “little book.” Consequently, she felt it necessary to explain proper horse care. Because of this, it has been observed that one could read Black Beauty and acquire enough knowledge to properly care for a horse.

The purpose of detailing correct equine care was to offer alternatives to the cruel practices Sewell sought to eradicate. Evidence of abuse causing pain and suffering to horses is depicted in almost every chapter: tail bobbing, blinkers, double bits, check or bearing reins, dangerous jumps for sport, and prolonged stall confinement. These practices, along with the desire to highlight their cruelty, form the core message of the book. Sewell’s readers also learn that ill-tempered horses are not inherently so but are shaped by harsh treatment. It is important to note that Sewell did not primarily blame the laborers carrying out the mistreatment; instead, she held accountable the owners and customers who exploited these workers and, by extension, their horses.

Sewell continues to cultivate sympathy and understanding for horses through the various equine characters in the book. Although Beauty experiences numerous different jobs, Sewell couldn’t realistically place him in every possible scenario. Demonstrating her storytelling skill, she introduces encounters with different horses throughout the narrative, each with its own story. This approach allows Sewell to showcase the types of mistreatment horses face in both urban and rural environments; horses used for sport, personal riding, pulling carts, cabs, and carriages, as well as in combat. Each of these situations involves specific abuses, and Sewell’s vivid descriptions bring them to the forefront for readers in a way never before seen in literature.