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21 Best Horse Songs for Equine Lovers

There’s nothing like a dawn ride on the back of a horse with the perfect playlist providing background to your morning ride. But you know what’s better? Listening to a playlist full of songs about horses while riding a horse. If you’re looking for that list, look no further. Here’s a list of twenty-one of the best songs with horse lyrics that every equine lover will enjoy.

All The Pretty Little Horses - Joan Baez

Truly, there is no song better suited to soothing a horse lover’s soul than Joan Baez’s version of “All The Pretty Little Horses.” Her crooning, rich voice will send you off to dreamland in a moment. 

Another Horsedreamer’s Blues - Counting Crows

Alt-rock legend Counting Crows has a mellow ballad for equine lovers. Their “Another Horsedream’s Blues” tells the story of a girl dreaming of freedom, with horses, an escape from the life she lives now.

Appaloosa - Gino Vanelli

The first lines of Gino Vanelli’s “Appaloosa” instantly draw in equine enthusiasts. The rock ballad opens with, “Appaloosa, runnin' wild in the dead of the night, Appaloosa, you're the message of love and light.” From the first line, you know this is a song expressing the love of horses.

Back in the Saddle Again - Gene Autry

There’s nothing like the classic country to get a horse-lover ready for a day. Gene Autry’s twangy “Back in the Saddle Again” will bring you back to the days of the Old West.

Black Horse and the Cherry Tree - KT Tunstall

Folksy with a bit of pop, “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” by KT Tunstall has a toe-tapping beat perfect for your horse-themed playlist. 

Beer for My Horses - Toby Keith

Patriotic and full of horse-related lyrics, Toby Keith’s “Beer For My Horses” is excellent for rodeos, BBQs, and your next ride on the trails. 

Cowgirls Don’t Cry - Brooks & Dunn

Country music is full of songs perfect for equine enthusiasts, but “Cowgirls Don’t Cry” is probably one of the best. It feature’s Reba McEntire and a ton of lyrics about getting back into the saddle again when life throws you curveballs.

Chasin’ Wild Horses - Bruce Springsteen

When you listen to “Chasin’ Wild Horses,” you’ll find yourself escaping to a world of wild horses and freedom. Bruce Springsteen’s classic rock vibe fits perfectly with the lyrics of this song.

Dark Horse - Katy Perry

Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse” hit the pop scene a few years ago and became an instant hit. The smoky tone of Perry’s voice paints a sultry picture with lyrics about the metaphorical “dark horse” - aka, an unexpected winner.

Dark Horses - Switchfoot

Continuing with the unexpected winner, Switchfoot’s “Dark Horses” is perfect for equine-lovers that also love an underdog. The upbeat song celebrates the dark horses ready to take on the next challenge and move past mistakes.

Girls & Horses - Templeton Thompson

Wonderfully folksy and bright, the lyrics and music of “Girls & Horses” will have you smiling and remembering your younger years spent with your equine friends. 

High Horse - Kasey Musgraves

Kasey Musgrave’s playful take on a breakup song includes ample references to horses. However, the best line is when she tells the song's subject to “giddy up and ride straight out of this town.”

Horse With No Name - America

No doubt, every horse lover has heard the lyrics to America’s “Horse With No Name.” The famous line, “You see, I've been through the desert, on a horse with no name,” will have you singing right along.

Just Like Them Horses - Reba McEntire

Reba McEntire’s gorgeous twang comes out in “Just Like Them Horses.” The lyrics are a heartfelt metaphor for acceptance and saying goodbye when she sings, “If you love me, don't you be afraid…To look in my eyes and open up the gate. Then watch me ride beneath a newborn sun…Just like them horses.”

Live Like Horses - Elton John

Rock icon Elton John’s “Live Like Horses” is perfect for equine lovers that want a song that speaks to their soul and encourages freedom. The main chorus ends with, “There's more ways than one to regain your senses, break out the stalls, and we'll live like horses.” Talk about encouraging independence!

No Reins - Rascal Flatts

Freedom is a theme in songs about horses. Rascal Flatts’ country ballad tells the tale of a woman breaking free from her bad relationship “like a wild mustang.”

Old Paint - Chris LeDoux

Country music star Chris LeDoux was a rodeo man through and through. His song “Old Paint” tells the tale of a man inseparable from his aged stead.

Ride Me Back Home - Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson is not just a country star but an avid lover of horses. He wrote “Ride Me Back Home” about a horse he rescued, and you can truly feel that emotion in his words.

The Wild Horse - Rod Stewart

This coming-of-age song tells the tale of a runaway discovering freedom. Rod Stewart’s old-school rock vibe and gravelly voice perfectly paint the image of a wild horse that “runs free forever.”

White Horse - Taylor Swift

There’s a rumor that this song was a direct response to Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse.” It’s a song about a broken-hearted heroine discovering her own independence and teaching her she doesn’t need a savior on a “white horse.”

Wild Horses - Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks is a king of country music, but he was also a lover of rodeos. His “Wild Horses” tells the story of a man who keeps getting drawn back to the world of rodeo by “wild horses draggin’” him away from his lover, back to the rodeo.

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