Throwback Thursday: Ole’ Country Favorite, Charlie Daniels, Still Adding to His Herd of Chart-Topping Hits and Horses

By: Brittany Bevis

There’s something about the simplicity and rustic appeal of the western lifestyle that blends perfectly with country music. Whether it’s the boot-tappin’ twang of a guitar or heartfelt lyrics as comfortable as your favorite worn in pair of blue jeans, country music speaks to the horse-lover’s soul in a way other genres cannot.

In fact, horses are frequently the subjects of many a country tune ranging from traditional to bluegrass and modern country. Some of our favorites include George Strait’s “If Heartaches Were Horses,” Pam Tillis’s “Let That Pony Run,” Garth Brooks’s “Wild Horses,” and Toby Keith and Willie Nelson’s “Beer For My Horses,” just to name a few.

If you keep up with country music queen Miranda Lambert on social media, you’ve probably seen an increase in the number of horse-related pictures she’s been posting lately. Apparently, Johnson Performance Horses and Ponies of Ardmore, Oklahoma has introduced Lambert to the fabulous world of horse showing with her new ponies “Ellie” and “Saith.” But this country crooner is certainly not the only music-lover with an affinity for equines.

For today’s Throwback Thursday we decided to go in a different direction and feature a good ole’ boy from the past who’s recently added to his herd of horses and award-winning albums, the legendary Charlie Daniels.

This North Carolina born musician’s career has spanned 50+ years with chart-topping hits on rock, country, pop, and Christian charts. Well-known for his skill with a guitar, mandolin, and fiddle, The Charlie Daniels Band has made long-lasting contributions to country and southern rock music.

Fans of country music will be familiar with one of his most well-known hits, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” With fast-paced lyrics and mind-boggling fiddling runs, the tune quickly became a platinum single, topped both country and pop charts, was the winner of a Grammy, and helped earn three CMA trophies. Can you believe 2014 marks the song’s 35th anniversary?

While it’s clear that Daniels is an impressive musician, something fans might not know about the man behind the music is that he’s a full blown horse fanatic. In fact, he currently lives on his 400-acre Twin Pines Ranch, located just east of Nashville, Tennessee.

A true all-american cowboy, Daniels keeps a full range of equines on his ranch including American Quarter Horses. An interesting fact is that one of his horses is named after Dolly Parton!

Also, Daniels is a proud horse parent, just like you and I. He regularly posts photos of his equine companions, including an adorable new foal that was born on April 29, 2014.

Would you like to read an interview with the legendary Charlie Daniels himself in an upcoming edition of The Equine Chronicle magazine? It may be a possibility… let us know if this is something you’d be interested in reading. He may chat about his background in the horse industry or perhaps his latest album, Off The Grid –Doin’ It Dylan.