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Joey Is Bought In Auction
The story begins in the tranquil countryside of Devon, England. A young horse named Joey is born and soon after sold to a local farmer. The farmer's son, Albert Narracott, forms an immediate bond with Joey, training him and caring for him. They develop a deep, unbreakable bond. -
Joey Was Trained to Plow Land
Albert teaches Joey to plow on their farm in Devon. This is a significant moment as it demonstrates the deepening bond between Albert and Joey, and also Joey's trust in Albert. Despite being a thoroughbred, a breed not typically used for farm work, Joey learns to plow under Albert's patient and gentle guidance. This skill later proves crucial in the war, as Joey is able to survive by being useful in various roles, including that of a workhorse. -
Joey Is Sold Off Into The War
The tranquility is shattered with the outbreak of World War I. In a desperate need for money, Albert's father sells Joey to the British army, leaving Albert heartbroken. Despite being too young to enlist, Albert promises Joey that he will find him and bring him home. -
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The Western Front (British)
Joey is thrust into the chaos of war on the Western Front. He serves in the British cavalry under Captain Nicholls and Trooper Warren, witnessing the horrors of battle. Captain Nicholls is killed. -
Captured By Germans
Trooper Warren and Captain Jamie Stewart are captured by the Germans. This occurs during a charge, a daring and dangerous military operation, where the British cavalry, including Warren and Stewart, are sent into battle against the German forces. The charge is a disastrous event, with the British cavalry being ill-prepared for the machine guns of the German forces. -
Emilie and Her Grandfather
This happens after the horses are captured by the German forces during World War I and are used to pull ambulance wagons. Emilie is a young French girl who is ill and cannot walk properly. She lives with her grandfather on a farm in the French countryside. When Joey and Topthorn are brought to their farm by the German soldiers, Emilie is overjoyed. She has a deep love for horses and forms an immediate bond with Joey and Topthorn. -
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Harsh Winter (The Germans)
The German forces, who have captured him, assign him the grueling job of pulling heavy artillery guns through the unforgiving winter landscape. Pulling them requires immense strength and endurance, especially in the biting cold of winter. The ground is often frozen, making it slippery and treacherous for a horse. The cold also seeps into Joey and Topthorn’s bones, making every movement a painful effort. -
Topthorn’s Death
Topthorn, Joey's companion and friend, succumbs to heart failure due to the harsh conditions and extreme exhaustion from the war. The day starts like any other in the war-torn landscape. However, as the day progresses, Topthorn's health rapidly deteriorates. Despite the efforts to save him, Topthorn's strength fails him, and he dies peacefully in his sleep, with Joey by his side. -
Reuniting With Albert
After Topthorn's death, Joey escapes but gets trapped in no man's land, a perilous area between the British and German trenches. His plight unites the soldiers from both sides who rescue him. Subsequently, Joey is taken to a British camp where he reunites with his original owner, Albert, who has enlisted in the army hoping to find him. Despite the grim circumstances, their reunion brings a sense of hope and highlights the enduring bonds of friendship. -
End of World War One
After a long grueling 4 years, the war finally ends. However a new problem appears for Albert and Joey. Only officers will be allowed to keep their horses, the rest will be auctioned off. -
Bidding for Joey
After Emilie's grandfather wins the bid for Joey, he decides to give Joey back to Albert, his original owner. This gesture is not only a recognition of Albert's deep bond with Joey, but also a testament to Emilie's grandfather's generosity and understanding. He realizes that Joey and Albert share a unique bond, and despite his own emotional connection to Joey, he believes that Joey rightfully belongs with Albert. -
The Return to Devon
Albert, now reunited with Joey thanks to Emilie's grandfather's kind gesture, returns to his home in Devon. The war has left its scars, but the sight of the familiar rolling hills and the comfort of home brings a sense of peace and closure. Albert and Joey, both war veterans in their own right, find solace in the quiet countryside, away from the horrors they've experienced.