"From small-town singer to one of Applewood's biggest stars, Saddle Song, the young stallion from Dodge Junction, has quickly risen to fame as Equestria's favorite singing cowpony!" read the front page of The Applewood Reporter.

The beams of white spotlights waved back and forth across the purple evening skies above Applewood. Crowds of ponies gathered around the red carpet outside the Palatial Movie Palace. Above the entrance, the dazzling marquee read, "Saddle Song the Singing Cowpony in 'The Rodeo Rustlers.'" Movie posters and lobby cards announced that the film was Saddle Song's "most exciting picture yet." Lights flashed from the cameras of fans, reporters, and paparazzi alike as an Earth pony stallion walked down the red carpet toward the entrance of the luxurious theater. The stallion wore a red gunfighter shirt with a blue yoke and cuffs, a white scarf tie around his neck, and a white ten gallon hat on his head.

"Saddle Song! Saddle Song!" devotees cried in excitement as he walked by.

He paused to greet them and shake hooves.

"Saddle Song, could I please get your autograph?" a peach Unicorn mare with a long flowing yellow mane with pink highlights asked.

"And how!" Saddle Song replied. "Who am I makin' this John Hoofcock out to?"

"Starstruck," the Unicorn eagerly answered.

The Singing Cowpony inscribed his name in her book, which contained the autographs of numerous celebrities. "There ya go, ma'am."

"Thank you, Saddle Song!" Starstruck joyously exclaimed with sheer gratitude.

The movie star continued down the red carpet, smiling as he waved and tipped his hat to his admirers and stopping to sign autographs on fans' photographs and books.

As a colt, the Dodge Junction native always loved to hear the town balladeer, Troubadour, sing his prairie prose and frontier fables. The old stallion even taught the young colt to sing and play guitar. Growing up, Saddle Song found joy in performing. With dreams of becoming an Equestria-reknowned artist, he set his sights on Manehattan to put his music on record.

"Mom, Pa," Saddle Song began. "I've given it some thought, and I reckon I want to go to Manehattan and record my music."

"That's mighty big, son," said his father, Line Rider. "Whatever you wish to do, your mother and I will be there for ya."

"Your father's right, dear," his mother, Blue Bonnet, added. "Though the miles may separate us, we're a family, and we'll always be a family."

"Son, allow us to procure your train ticket for you," Line Rider offered.

"I'm much obliged, Pa," said Saddle Song, "but I'm a stallion now. I reckon that means I oughtta be able to make it on my own."

"Stallion or not, you're our son," said Blue Bonnet. "Let us help you."

"Shucks! Y'all have always been there for me. Thanks, Mom. Thanks, Pa."

"And we'll continue to be 'til the cows come home," Line Rider declared. "You're our little Songster."

As he prepared to set out for the big city, Saddle Song met up with his mentor.

"Troubadour?"

The old stallion was sitting back on his front porch, strumming the strings of his experienced guitar.

"Saddle Song!" Troubadour greeted. "What brings you 'round here?"

"I'm 'bout to head out yonder for Manehattan. Thought I might try my luck cutting a few records. I was wondering if maybe you could give me a few trail tips?"

A warm smile grew across the balladeer's face. "A pony like you don't need any luck. I cut a few records back in my day, even toured Frontier Equestria with a medicine show." He chuckled, "That lively Mr. Hornswoggle! What a character, selling his snake oil and so-called magic tonic! Anyway, boy, if'n it's my advice ya want, it don't matter none if y'all are playin' front o' a crowd, on the front porch, or in a recordin' booth, you play from your heart. And don't ferget the folks who helped you along the way, either."

Saddle Song smiled. "Thanks, Troubadour."

"Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I'm content pickin' on porches, in the saloon, at our Dodge Junction Days fair. This is my trail drive, Saddle Song. Reckon yours is just over the horizon."

When the day came for Saddle Song to ride the rails to Manehattan, Line Rider, Blue Bonnet, and Troubadour came to the railroad station to see him off. His best friend, a donkey named Gray, was going with him, bringing along his big double bass.

Saddle Song hugged his parents.

"Remember, son," Line Rider began, "it takes more than just courage and grit, it takes a heart that believes and isn't afraid to dream."

"You write to us every day," said Blue Bonnet. "Don't you be forgettin'."

"I won't, Mom," Saddle Song replied.

"Three-ten to Manehattan!" All Aboard, the conductor, called out.

Saddle Song bumped hooves with Troubadour. "Thank you, Troubadour, for learnin' me how tuh play guitar an' sing. I right appreciate it."

Troubadour smiled, "You've always had it in ya. I didn't learn ya nuthin' ya didn't already know."

Tipping their hats and bidding happy trails to their kith and kin, Saddle Song and Gray boarded the Friendship Express and lit on out for that land beyond the sun. On the train ride, they played the train songs they learned from Troubadour, including "The Ballad of Steel Driver," about a railroad stallion who challenged a rock drill to a tunneling race and won.

In Manehattan, they went into the studio and got to work recording the traditional cowpony ballads Troubadour taught them as well as their own compositions. In almost no time at all, their records began to sell like hotcakes. Ponies couldn't get enough of the bouncy beats and catchy rhythms.

The success and popularity of Saddle Song's records caught the attention of Silver Sage, an Applewood director best known for his frontier films. With a new picture in development, he wanted to get Saddle Song and Gray to sing in the barn dance scene and wrote them a letter.

"Look here, Gray," said Saddle Song. "We've got a letter."

"Who's it from?" asked Gray.

"It's from Silver Sage."

"The director?"

Saddle Song began to read:
"Dear Saddle Song and Gray,
You boys have some of the best music I've ever heard. I'm going to be directing a new picture called The Pride of the San Palomino starring Roo Buckaroo. I've got The Foals of the Frontier to perform in the barn dance scene and I'd like you to play also. Come by my office in Applewood. I'll have all expenses covered.
Hope to see you soon,
Silver Sage"

Saddle Song and Gray were awestruck. Roo Buckaroo was their favorite cowpony actor. They loved the frontier adventures he brought to the silver screen. Plus, The Foals of the Frontier were Applewood's number one cowpony band.

"That sounds like a pretty good opportunity," said Gray.

"Whadda ya think, Gray?" asked Saddle Song. "Should we go for it?"

"And how!"

The two friends took the Friendship Express to Applewood where they met Silver Sage who

introduced them to Roo Buckaroo and The Foals of the Frontier. Soon after, production began and the cast and crew went out on location in the San Palomino Desert where they began shooting The Pride of the San Palomino.
In the barn dance scene, The Foals of the Frontier played a few songs before Saddle Song and Gray took the stage to sing a song called "The San Palomino Polka," while being backed by the famous cowpony band. Shortly after the film's release, Saddle Song and Gray landed a spot on Yippie-Yi Yokel's show on FIM Radio and The Foals of the Frontier became their band. Known as "The Singing Cowpony," Saddle Song soon starred in his own features: The Singing Cowpony, The Lullaby Trail, and Wild Ripplin' Waters. The horizons of Saddle Song's dreams had greatly expanded. Equestria's new Singing Cowpony was quickly climbing the ladder to stardom with no sign of slowing down. Back home in Dodge Junction, his parents couldn't be more proud.

After Saddle Song walked the red carpet, everypony filled the seats of the movie palace for the premier of the Singing Cowpony's latest picture. Some of Applewood's biggest stars were among the attendees including Clark Stable, Hoofrey Bogart, Mare-ilyn Monroan, star of Citizen Mane, Horson Welles, and the little filly star with the bouncing gold ringlets, Curly Top. The house was filled with exhilaration as the lights dimmed and the red curtains at the front parted to either side, revealing the silver screen. Then, in stark black and white, the film began to roll.

As a montage of Saddle Song played, the orotund voice of the intro's narrator announced, "Galloping across the open ranges of Equestria comes everyponies' favorite guitar-totting hero: Saddle Song the Singing Cowpony and his ever-loyal sidekick, Gray! Together, they bring music and harmony to the prairie, dispelling injustice, righting wrongs and singing songs along the way."

Author's Note

I hope you're enjoying the story thus far. Questions, comments, feedback always welcome, but please be respectful. Many thanks!

For more on Saddle Song, see "Saddle Song's Roundup" on my home page.