The Black Stallion facts for kids

1941 edition of the book

The Black Stallion, also known as the Black or Shêtân, is a famous horse character. He stars in a popular series of books written by Walter Farley. The stories are about an amazing Arabian stallion and his young owner, Alec Ramsay. The name "Shêtân" means "devil" in Arabic.

The first book, The Black Stallion, came out in 1941. Later books feature the Black's children: Satan, Bonfire, and Black Minx. The series also introduces another powerful horse, Flame, from The Island Stallion books. Flame is considered the Black's only equal. These two amazing horses meet in two books: The Black Stallion and Flame and The Black Stallion Challenged.

Some of the books were made into movies. These include The Black Stallion (1979), The Black Stallion Returns (1983), and The Young Black Stallion (2003). The New York Times called the Black Stallion "the most famous fictional horse of the century."

The Black Stallion Books

The original Black Stallion books were written by Walter Farley. His son, Steven Farley, later wrote The Young Black Stallion about the Black's early life. Steven Farley continued writing more Black Stallion stories for younger readers.

1. The Black Stallion (1941)

Teenager Alec Ramsay is sailing home from India. He meets a wild black stallion on the ship. A big storm sinks the ship, and Alec and the Black get stuck on a desert island. They learn to trust each other to survive. This creates a very strong bond between them. After being rescued, Alec meets Henry Dailey, a retired racehorse trainer. Henry and Alec secretly train the Black to race. They enter him in a special race against two champions, Cyclone and Sun Raider.

1. The Black Stallion Returns (1945)

Alec and the Black are now famous. But two men want the Black. An Arab sheikh says he owns the horse. The sheikh proves it and takes the Black back to Arabia. Alec is determined to see his horse again. He follows them to Arabia, where he faces danger and mystery.

1. Son of the Black Stallion (1947)

Alec receives the Black Stallion's first baby horse as a gift. He names the colt Satan. But Satan is wild and dangerous. Alec, with Henry's help, tries to tame him. This means Alec must risk his own life.

1. The Island Stallion (1948)

This book introduces a new horse, Flame. A boy named Steve Duncan and his friend Pitch explore a lonely Caribbean island. They find a hidden valley with a wild, flame-colored stallion and his herd. These horses are descendants of Spanish horses.

1. The Black Stallion and Satan (1949)

Alec wants to know if the Black or his son, Satan, is faster. They get their chance when a big forest fire forces them to race for their lives. Only one person sees their amazing speed.

1. The Blood Bay Colt (1951)

Jimmy Creech, an older harness race driver, hopes to make a comeback. He pins his hopes on Bonfire, the Black Stallion's second son. Jimmy faces health problems and his young apprentice, Tom, is inexperienced. He hopes Bonfire has the speed to win.

1. The Island Stallion's Fury (1951)

Steve and Pitch's secret island valley is discovered. A mean man named Tom invades it. He wants to control Flame and his horses by force.

1. The Black Stallion's Filly (1952)

Henry Dailey buys the Black's first daughter, Black Minx. He wants to train her for the Kentucky Derby. But Black Minx is stubborn, just like her dad. Henry and Alec must find new ways to train her.

1. The Black Stallion Revolts (1953)

The Black Stallion gets restless with stable life. He becomes dangerous. Alec plans to let him run free in the desert. But a plane crash changes everything, bringing danger to both Alec and the Black.

1. The Black Stallion's Sulky Colt (1954)

Bonfire and Tom get hurt in a racing accident. Alec and Henry decide to try harness racing. They train the Black's second son for the Hambletonian Stakes. This is a very important harness race.

1. The Island Stallion Races (1955)

Two visitors from another world come to Azul Island. They offer Steve a chance for Flame to race against the world's fastest horses.

1. The Black Stallion's Courage (1956)

Henry and Alec need money to rebuild their barn, which was destroyed. The Black comes out of retirement for a race. He competes against two other champions, Eclipse and Casey.

1. The Black Stallion Mystery (1957)

Three young horses arrive in the U.S. They look exactly like the Black. Alec believes the Black's father might still be alive. His search leads him, Henry, and the Black to a hidden horse breeding place in Arabia. There, they meet the Black's father.

1. The Horse Tamer (1958)

Henry Dailey tells Alec about his brother, Bill Dailey. Bill was a horse tamer who helped many difficult horses. He also worked to expose dishonest horse trainers.

1. The Black Stallion and Flame (1960)

A plane crash leaves the Black stranded on a Caribbean island. He is with Flame, Farley's other famous stallion. They fight for power, but then team up to fight a dangerous vampire bat.

1. Man o' War (1962)

This is a story about a real American racehorse named Man o' War. He won almost all his races. The story is told by a stable boy who grew up with him.

1. The Black Stallion Challenged (1964)

Alec is racing the Black in Florida. He gets a letter from Steve Duncan. Steve challenges Alec to race Flame against the Black. Steve and Alec have never met. But their horses hate each other. This turns into a fierce race to see who is the better stallion.

1. The Black Stallion's Ghost (1969)

Alec Ramsay and the Black are on a peaceful Florida vacation. It turns into a scary adventure when they find a mysterious horseman and his grey mare in the Everglades.

1. The Black Stallion and the Girl (1971)

Hopeful Farm is very busy. Alec and Henry need more help. Pam Athena applies for a job as a trainer. Alec has to convince his partners to hire her. He also struggles to let her ride the Black Stallion when he can't race himself.

1. The Black Stallion Legend (1983)

Alec gets some very sad news. He and the Black run away to the desert. There, the Black Stallion is needed to help an Indian tribe during a disaster. He must fulfill an old prophecy.

With Steven Farley

1. The Young Black Stallion (1989)

This book tells the story of the Black before he met Alec. He was born in the mountains of Sheikh Abu Ja' Kub ben Ishak. The young horse shows great promise. He escapes during an attempt to steal him and learns to survive alone. A young Bedouin named Rashid befriends him. The stallion travels through the desert, trying to avoid rival horse traders.

For Young Children

• Big Black Horse

This is an easy-to-read picture book version of The Black Stallion.

• Little Black, A Pony

This picture book is about a brave and loving pony named Little Black. He proves his worth to his boy, who has started riding a bigger horse.

• Little Black Goes to the Circus

This picture book tells how Little Black, a pony, shows bravery when the circus comes to town.

Characters

Alexander "Alec" Ramsay Alec is the main character. He has red hair and loves horses. He shares a very special bond with the Black that no one can fully understand.

Henry Dailey Henry is a retired racehorse trainer and Alec's close friend. He was once a famous jockey. His career gets a new start after he teams up with Alec to train the Black. Henry later trains many horses at Hopeful Farm.

Charles Volence He owns Sun Raider, one of the champions the Black races. Charles travels with Alec and Henry on their first trip to Arabia.

Tony Tony is an Italian immigrant. He owns a cart horse named Napoleon and sells vegetables in New York City. Tony and Napoleon become close friends with the Black, Alec, and Henry. Napoleon often stays with the Black.

Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay These are Alec Ramsay's supportive parents. Mr. Ramsay helps run Hopeful Farm's business. Mrs. Ramsay is described as kind. In the movie, Mr. Ramsay is on the ship with Alec when it sinks.

Steve Duncan Steve is the young man who finds the red stallion, Flame, on an island. He later trains Flame and races him. Steve and Alec meet in The Black Stallion Challenged. Their friendship is complicated because they are rivals.

Pitch Pitch is Steve's longtime friend and an amateur archaeologist. He is similar to Henry in some ways.

Abu Ja' Kub ben Ishak He was a Sheikh and the Black's first owner and breeder. Abu died from injuries after the Black threw him during training.

Tabari Tabari is Sheikh Ishak's daughter. Her friendship with Alec is complex. She sent Alec a letter saying her father had given the Black (Shêtân) to Alec. She also said they would have "destroyed him" otherwise. She owns a purebred horse named Jôhar.

Abd-al-Rahman He is a young Sheikh from a kingdom near Abu's.

Ibn al Khaldun This man travels on the same plane as Alec, Henry, and Volence to Arabia. Alec suspects he wants to harm the Black.

Raj Raj is Abd-al-Rahman's brother and a friend of Alec Ramsay in Arabia.

Pam Athena Pam was a very good jockey and worker at Hopeful Farm. She helped Alec. She was in a relationship with Alec until her tragic death in a car accident.

Joe Russo Joe is a boy who helped Alec and the Black.

Horses

Ziyadah He is the Black's father, known as "Firetail." He is a golden chestnut stallion who appears in The Black Stallion's Mystery.

The Black Stallion/Shêtân He is the main character of the series. The Black is a strong, fast, and spirited Arabian horse. He shares a very deep bond with Alec. He was born in Arabia but was taken onto a ship where he met Alec. After they were shipwrecked and rescued, he became a famous racehorse in America.

Napoleon Napoleon is a gentle, older horse owned by Tony, the vegetable seller. He is often called "Nappy." Napoleon is the Black's stable mate and close friend. He eventually retires and becomes the Black's full-time companion.

Satan Satan is the Black's first son. He is all black with a white diamond on his forehead. At first, he is dangerous and wild. Henry eventually tames Satan, and he becomes a racing legend. Henry and Satan develop a close bond.

Bonfire Bonfire is the Black Stallion's second son. He competes in the famous Hambletonian race.

Black Minx Black Minx is the Black's first daughter. She is all black and has a sensitive personality. Henry buys her at an auction and trains her for racing. With Alec as her jockey, she wins the Kentucky Derby. She is a bit lazy and eventually retires to become a mate for another horse, Wintertime.

Sagr Sagr is a giant chestnut stallion from Arabia, owned by Abd-al-Rhaman. He looks similar to the Black and is a strong rival.

Jôhar Jôhar is a purebred Arabian mare owned by Tabari. She is a beautiful gray horse. She becomes the mother of the Black's first foal, Satan.

Flame Flame is the chestnut stallion found on Azul Island by Steve Duncan. He looks like an Arabian but is much larger. He is as fast as the Black Stallion in a race.

Wintertime Wintertime is a small, quick, blood-bay stallion. He is a rival to Black Minx. After an injury, he retires and becomes Black Minx's mate.

Eclipse Eclipse is a dark brown horse who becomes a powerful racer. He becomes almost as famous as the Black for his speed.

Casey Casey is an experienced, winning chestnut horse. His speed and skilled jockey challenge the Black and Alec in a three-way race that includes Eclipse.

Sun Raider and Cyclone These are the first two champion horses the Black races against. He beats them in a race called "the race of the century."

The Ghost The Ghost is a beautiful light grey mare, a liberty dressage star. She appears in The Black Stallion's Ghost. Alec becomes determined to buy her and breed her with the Black.

Black Pepper Black Pepper is the daughter of Black Minx, likely fathered by Wintertime.

Black Sand Black Sand is Satan's son. He is a promising young horse and a favorite of Pam Athena. He must overcome fears from past mistreatment.

Movie and TV Adaptations

• The Black Stallion (1979), based on the first book.
• The Black Stallion Returns (1983), based on the second book.
• Adventures of the Black Stallion (1990), a TV series.
• The Young Black Stallion (2003), based on the prequel book.