Songs for relaxing the beast...

[SharonA]

I am so glad that I am not the only person who sings to their horse to relax all parties concerned. My horse is not inappropriately spooky and she very much enjoys the trails, but she can get worked up in the beginning. I find that singing “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” [the slow, low, spiritual version] is basically the equivalent of giving the girl a nice bottle of red wine. “Michael, Row the Boat Ashore” equals a lobotomy. A kids’ song about eating ravioli and it getting everywhere can be sung to the exact pace of her preferred walk, and keeps her organized. “One Hundred Bottles of Beer on the Wall” has gotten us past a few herds of cows. Lullabies are also good. She is not fond of “My darling Clementine” and definitely does not like the one about the tree in the ground and the green grass growing all around.

Does anyone have any other good, ease-em-down, make-'em-breathe songs? I cannot whistle, so whistling is out. I can sing Swing Low for miles (I’ve done it), but some variety would be good, and I can’t seem to find any similar songs on Napster, etc. Help me; trail-riders; otherwise I am going to fall asleep in the saddle after Mile 3 of Michael rowing that boat ashore (usually after multiple rounds I start making up verses about Michael getting himself a hovercraft or a jet-ski, already).

[Drive_NJ]

Find yourself some Western (not country) music like the Sons of the San Joaquin - in particular “From Whence Came the Cowboy” “Sing one for the Cowboy” and learn some of those. Great songs and probably some were used when working horses and cattle originally. The original ‘singing cowboy’ was singing to the herd to keep things on the level.

I also like happy trails or for new music - Dierks Bentley “Free and Easy down the road I go” Its not slow, but seems to relax me and Coop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbnA86E3WkE

[Wayne]

You Are My Sunshine has always worked well for me .

[tpup]

I’ve sang “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” to my horse ;)…nice and slow.

[Shadow14]

If I ever started singing to my horse he would buck me off and run for the hills.:lol::lol:
My singing is a scary thing.:D:winkgrin:

[Summernyt]

I’ve used “Daisy, Daisy” for years

especially when skiing which I don’t really like but do anyway. It’s a very rhythmic, back and forth kind of song.

[Kyzteke]

[QUOTE=SharonA;3656928]
I am so glad that I am not the only person who sings to their horse to relax all parties concerned. My horse is not inappropriately spooky and she very much enjoys the trails, but she can get worked up in the beginning. I find that singing “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” [the slow, low, spiritual version] is basically the equivalent of giving the girl a nice bottle of red wine. “Michael, Row the Boat Ashore” equals a lobotomy. A kids’ song about eating ravioli and it getting everywhere can be sung to the exact pace of her preferred walk, and keeps her organized. “One Hundred Bottles of Beer on the Wall” has gotten us past a few herds of cows. Lullabies are also good. She is not fond of “My darling Clementine” and definitely does not like the one about the tree in the ground and the green grass growing all around.

Does anyone have any other good, ease-em-down, make-'em-breathe songs? I cannot whistle, so whistling is out. I can sing Swing Low for miles (I’ve done it), but some variety would be good, and I can’t seem to find any similar songs on Napster, etc. Help me; trail-riders; otherwise I am going to fall asleep in the saddle after Mile 3 of Michael rowing that boat ashore (usually after multiple rounds I start making up verses about Michael getting himself a hovercraft or a jet-ski, already).

:-)[/QUOTE]

“Streets of Larado.”

It’s a cowboy song my mother use to sing to me. The singer is the dying cowboy (!), so the song is slow, with alot of long phrases, so you have to really BREATH! Helps all concerned.

Oh, and I think it’s called “Git Along Little Doggie?” It starts “I ride an old paint, I lead an old dan, going to Montanta to throw the hoolihan…”

Lots of excercise folk on the track use to sing to their horses in the morning. I think it does really relax some of them.

[jeano]

make Daisy Daisy Sadie Sadie

[QUOTE=Summernyt;3657888]
especially when skiing which I don’t really like but do anyway. It’s a very rhythmic, back and forth kind of song.[/QUOTE]

I adapted Dasiy for the Queen of Spooks:

"Sadie, Sadie, give me your answer true
You’re half craaaaazy, if you think this will do!
There arent any dangers, no tigers, lions, strangers
So please be sweet, and slow those feet
and you’ll get a nice treat, or two.

[ChocoMare]

Any of the old hymns work great on both my mares. They loff them and will often match their gait cadence to the tempo of the song

[SharonA]

Update

Okay; when not ROTFL over Jeano’s song (fortunately, my horse’s name is Fanny, so it can be dropped neatly into Jeano’s version), I’ve decided to try Aaron Neville’s “Ain’t no Sunshine,” which I love for slow-dancing (or did, before I got married, had kids, and did not slow dance with anyone anymore – unless you count slow-dancing with an unhappy child in the wee hours), and which should knock Fanny out in about one verse.

For when it’s wake-up time, the Rod Stewart version of “Rhythm of my Heart” is exactly the pace of Fanny’s forward walk.

[Wellspotted]

“Get Along Little DOGIES” (not doggies) is one of those good ol’ western classics, as are “Streets of Laredo” and “I Ride an Old Paint.” I also love “Don’t Fence Me In” and “I’m an Old Cowhand.”

And of course, if you’re of a “certain age,” you might remember “Way Up There on the Triple R”!

I LOVE your song, Jeano!

[Kyzteke]

[QUOTE=Wellspotted;3659836]
“Get Along Little DOGIES” (not doggies) is one of those good ol’ western classics, as [/QUOTE]

You’re right, of course.

But I my place I think we have more doggies than dogies <g>

And surely it’s “GIT Along,” rather than “GET Along?” Got to have that “git” if you wanna be Western…

[jeano]

Thank yuh, thankyuhverramuch. I love Las Vegas.

When I ride the TWH I sing 'The Tennesse Stud" even though he’s a gelding. No good songs about geldings, and nothing rhymes with it. Well. maybe weldings. I think we should have a song writing contest.

[pines4equines]

Hay

American Pie but sung slowly…

[Wellspotted]

[QUOTE=Kyzteke;3659916]
You’re right, of course.

But I my place I think we have more doggies than dogies <g>

And surely it’s “GIT Along,” rather than “GET Along?” Got to have that “git” if you wanna be Western…[/QUOTE]

Yep, ah think yore right … it’s surely “git.” :yes: :lol:

And then there’s always “Happy Trails”!

[DairyQueen2049]

I hum sing and whistle

“Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VYJy05T70o

[Rienzi]

I’m glad I’m not the only one to sing to my horse! He seems to really like it. Most of the ones mentioned are ones that I sing.
A few more suggestions:

Down in the Valley
Go Down, Moses
My Old Kentucky Home
Hard Times Come Again No More
I Dream of Jeanie (with the Light Brown Hair)
Camptown Racers (as long as you don’t make it too lively)
Way Down Upon the S’wanne River (Old Folks at Home)

For that matter, many tunes by Stephen C. Foster will do (but not “If You’ve Only Got a Mustache”; kind of sounds like a green pony trot!)

You can google lots of his songs: some will even come up with the tune. Have fun!

PS As a Civil War buff, I’d say look up the 97th Regimental String Band. Lots of theirs are good.

I’ve got to add: Jeano, love your adaptation!

[Wellspotted]

One of the first biographies I read as a child (other than Black Beauty’s) was one about Stephen Foster!

[Equine_Obsession]

DQ:

I hum sing and whistle

“Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VYJy05T70o

That’s a good little tune, and can be changed for whatever gait. But what is it with that disney humor?! The portrait of father on the wall is bacon, and uncle on another is a hot dog (sandwich?). Ah well…

I generally sing nonsense in a tune to go along with the gait and his attitude. If he’s feeling looky or nervous it’s generally low, slow singing. I switch through a lot of the hymns (Sweet Hour of Prayer, Nearer My God to Thee, How Great Thou Art…). They’re quite lulling. Whenever we have a nice trot going I sing upbeat songs. Often whatever is stuck in my head. Currently it has been the REPO: The Genetic Opera soundtrack (very, very good movie, might I add).

Improvising lyrics is the most interesting I think. Especially when you’re coming around the bend of a trail only to see a jogger with a very surprised/confused and/or amused expression.

I tend to fall back on:
Heart - anything
Jack Johnson - anything
Iron & Wine - such great heights
Matt Costa - astair
The Postal Service - anything
The Blow - true affection
Vampire Weekend - oxford comma
The Beatles - everything
En Flambeau …this French Christmas Carol…it’s catchy. And no one can make fun of me for singing about x-mas in the summer

[Auventera_Two]

I sing to Sweets constantly when we’re alone. When I stop singing or yammering, her head pops up and her ears start flicking around like - where’d you go? :lol:

I sing Kenny Rogers - The Gambler
Crystal Lewis - Beauty for Ashes
Wade in the Water
Footloose - anything they do
Somewhere Over The Rainbow (Izy’s version!!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5neuWiAlpm4
Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love (I just recently added this one. Love that song!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVx7PYbuCjs

My biggest fear is the hunters hidden in their deer stands and turkey blinds. :eek: