A psychiatrist attempts to uncover the underlying motivations of a young man who has committed a horrific act of violence against horses. Dr. Martin Dysart is tasked with treating Alan Strang, a teenager who blinded six horses with a metal spike. The narrative unfolds primarily through a series of clinical sessions and flashbacks, revealing the complex psychological and spiritual landscape of the boy. Dysart struggles with his own professional detachment and personal disillusionment as he confronts the intensity of Alan's obsession. The play operates within a stark, minimalist stage framework that emphasizes the psychological tension between the doctor and his patient.

Discussion often centers on the play's provocative examination of the tension between clinical psychiatry and the raw, untamed nature of human passion. Readers frequently highlight the effectiveness of the horse-mask symbolism in creating an unsettling and visceral atmosphere on stage. Critics often note the play's critique of modern secularism and the loss of spiritual depth in contemporary society. The pacing is consistently described as intense and deliberate, focusing heavily on the intellectual and emotional sparring between the two central characters. Many readers find the play's exploration of the cost of 'normalcy' to be a central point of debate in academic and theatrical circles.