What is Black Beauty's message?

In the simplest of terms, I think that Sewell's work tries
to bring forth the point that animals are creatures that feel pain, love, and joy.  They
are not objects who lack the sensibilities of feeling creatures.  The idea that Black
Beauty responds to pain and suffering, affirms care and compassion help to deliver the
book's primary message that animals, in this case, horses need care.  At a point where
utilitarian values emphasized the "greatest good for the greatest number," Sewell's work
is a reminder that it is important to not abuse in this name.  The tendency to overwork
or abuse animals is something that has not gone away from modern society.  The desire to
use an animal as a means to an end and not as the end in its own right is something that
Sewell's work criticizes heavily and is something that is brought out as one of the
primary messages of the book.  Sewell intended her work to be a guide on how to tend to
and take care of horses.  In doing so, she makes the statement that animals need to be
treated with care, and not used and abused for the ends of others.  We have seen this,
whether it is with Michael Vick's treatment of dogs for sport, or for greyhounds raced
and treated in an abhorrent manner, or even horses in horse racing that are given drugs
that are contrary to a healthy life in order to gain more profits, the need to halt the
mistreatment of all animals is one of the primary messages of Sewell's
work.