Horses Appear! Recommended Collection of Nursery Rhymes, Children's Songs, and Hand-Play Songs
Do you remember the horse songs you sang as a child? Gentle nursery rhymes and traditional children’s songs like Uma wa Toshi Toshi and Ouma no Oyako come back to us in quiet moments even now that we’re adults.
Here, we’ll introduce a generous selection of nostalgic nursery rhymes and hand-play songs with a horse theme! They’re perfect for singing together as a parent and child, using in childcare settings, and enjoying in many different situations—so take a look.
You’re sure to find that one song that’s stayed in your memory!
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Horses Appear! Recommended Collection of Children's Songs, Nursery Rhymes, and Hand-Play Songs (1–10)
Song of the Resounding GrasslandsSakushi: Kubota Yuzuru Sakkyoku: Maruyama Aki
This piece opens a series based on Mongolian folk tales.
Poet Yuzuru Kubota and composer Aki Maruyama joined forces, and it was first unveiled at a premiere concert held at the Nagoya Civic Hall in May 2000.
It was later formally published in September 2002 as the opening number in the score collection Aki Maruyama Song Collection [Supplement]: Suho’s White Horse.
The lyrics weave in images of a steppe where wind and light resonate, and its bright, easy-to-sing melody makes it accessible for children.
It works beautifully in many settings—sung alongside a story reading in schools or preschools, or used as an introductory piece for recitals and concerts.
Chagpon DanceSakushi Sakkyoku: Tada Joji
This song, inspired by Iwate’s traditional event Chagu Chagu Umakko, is a local dance tune that parents and children can enjoy together along with Takizawa City’s official character.
Written and composed by Joji Tada, with choreography by the Iwate Prefectural University dance club, it was first performed on stage at the university festival “Jipusai” in October 2022.
The dance features cute, horse-riding-like movements and simple steps that even young children can easily imitate.
Set to a Vocaloid singing voice, it’s fun to move your body along, and the whole family can dance together while watching the video on the city’s official YouTube channel.
It’s used at local festivals and health-promotion events and is cherished as a song that fosters affection for the hometown.
Horse lessonswarabeuta
This is a very short traditional children’s song themed around horses.
With the chant “Onma-san no okeiko” (“Horsey’s practice”) and simple counting, it’s enjoyed as a movement play activity: seating a child on a parent’s lap to bounce them up and down, or carrying them on the back and walking slowly like a horse.
In January 2008, a roughly 25‑second version sung by Emiko Kobayashi was included on the album Warabe-uta, Nekase-uta: Songs to Nurture Babies’ Hearts and Bodies, and it has since been widely used in childcare settings.
Because the short phrases repeat, you can sing it over and over while watching the child’s reactions, making it perfect for deepening parent–child bonding.
Try incorporating it in a variety of situations—as a warm-up, as an introduction to group activities, or as a hands-on playtime at home.
Horses Appear! Recommended Collection of Children's Songs, Nursery Rhymes, and Hand-Play Songs (11–20)
horse (childish/affectionate term)Sakushi: Hayashi Ryūha / Sakkyoku: Matsushima Tsune
This piece portrays a foal walking clip-clop alongside its mother, set to a gentle rhythm.
Lyricist Yanaha Hayashi is said to have written the words based on the scene of a mare and foal he saw at the Imperial Stock Farm in Chiba, weaving the affection between animal mother and child in simple language.
Composer Tsune Matsushima aimed for a vocal range and phrasing that are easy for lower elementary grades to sing, and created accompaniment that is easy to play on keyboard or harmonica.
After being included in the February 1941 national school textbook “Uta no Hon, Upper,” it continued to be adopted in textbooks by various publishers after the war, and in 2007 it was selected for the “100 Best Japanese Songs.” It fits naturally into kindergarten and preschool choruses, and it’s easy to incorporate into fingerplay or instrumental ensembles.
If parents and children sing it together, they can have fun imitating the sound of hoofbeats.
The little cowboy has arrived.Sakkyoku: Sakata Hiroo / Sakushi: Arekisu Sakkyoku Tom Tirilin Tom
This song, which depicts a lively cowboy galloping across the vast western plains, was selected in an Italian children’s song contest in 1965 and was given Japanese lyrics by Hiroo Sakata.
It vividly portrays a little cowboy from the cactus-blossoming West riding along on his horse while strumming a banjo.
The repeated “la-la-la” set to a marching rhythm is delightful and makes children naturally want to move their bodies.
It was first broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” in 1966, and was later sung on “Okaasan to Issho.” In 1991, a single was also released by Ichiro Mizuki.
It’s a perfect children’s song for everyone to sing together with rounds and handclaps, full of energy!
Run, Kotaro!Sakushi: Ikeda Kenkichi / Sakkyoku: Ikeda Kenkichi, Maeda Nobuo
Released in July 1970 as a parody of horse-racing commentary, this Salty Sugar track sings out an imaginary derby in a comical, announcer-style delivery.
The lyrics were written by Kenkichi Ikeda, and the music was co-composed by Ikeda and Nobuo Maeda.
Its charm lies in a high-energy arrangement that fuses acoustic guitar, handclaps, and shouted calls.
The song topped the Oricon weekly chart and won the New Artist Award at the Japan Record Awards.
It later became a staple as background music for school sports days, was adapted with new lyrics for the 1996 anime Midori no Makibaō, and was covered in 2018 for Uma Musume: Pretty Derby—remaining beloved across generations.
It’s a perfect pick for enjoying announcer-style singing with kids or hyping up a sports event.
Horse and boaramerika min’yō
This is a lap-bouncing play song that babies can enjoy once they have stable head control.
The caregiver sits on the floor with legs extended, places the child on their knees, and sings while bouncing them up and down.
At the end, with the onomatopoeic “paka!” the caregiver opens their legs to catch the child, prompting smiles and giggles.
The lyrics are short and easy to memorize, designed to deepen parent–child bonding while sharing the feeling of riding a horse.
The words and sound effects vary slightly by region, which is part of the charm of a traditional children’s ditty passed down orally.
It’s a staple repertoire at daycare centers and child-rearing support centers, and it was even recorded in 2006 as a children’s song from Saga.
It’s a perfect piece for playful interaction with your baby.