Horse racing very rarely requires music to get the adrenaline pumping, but if you’re looking for a musical taste to raise adrenaline before major races on the schedule, then few can get you as pumped up as heavy metal.
Metal music is used in arenas and stadiums across the world to get the pulses of those in attendance higher in preparation for the major sporting action that is about to take place. With the Kentucky Derby coming soon, it’s the right time to get these into your playlist. You can read more about it here: https://www.twinspires.com/kentuckyderby/results/
Therefore, it isn’t uncommon for horses to be mentioned in heavy metal songs. You can find out more about some of the metal songs that are about horses here.
Into Glory Ride- Manowar
An album that has close connections to mentions about horses is the second release from Manowar in 1983.
The metal band from New York remains one of the most famous metal artists in the world, and the title of the record is referenced in the band’s debut album. The band’s music is centered around fantasy and historical warfare, typically focusing around horses and other animals.
Into Glory Ride gained largely positive feedback following its release, gaining ratings of four stars from AllMusic and The Encyclopaedia of Music. Such was its success, a remixed version was released in March 2019.
Run To The Hills- Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden is one of the world’s most famous metal bands, and the close connections between horses and the genre was noticed in one of the group’s biggest singles- Run To The Hills.
Horses are mentioned throughout the song in the historical conflict between European Settlers and Native Americans. The song featured on Iron Maiden’s third studio album, and it was the group’s sixth overall single release.
To this day, the single remains one of the most famous released by Iron Maiden, and it was named 27th by VH1 in the top 40 Greatest Metal Songs. Furthermore, it reached 14th in the VH1 Greatest Hard Rock Songs, and The Rolling Stone ranked it tenth on their list for the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal songs.
The Four Horsemen- Metallica
Metallica remains one of the most famous metal bands in history, and they continue to play out sold out shows to this day. The first mention of horses in their work can be dated back to their debut album, and the single ‘The Four Horsemen’.
The song was a revamped version of ‘The Mechanix’. The debut album was a major success, and the thrash metal style was regarded a ground-breaking alteration in the genre.
Metallica would continue to shape the music scene for generations to come, and they continue to be one of the most common inspirations for metal artists in this modern day.
Wild Horses- The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are one of the most famous rock bands in the world, and they also mentioned equines in their release of ‘Wild Horses’ in June 1971. The track featured on their 1971 album Sticky Fingers, and was also included on the B-Side of ‘Sway’.
It continues to be one of the most well-respected songs in rock history, and was named in the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time by Rolling Stone in 2004. It also featured in the same list once again in 2021, moving up to 193th from 334th.
The song continues to feature heavily in modern culture, as it has featured in television shows such as Billions, BoJack Horseman, and Parks and Recreation.
Iron Horse- Motorhead
Motorhead also rank among the most respected heavy metal and hard rock bands to have ever made music. The British band formed in 1975, and they would continue to make waves at the top of the music scene until 2015.
A link to horses can be found in their release of ‘Iron Horse/Born To Lose’. During their time, Motorhead released 23 studio albums, and enjoyed a career that span over 40 years.
They were ranked inside of VH1’s top 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock, and as of 2025, they have sold more than 25 million records worldwide.
The Horseman Arrives- Ice Nine Kills
Ice Nine Kills are one of the most modern bands on the list, and they focused on horses with the release of ‘The Horseman Arrives’. The heavy metal band from Boston have released three EPs, as well as six studio albums.
Their most commercially successful album was The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood, which peaked at number 18 in the U.S. charts. Ice Nine Kills have been a pioneering band in the theaticore sector of hard rock music, and they originally formed as a group playing ska-punk, before refining their sound for the masses.
Their passionate fans have ensured that they have won notable awards during their career, including the accolade for Best Live Act at the Rock Sound Awards in 2023.