TANIA KERNAGHAN’S NEW SINGLE & VIDEO ‘SADDLE SISTERS’ CAPTURES THE MAGIC OF HORSE RIDING AND IT’S AFFINITY WITH THE SISTERHOOD
One of Australia’s endearing daughters of country music, Tania Kernaghan is back in the songwriting saddle with a brand-new single. Two of Tania Kernaghan’s greatest passions – horse riding and songwriting – unite in her latest offering ‘Saddle Sisters’.
‘Saddle Sisters’ is a beautifully crafted homage to the bond between girls and their horses, the friendships forged around the riding fraternity, and how the love for the lifestyle lingers no matter how long you have been out of the saddle – something that is close to Tania’s heart.
Co-written with her “good mates” Rod McCormack, Templeton Thompson, and Sam Gay, ‘Saddle Sisters’ was inspired by Tania’s recent experiences on a horse-riding trek.
“I started hosting small groups on five-day Cattle, Bush and Beach Rides (with Rainbow Beach Horse Rides near Gympie, Qld) in 2022. The rides attracted mostly ladies who came from all over Australia, all with various backgrounds. I noticed that despite our differences, the one thing we all had in common was our love of horses and it wasn’t long before we branded ourselves the ‘Saddle Sisters’. At the time I thought, “What a great title for a song.”
Tania found the same passion for horses and heartfelt emotion ran deep in all the groups she hosted, those moving insights the catalyst for her to put pen to paper again.
“I hope when people listen to Saddle Sisters, that the nostalgia of the song, reliving the joy that horses and riding together can bring, will put a smile on their faces. And if they haven’t ridden for a while, that Saddle Sisters might inspire them to get back in the saddle.”
Co-writer Rod McCormack also produced ‘Saddle Sisters’, his working relationship with Tania harking back to her platinum-selling debut album 1996’s December Moon. “I knew Rod would give Saddle Sisters a contemporary country sound while staying true to my traditional country roots.”
Produced by multi award winning Duncan Toombs of The Filmery, the accompanying video clip was shot at Stonewall Equestrian Centre near Gosford NSW. “When I look back at how the idea for the Saddle Sister’s came about – (Hosting rides with Rainbow Beach Horse Rides) then writing the song and recording the track with my good mate, Rod, then wrangling a wonderful group of women and their horses to feature in the video, coupled with enlisting the talents of Duncan Toombs, for me it was like a dream coming true to see everything come together. I am so grateful to everyone who helped me bring Saddle Sisters to life.”
Tania’s own history with horses and riding goes back to her grandmother who rode track work for a racehorse trainer.
“Nana Roberts was a great horsewoman and my mother Pam also bred pleasure horses. Her palomino Geronimo appeared on one of dad’s (Ray Kernaghan) album covers and in several of his TV commercials promoting his music. Gerry, as we called him, was part of our family. We’d take him everywhere. Barbecues on the banks of Murray where we grew up or visiting nan and pop on the stock routes where they drove sheep and cattle. It was like taking the family dog in the car, except he was in a float.”
Tania Kernaghan is currently touring nationally for her Let Your Love Flow concerts and will be making special appearances at this year’s EKKA at Brisbane Showgrounds, performing the national anthem and ‘Saddle Sisters’ on horseback each night in the main arena.
‘Saddle Sisters’ – out now and available across all music streaming platforms.