[2026] Western songs about horses: A roundup of famous tracks featuring horses

Horses in My DreamsPJ Harvey

Horses In My Dreams

PJ Harvey, who has led the rock scene with her ever-shifting style.

The featured track appears near the end of her classic album “Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea,” released in October 2000.

Heavily informed by her time in New York, the album received high acclaim, including the Mercury Prize in 2001.

The sound—layering gently lapping, wave-like guitar repetitions with the image of a horse running through a dream—is wonderful.

Its introspective desire to pull oneself out of a painful place will gently keep you company on quiet nights when you want to calm your mind alone.

Immerse yourself in its dreamlike world and listen closely.

A Horse With No NameAmerica

A Horse with No Name

America is a folk rock band formed in London, known for a sound that evokes the breeze of the U.S.

West Coast.

After achieving major success in the 1970s, they released the single “A Horse With No Name” in 1972.

Depicting a traveler riding a nameless horse through the desert, the song captivates with its soothing, repetitive rhythm and arid atmosphere, and it’s also included on their debut album, America.

It topped the U.S.

charts in March 1972 and is also famous for being featured in the TV drama Breaking Bad.

Why not give it a listen when you want to step away from the noise of the city and spend a quiet moment? It’s an unfading classic that enriches time spent in silence.

White HorseChris Stapleton

Chris Stapleton – White Horse (Official Music Video)

Chris Stapleton is a Kentucky-born singer-songwriter renowned for his commanding vocals that span country, soul, and rock.

Released ahead of his November 2023 album Higher, White Horse is a rock-leaning track punctuated by a raw, explosive guitar riff.

Conceived with a film soundtrack in mind, it conjures images of racing across a Western frontier.

The lyrics candidly express a man’s clumsy yet honest admission that he’s not yet the ideal “knight on a white horse.” Its exceptional quality earned it two wins at the 66th Grammy Awards.

It’s a perfect track for an exhilarating drive—one that makes you want to press down on the accelerator.

One Horse TownBlackberry Smoke

Blackberry Smoke – One Horse Town (Official Acoustic Video)

Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Blackberry Smoke brings classic Southern rock into the present.

Featured on their August 2012 album The Whippoorwill, this song bears an idiomatic title meaning “a small country town.” Set in a rundown place where there’s scarcely more than a single horse, it paints a poignant portrait of the lives of those who stay.

The song-first ensemble and the weathered timbre of the harmonium really sink into your heart.

In November 2019, it was also released as a music video to accompany a live film from their hometown, underscoring how special this track is to the band and their fans.

It’s a gem to soak in quietly on nights when you’re worn out by everyday busyness or want to reflect on your roots.

Chestnut MareThe Byrds

The Byrds – Chestnut Mare (Audio)

The Byrds, the great band based in Los Angeles that laid the foundations of folk rock.

This is a classic country-rock song from their album (Untitled), released in October 1970.

It tells a story about a man chasing and trying to tame wild horses, drawing you in with its dramatic structure that alternates between spoken narration and singing.

It was originally written for an unproduced musical, and the shimmering sound of Roger McGuinn’s 12-string guitar vividly paints scenes of the open wilderness.

In 1971, it reached No.

19 on the UK charts.

Its open, expansive sound that evokes vast nature makes it perfect for a weekend drive.

HorsesMaggie Rogers

Maggie Rogers – Horses (Official Video)

Singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers was discovered by Pharrell Williams and quickly rose to stardom.

She’s gained popularity with her unique sound that fuses folk and electro.

Horses is an emotive track included on her album Surrender, released in July 2022.

There’s an anecdote that when the emotional weight of the process nearly made her put down the pen, her co-creator Kid Harpoon encouraged her to “finish it to the end,” helping bring the song to completion.

The arrangement, which begins with a quiet guitar-and-vocal intro and expands into a grand soundscape as the drums come in, is truly goosebump-inducing.

The depictions of horses serve as metaphors for emotion, showcasing her talent as a deft lyricist.

A Horse Named Cold AirMitski

Mitski – A Horse Named Cold Air (Official Audio)

Mitski, a Japanese American singer-songwriter who sharply depicts the human interior from a distinctive perspective.

This piece is a track quietly tucked near the end of her acclaimed 2018 August release, Be the Cowboy.

In just over two minutes, the piano’s minimal resonance and her restrained vocals create an atmosphere that is cold and crystalline.

Through the image of a once-galloping horse growing old, the lyrics poignantly contemplate life’s brilliance and its shadows.

It stands apart from flashy country stylings, offering an introspective, tranquil world that’s deeply appealing.

It’s the kind of song that gently keeps you company on nights when you want to sit alone with your thoughts or face the emotions deep within.