Nightshade, born during the reign of George the Third, tells of his adventures as a highly successful racehorse and the challenges of being a highwayman's steed. Black Romany describes the thrill of the hunt and undertakes an amazing cross-country journey encountering ghosts, thieves and swollen rivers. Blossom's life begins with hardship when she is removed from her mother as a young foal and sold to a coal merchant. However the story ends with her being 'the bravest of them all'. Each story is set in an historical context describing the lives and hardships of the characters involved.