The Close Relationship Between Country Music And Horses

Have you ever wondered why country music is often associated with horses? Or perhaps why most countries’ videos feature horses galloping in the background.

Well, the connection between country music and horse racing isn’t accidental. In fact, their bond goes back years in the past and it is deep-rooted as the genre itself.

But let’s start with a different question that probably leads to our answer. What does country music remind you of?

For me, it sounds like the unblinking truth about life, working-class values, stables, nature, freedom, and passion. On the other hand, if we take horses for example, they usually symbolize freedom, power, and strength, and most of the working-class people were associated with horses.

So, even in their core, we can see a resemblance. Country music and horses share a lot of similarities, which is probably why they have such an unbreakable bond.

But let’s dive deeper and explore more about their history, meanings, and some popular hits.

History Between Horses and Country Music

In order to find out more about why these two are linking so well together, we have to gallop through history. Country music originated in the rural American South, where horses were integral to daily life.

Horses weren’t used only for transportation. They were used for farming, herding, and companionship. The presence of horses in places where country music originated, means that a lot of country music artists took inspiration from their everyday life and included horses in their songs.

In other words, this deep connection between horses and country music basically reflects life’s realities.

Nowadays, even though horses are not used for transportation or farming, they’ve grown into a symbol of freedom and the great outdoors, which is what most country songs are about.

Horses in Country Songs

So, how present are horses in country songs? – Well, there are a lot of songs that feature horses as a symbol of freedom.

We have classics like “My Old Kentucky Home”, and “Run for the Roses”, or modern spin-offs like “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus.

There are also some songs specifically made around horses. We have horse stories with a deeper meaning, or songs about horse racing, which also share a strong connection to country music.

Most die-hard horse racing enthusiasts would love a good old country song.

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There are many more examples of horses used in country songs, which means the pattern is clear.

But why horses?

Now that we don’t live in an era where we can see horses running around towns, why do country musicians still take inspiration from horses?

Well, there is a good reason for that.

Symbolism: As we mentioned before, horses grew to become symbols of many different things. They represent freedom, the great outdoors, and a connection to nature. These are all themes that resonate deeply within the country music genre.

Heritage: Just because the days of the horses are gone, it doesn’t mean that it didn’t leave a mark on the industry. In other words, artists are still reflecting on old traditions like horseback riding, rodeo, and other equine activities, making country music closely tied to its roots.

Relatability: It is all about the fans! Most country music lovers come from regions where horses still play an important part in culture, which makes this an appealing theme.

Horses Also Enjoy Country Music

It’s interesting to note that impact comes in both ways. The equestrian lifestyle is celebrated by country music, and it appears that horses themselves appreciate a good country song.

Horse owners have reported anecdotal evidence that country music can be a soothing influence on their horses. Although there hasn’t been a study to support the claim that horses prefer country to classical music, it’s an interesting theory to consider.

The Role of Music Videos

Most of the greatest country songs have featured a horse in their music video, even if the song doesn’t have anything to do with horses. We can spot a trend where country music videos are shot in the great outdoors, where the artist is surrounded by nature, and you cannot park a Ferrari there, right?

But you can take the horse from the Ferrari logo and put it in the background.

With so many country music videos featuring horses, this has become a trend and a common ground for this music genre. New artists take inspiration from such songs, and seeing those elements will point them in the direction of horses.

Final Words

If you love country music, then you must love horses. These two share an unbreakable bond that can be witnessed throughout history. Horses in country music are used to symbolize things, to tell a story, or just to share a passion for these incredible creatures.

One thing is for sure, as long as country music is popular, we will see a lot of horse action. So, this is a good thing. It seems like the country music genre sticks to old traditions, which is what we are also seeing in the horse racing industry.