A horse's journey through war connects disparate lives, ultimately restoring peace and family bonds.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
Devon Farm & Auction
Ted Narracott outbids Lyons for a colt and bonds with him through ploughing. War breaks out, ruining crops and forcing Ted to sell the horse to the military.
Key Events
Farm Auction Bidding — Ted outbids Lyons to purchase the colt, securing the farm's future. Characters: Ted Narracott, LyonsLocation: Devon Auction House
Ploughing & Bonding — Ted and the horse plough rocky soil, saving the farm and building trust. Characters: Ted NarracottLocation: Rocky Field
War Declaration — War with Germany is declared, ruining crops and forcing difficult decisions. Characters: Ted NarracottLocation: Farmhouse
Military Sale — Ted sells the horse to the army to save the farm, separating from his companion. Characters: Ted NarracottLocation: Farmyard
Frontline Trials & Desertion
The horses endure a disastrous cavalry charge and are captured by Germans. Gunther and Michael desert to escape the war but are executed, leaving the horses to Emilie.
Key Events
Cavalry Deployment — The horses are trained and deployed with a flying column for military operations. Characters: SoldierLocation: Flanders Front
Desertion Attempt — Gunther and Michael desert the German army to escape the front lines. Characters: Gunther, MichaelLocation: German Encampment
Execution & Abandonment — The brothers are captured and executed by German forces, leaving the horses unattended. Characters: Gunther, MichaelLocation: French Countryside
Hiding in Bedroom — Emilie hides the captured horses from German soldiers in her bedroom. Characters: Emilie, GrandfatherLocation: Grandfather's Farmhouse
Birthday Ride — The grandfather allows Emilie to ride the horse for her birthday celebration. Characters: Emilie, GrandfatherLocation: Farmyard
German Capture — German soldiers discover the hidden horses and confiscate them, keeping the pennant. Characters: Emilie, GrandfatherLocation: Farm Perimeter
Cross-Rescue & Recovery
Friedrich rebels against overwork and frees Joey, who gets trapped in barbed wire. A British soldier and Friedrich cooperate to rescue the horse across enemy lines.
Key Events
German Capture — German soldiers discover the hidden horses and confiscate them, keeping the pennant. Characters: Emilie, GrandfatherLocation: Farm Perimeter
Artillery Hauling — The horses are forced to haul heavy artillery under Friedrich's care. Characters: FriedrichLocation: Battlefield
Horse Exhaustion — One horse dies from overwork, devastating Friedrich and prompting rebellion. Characters: FriedrichLocation: Supply Route
Rebellion & Release — Friedrich rebels against commanders and frees the remaining horse from its reins. Characters: FriedrichLocation: Artillery Park
Barbed Wire Trap — The horse gallops into no man's land and becomes hopelessly entangled in barbed wire. Characters: Soldier, FriedrichLocation: No Man's Land
Cross-Rescue Operation — A British soldier and Friedrich cooperate across enemy lines to cut the horse free. Characters: Soldier, FriedrichLocation: No Man's Land
Hospital Recovery — The injured horse is brought to a hospital where a soldier recognizes him. Characters: SoldierLocation: British Hospital
Auction & Homecoming
The grandfather outbids a butcher at a post-war auction and returns Joey to Ted. The family is reunited, closing the cycle of custody.
Key Events
Hospital Recovery — The injured horse is brought to a hospital where a soldier recognizes him. Characters: SoldierLocation: British Hospital
Final Auction — The grandfather outbids a wealthy butcher to purchase the horse at a post-war auction. Characters: Grandfather, ButcherLocation: Post-War Auction Hall
Pennant Recognition — The grandfather recognizes the pennant's significance and decides to return the horse. Characters: GrandfatherLocation: Auction Hall
Farm Return — The grandfather returns the horse and pennant to Ted, closing the custody cycle. Characters: Ted Narracott, GrandfatherLocation: Devon Farm
Family Reunion — Ted embraces his family and returns the pennant to his father with pride. Characters: Ted NarracottLocation: Farmhouse
Story Breakdown
Farm Origins & Sale — Ted Narracott purchases a colt and bonds with him until war forces a military sale.
Auction Bidding War — Ted outbids his landlord Lyons to secure the Irish Hunter colt.
Ploughing & Bonding — Ted and the horse work the rocky field, saving the farm.
War Declaration Impact — Conflict ruins crops, forcing Ted to sell the horse to the army.
Frontline Trials — The horses face brutal combat and capture, leading to desertion and tragedy.
Cavalry Charge Failure — A flying column charges through machine guns, resulting in heavy casualties.
German Capture & Hiding — Emilie and her grandfather hide the captured horses from soldiers.
Desertion & Execution — Gunther and Michael desert but are caught and executed by German forces.
Artillery & Exhaustion — The remaining horse endures brutal labor until a soldier rebels against the cruelty.
Hauling Heavy Guns — Friedrich is forced to make the horse pull heavy artillery across battlefields.
Horse's Physical Decline — Overwork causes one horse to die, devastating Friedrich and breaking his compliance.
Soldier's Rebellion — Friedrich defies orders and frees the surviving horse from its reins.
Cross-Rescue Operation — The horse becomes trapped in no man's land, prompting an unlikely alliance.
Barbed Wire Entanglement — The horse gallops into enemy territory and becomes hopelessly stuck in wire.
Enemy Cooperation — A British soldier and Friedrich temporarily ally to cut the horse free.
Coin Toss & Transfer — They flip a coin for ownership, and the soldier guides the injured horse to safety.
Hospital & Recovery — The horse is treated at a military hospital where his original owner recognizes him.
Blindness & Scars — The soldier recovers from gas blindness while the horse heals from severe injuries.
Owl Call Recognition — The horse responds to a familiar owl call, confirming his identity to the soldier.
Medical Treatment — Hospital staff nurse the horse back to health, preparing him for return.
Final Auction & Return — Post-war auctions determine the horse's fate until he is returned to his original family.
Butcher Competition — The grandfather outbids a wealthy French butcher at the final auction.
Pennant Revelation — The grandfather recognizes the regimental pennant and decides to return the horse.
Farm Homecoming — Ted receives the horse and pennant, reuniting his family and closing the journey.
On the brink of the First World War, Albert's beloved horse Joey is sold to the Cavalry by his father. Against the backdrop of the Great War, Joey begins an odyssey full of danger, joy, and sorrow, and he transforms everyone he meets along the way. Meanwhile, Albert, unable to forget his equine friend, searches the battlefields of France to find Joey and bring him home.
