Many of us have a favorite song, that when it comes on the radio we can't help but crank it up and maybe sing along to it. Sometimes we play it over and over to the point where anyone else within range, is quickly sick of hearing it, let alone at full volume.
Then there comes a song which carries with it an image in our mind of our horse.
What? How did they know about my horse? How did they know what was going on that day? Who told the songwriters about my horse? I want to know NOW!
We all know they don't usually write songs about horses. Those probably wouldn't sell and money drives the market. Songs are usually about people. Jilted ex-lovers plotting revenge, the one perfect love, cars, personal heroes, gunfighters, bar brawls, drinking and all sorts of stuff. Just not horses, let alone any particular horse, and not likely mine.
For the red mare Johnie, that song is K.D. Lang's "Big Boned Gal" off the cd/album Ultimate Torch & Twang. It just fits her. The tune and melody would be perfectly suitable for cutting too.
So what song do you associate with your horse and why?
Have a great weekend!
35 comments:
I had a filly back in the 90's who absolutely went with Wynona Judd's "Girls with Guitars"--sassy and sure of herself.
Brooks & Dunn's "Rock my world, little country girl" was the anthem of a young mare I had, back in the late '90s.
My black stallion was the embodiment of the music from the first Indiana Jones movie. Like Jones, he was always up for an adventure.
The most poignant music goes, not with a horse, but with a dog. As I was coming back from the vet after putting down one of my dogs, the radio played Garth Brook's "I Would've Missed the Dance." That became Diana's song and I think of her whenever I hear that.
When I went to pick up the Arab mare Mo, Don Henly's song "Taking You Home" came on. Absolutely fitting everything in her life and the moment.
When I went to pick up the OTTB mare that came a few short months after Mo's passing, Rascal Flatts was singing "Bless the Broken Road" which turned out to fit the whole story line of her life as well.
"One More Day" by Diamond Rio is the anthem of sorts for my boxer, Punkin.
Oldmorgans: The Dance, brought a tear to my eye.
Spotted gelding, most definitely "Tennessee Stud", Johnny Cash version.
Buckskin gelding - Theme whistle from The Andy Griffith show.
My song is "Stolen Horses" Ray Wylie Hubbard. Pretty much sums it up.
The song that made me dream of having my own horses one day!
****************************
Wildfire
by Michael Murphey
She comes down from Yellow Mountain
On a dark, flat land she rides
On a pony she named Wildfire
Whirlwind by her side
On a cold Nebraska night.
Oh, they say she died one winter
When there came an early frost
And the pony she named Wildfire
Busted down its stall,
In a blizzard she was lost.
She ran calling Wild--fire
Calling Wild---fire
Calling Wi--i--ld--fi--i--re
By the dark of the moon I planted
But there came an early snow
Been a hoot owl howlin' outside my window now for six nights in a row
She's comin' for me, I know
And on Wildfire we're both gonna go
We'll be ridin' Wildfire
Ridin' Wildfire
We'll be ridin' Wildfire
On Wildfire we're gonna ride
Gonna leave sodbustin' behind
Get these hard times right on out of our minds Ridin' Wildfire
Big and Richs's Ride a horse save a cowboy....."My ole Stud Leroy..." Made everybody I have ever met remember my gelding Leeroy....Hes 22 so hes been Leeroy long before that song ever came out.
My Walkers theme would have to be "Beer For My Horses" by Toby Kieth just cause if Pete can find beer (or whiskey for that matter) he is absolutely gonna drink it.
Passion (OTTB) her's would be "Standing Outside the Fire" by Garth Brooks she is a bit of a loner.
BB (OTTB) "Wild Angels" by Martina McBride. Gotta have angels to go for a ride on her.
Squirrel (4mth old TB) "Mississippi Squirrel Revival" or "The Streak" both by Ray Stevens. He just fits the tempo of the songs.
Somehow I got stuck on listening to Korn lately. Normally I don't listen to that much rock, and haven't listened to Korn in ages. I heard a song on the radio that I liked and then in the album I found a lot of songs reminding me of horses, which has made me listen to the album quite a bit.
For my horse, it's "Open up" and very suitable.
"Liar" makes me think of Mustangs, and the breaking of colts in general, or serious problem horses, bitter horses. I can imagine the bitter problem horses advising young colts via the song.
The song I had heard on the radio was "Coming Undone", reminds me of when my horse is having his little panic attacks, or how he was when I first got him, but now makes me think of any dangerous horses, panicking ones.
And finally, the most meaningful song on the album has got to be "Throw Me Away" and makes me think of all the horses sent to slaughter, or any pets abandoned to an undeserved fate.
I'd suggest "Throw Me Away" of any of them if you're interested in trying my songs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHcGgdEVgBU
That video has the song but I find my imagery more moving than the video.
Ah, and I'll post the lyrics.
Flesh wound, flesh wound
With medication it will fade
Should I assume that someone hears me when I pray
Love full of hate
Don't you love how I break?
(Chorus)
Don't let them throw me away
Ah!
Keep me and I'll be okay
Ah!
Skipping a beat but it plays
Ah!
Don't let them throw me away
Ah!
Don't let them throw me away
Screwed up, used up
Crumble lying on the floor
Fucked up, shut up
All you did back then was score
I'm feeling weak
Missing parts
Incomplete
(Chorus)
Hold me up into the light
Fix the cracks and fix them right
Keep the pieces in a drawer
Keep them there forever more
May come in use for someday
Recycle this shit in someway
And all that I have to say
Don't let them throw me away
(Chorus)
Drillrider- Michael Martin Murphy has a song called "Ponies" that I LOVE!
...and he said ponies, now ponies don't you worry,
I have not come to steal your fire away.
I want to ride with you across the sunrise,
and discover what begins each shining day.
Ooops!
It's FLY with you across the sunrise...
There is a song by a Canadian Artis Corb Lund , the chorus goes "she wont come to me , she wont come to anyone whose frightened to be free" the song is about a cowboy trying to catch his good saddle horse . Suits my Jazzy mare to a T also reminds me to "get in the moment " with my horse.
Then there is the old favorite around here Marty Robbins "Strawberry Roan " lord help me I never want to own the horse that song was written for.
Dan Seals and "if I had only one friend"suits my Johnnie perfectly . And George Canyon "A good Day to ride " just fits us all . Great idea for a post,JR. Got me singing a happy tune
FV
CNJ had the idea for tonights post. It is a great change I agree.
For my yellow mare Chica. I like Spder Bait's Black Betty
Hmmm....
Well... anytime I see a little kid bouncing along on a piston-trotting little pony trying to keep up with big horses, the Flying Monkeys music from Wizard of Oz goes thru my head!!
Oh and my good red AQHA mare?
Sometimes she was a little bit Country, but usually she was a little bit Rock 'n' Roll.
Cat it's My Little Deuce Coupe. And at state championships one year I was in the warm up pen and a song from I think the 80's was playing in my head...I don't even know what it is...but the line was "she's fresh, and exciting..." lol
Little deuce coupe
You dont know what I got
Little deuce coupe
You dont know what I got
Well Im not braggin babe so dont put me down
But Ive got the fastest set of wheels in town
When something comes up to me he dont even try
Cause if I had a set of wings man I know she could fly
Shes my little deuce coupe
You dont know what I got
(my little deuce coupe)
(you dont know what I got)
Just a little deuce coupe with a flat head mill
But shell walk a thunderbird like (shes) its standin still
Shes ported and relieved and shes stroked and bored.
Shell do a hundred and forty with the top end floored
Shes my little deuce coupe
You dont know what I got
(my little deuce coupe)
(you dont know what I got)
Shes got a competition clutch with the four on the floor
And she purrs like a kitten till the lake pipes roar
And if that aint enough to make you flip your lid
Theres one more thing, I got the pink slip daddy
And comin off the line when the light turns green
Well she blows em outta the water like you never seen
I get pushed out of shape and its hard to steer
When I get rubber in all four gears
Shes my little deuce coupe
You dont know what I got
(my little deuce coupe)
(you dont know what I got)
Shes my little deuce coupe
You dont know what I got
(my little deuce coupe)
(you dont know what I got)
Shes my little deuce coupe
You dont know what I got
I used to just smile at people that would come up to her at a barrel race and say, "Oh what a cute little mare." I'd nod, and say, "Thank you, she is pretty cute." In my head I'd add...'and she'll be taking your money today.'
Along about Eighteen and twenty-five
I left Tennessee very much alive
I never would have made it through the Arkansas mud
If I hadn't been a riddin' on the Tennessee Stud
I had some trouble with my sweethearts Pa
One of her brothers was a bad outlaw
I sent a letter to my uncle Fud and I rode away on the Tennessee Stud
Chorus
The Tennessee Stud was long and lean
The color of the sun, and his eyes were green
He had the nerve and he had the blood, there never was a horse like the Tennessee stud
One day I was ridin' in the beautiful land
And ran smack into an Indian band
They jerked their knives with a whoop and a yell
But I rode away like a bat out of hell
Well I circled their camp for a time or two
And showed what a Tennessee hoss could do
And them redskin boys never got my blood
'Cause I was a-ridin' on the Tennessee stud
CHORUS
We drifted on down into no man's land
We crossed the river called the Rio Grande
I raced my hoss with the Spaniards bold
Till I got me a skin full of silver and gold
Me and a gambler we couldn't agree
We got in a fight over Tennessee
We jerked our guns, he fell with a thud
And I got away on the Tennessee stud
CHORUS
Well, I got as lonesome as a man can be
Dreamin' of my girl in Tennessee
The Tennessee stud's green eyes turned blue
'Cause he was a-dneamin' of a sweetheart too
We loped on back across Arkansas
I whipped her brother and I whipped her pa
I found that girl with the golden hair
And she was ridin' on a Tennessee mare
CHORUS
Stirrup to stirrup and side by side
We crossed the mountains and the valleys wide
We came to Big Muddy and we forded the flood
On the Tennessee mare and the Tennessee stud
Pretty little baby on the cabin floor
Little hoss colt playin' 'round the door
I love the girl with golden hair
And the Tennessee stud loves the Tennessee mare
Don't laugh.
Bagpipes are the tunes I think of, by a band called Rare Air.
For the big bay horse.
"Riverdance", too.
yeah.
wordless, only sounds.
Rhythms to ride by.
For Wizard, my fun loving dynamo, I would have to say "All Right Now" by Free. The words and most of all the beat and the fun of that song just fit him very well.
For Whinnie, my grey mare, "Killer Queen" by Queen seems somehow appropriate.
For Buck, the big Perch, I can't think of one right now. It has to be big and impressive. I will think on it a bit.
For Spunky, the Man, it can only be "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by S & G, because he was.
When I was doing endurance on my young, strong Arab... this was the song going through my head .... My daddy said, "Son, you're gonna drive me to drinkin', if you don't stop drivin' that hot rod Lincoln!" ...Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen.
Orange:
I remember that song, it's a good one.
LOL!
The theme song to "Monk" fits my grey, Simon, to a T.
I think Top's song may be Pink Floyds 'Comfortably Numb'.
What's the opening...
"Hello, hello, hello is there anybody in there. Just nod if you can hear me. Is there anyone at home?
Relax, relax, relax. I need some information first. Just the basic facts. Can you tell me where it hurts?"
I think...I'll have to go look at the lyrics. lol But you get the gist.
My bay colt Mondo's son is Livin in the USA by Steve Miller and my Palomino filly is Night Moves by Bob Segar
Greta likes her M.I.A. and banghra (Indian dance music... it's actually kind of fun!) It was playing on my iPod and she perked right up whens he heard it. Absolutely hilarious!
But really, the song I think fits her the best is "Strawberry Swing" by Coldplay. It just does.
Completely OT question:
JR,
Do you brand your horses? I have had my gelding for 7 months, and have become increasingly concerned about theft. He is a hefty boy (and would probably let anyone halter him) and I am paranoid that someone will steal him for slaughter or some other hideous thing like tripping.
I realize this is kind of paranoid, but I LOVE this horse, and it does seem like a freeze brand would make a thief think twice. I'm in CA, so I think I have to register a brand first.
I'm going to ask my vet if she can refer me to someone who provides this service.
Any thoughts?
Thanks!
NHM
we do not brand ours, but it is always a thought as one of our friends horse's was stolen two days ago. They actually did find her today. But I have considered freeze branding or tattooing.
Thanks!
I'm going to call the ag dept tomorrow and find out what's involved. My initials are not taken yet, so that's probably what I'll go with.
My vet is going to think I'm crazy!
@newhorsemommy: They like the light ones, like Arabs for tripping, so odds are your heavy beastie would avoid that fate at least.
Dunno if you'd want to brand with YOUR initials, as there's always the what-if something happens and you need to rehome/sell. I know if I were in the market I'd choose not having someone else's initials on my horse if I were comparing two- all else equal.
They sell custom freeze brands here for 75 bucks.
JR I am going to have to think about the music to who part.
We had the voices down for the horses if they were ever portrayed in animation.
Gato was Morgan Freemen. Chubby was Robin Williams.
The girls were harder and more fun.
Jaz was whoever did the voice of the fairy from Shrek.
Em was Renee Zellweger.
It was a long list.
Glad you liked the colt. Now I know if I do not feel the need to deal with the bright lights I have options.
I love Freddie Jones Band, either a song titled Take the Time or In A Daydream for us. Every now and again horse makes me think of that They Might Be Giants' song Birdhouse. Don't tell horse though, I'm sure he'd want me to say something edgier, like AC/DC's Back in Black or something by Papa Roach or Linkin Park. I am a complete and total embarassment to horse, he will be mortified if this gets out. His own fault that he makes me feel this way, all hopeful and light.
My Anglo-Arab endurance gelding is "Rave On" off the soundtrack to the movie "Cocktail".
"I think God made you for me, just so I could rave on", lol!
My TB cross mare came with the name Damn Hott ~ quickly changed to Hotsie. Didn't want the kids telling their elem. school teachers about 'dam hot' stuff. She is that song by Beoyonce "If you liked it, then you shoulda' put a ring on it"! (5 owners in 1 year). I put a ring on it.
QH cross mare ~ Free Fallin' by Tom Petty.
Daughters pony ~ anything about a strong black woman and teflon.
App x Arab mare ~ I am Stretched on Your Grave by Sinead O'Conner. It's about losing a friend and not accepting their death. She only lets my 8 yr. old son ride her. I think she will lie down and die without him.
Secret Agent Man for my little buckskin mustang! (He's a ninja at heart) Or perhaps "It Ain't Over Yet" by Bryan Adams
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