Kholstomer by Leo Tolstoy. Short summary

5 seconds

Meryn Holstomer served a hussar faithfully, but the latter drove him off and sold him to a bourgeois. Years later, the decrepit horse recognized his drunken master. Holstoner was killed, but the hussar passed away as well.

1 minute

In the morning the herd is led to the watering place. The groom Nestor caresses the old gelding Holstomer, but then beats him for no reason. The horse dutifully endures both the unpleasant caresses and the blows. The herd beats the old gelding. Then he tells the horses the story of his life.

He was born with a fine physique: long, strong legs. For this he was nicknamed Holstomer — he walked with long, ambitious strides. Only his color was ashy. And the young stallion was mauled so that he could not pass it on to his descendants.

The young hussar buys the young gelding — just for the unusual color. But he does not love the horse; he simply wants to stand out from the crowd, if not by his wit, then by the color of his horse. But Holstomer genuinely loves his master. In pursuit of his mistress, the hussar has driven the horse. He is resold from hand to hand until he ends up here.

In the evening the master has a guest. Holstomer recognizes his master in the squalid and ruined drunkard. The horse became infected with crust and his throat was slit. But soon the hussar died as well.