YOUR MOM STARTED YOU RIDING EARLY IN LIFE. CAN YOU SHARE ANY MEMORIES?
One that comes to mind is the first time she showed me how to ride in an English saddle…she gave me a leg up on my sweet Anna (the gorgeous sorrel quarter horse mare in the photo) and I quickly slid right over Anna’s back and landed on the ground on the other side of her. I guess I was used to having more there with my western saddle!
YOU TELL US THAT YOUR HORSE “JANE” IS A ROCKSTAR! THERE MUST BE A GOOD STORY THAT FOLLOWS! I’ve always called my Jane & my Beau my ROCKSTARS!! They just ARE ’cause they’re AWESOME, not to mention that they both love to get up on their pedestal like the ROCKSTARS that they are, wave & both really love to do their Ferrari rear. VERY cool…I love bein’ on Jane’s back when she rears. My husband/co-writer/musician/producer/soulmate Sam, has asked me not to put a rear cue on Beau from his back since he won’t ride Beau if I do that. I gotta keep my man safe!
WITH SONGS LIKE “GIRLS & HORSES” AND A CHRISTMAS CD TITLED “HAPPY YEE HALIDAYS”, YOU CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COMBINE YOUR PASSION FOR HORSES AND LOVE OF MUSIC. WHEN DID YOU REALIZE THIS WAS YOUR CALLING? I’ve been REALLY lucky. A few years ago Sam & I performed at an event out in Sacramento, Ca called the western states horse expo (we hope to get out there again in the future). I was singing during the beginning of the evening show, out in the arena, right as the sun was setting, it was incredible… 7 magnificent cowboys were out warming up their fabulous horses before the start of the event, and I said something like, “I’m having so much fun, it’s a beautiful night but I sure am missing my horses.” The fabulous horseman Ted Robinson didn’t miss a beat. He rode up on his gorgeous horse Clyde and said something like, “young lady, why don’t you get on my horse and sing?” I couldn’t believe it! It was soooooo much fun & I’ve been addicted to singing from the saddle ever since. It’s such a blessing and an honor to sing from my baby girl Jane’s back, my ROCKSTAR!
YOU ARE EXTREMELY BUSY, HOW DO YOU FIND TIME TO RIDE?
I have to make time since there’s always work to be done, 24/7. I’m thrilled to say I got to ride three days in a row this week, yee ha & halleluja! The weather’s been grand, unusually warm here in Tennessee & I know it likely won’t last long & I tend to not ride as much as we get into the colder, rainier months…hence I NEED an indoor riding arena! A lot of times, I am tired from my work day. By the time I get outside to be with my kiddos, I just put a halter on them, do a little ground work with both of them, and ride them bareback for a few minutes. It ROCKED!
YOU’VE BEEN KNOWN TO PERFORM AT EQUESTRIAN EXHIBITS SINGING FROM YOUR HORSE. DOES RIDING IN PUBLIC AND PERFORMING MAKE YOU NERVOUS? You bet. It’s not so much being nervous about performing, although I always get at least a little nervous. I think some nerves are a good thing as a performer. Every time me & Jane go out to perform it’s always different; different number of people, different energy, spotlight or no lights at all. I always want to make sure my baby girl’s alright, that she’s comfortable & happy in our performance situation. I always want it to be something she enjoys as much as I do, that’s what matters in my opinion.
There was a little while there that we were performing together pretty regularly, & then some time would pass. I always try to do everything I can think of to get ready for that next performance, but there’s no way (at least in my experience) to get ready for the crowds & the energy. I play applause, loudly, stand on the pedestal with Jane shaking plastic bags, and try anything I can think of to get her ready for the noise. So far it seems like the way to get used to all of that energy & crowds and everything that goes along with the road is to go do it. So, long story short, I get nervous mostly because I want to keep Jane & myself safe & those around us safe. The trick is, as all of us horse folks know, if we’re nervous our horse will feel those nerves & likely react. THAT’S been the hardest thing for me when I’m performing with Jane. I have to tell my mind & my body that I’m not nervous, be the best leader I can be for my girl & go in there with my ROCKSTAR and rock it!! Oh and try to channel Stacy Westfall and Roxy…yowza, talk about inspiration!!! We’re honored to know them!
A PORTION OF YOUR RE-RELEASED 1ST CD “I REMEMBER YOU” PLUS 3 NEW SONGS BENEFIT PROUD SPIRIT HORSE. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO USE YOUR NAME TO BENEFIT PROUD SPIRIT HORSE? Melanie Bowles, founder of the PS horse sanctuary with her husband Jim, are ROCKSTARS in their own right & a true difference maker & a friend. Some dear friends of ours in Florida introduced us to Melanie & the rest is, as they say, history. I’m so proud of what Melanie & Jim are doing. They’re true angels here on earth for the 4~leggeds who need love & a safe place.
BESIDE YOUR TALENT IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, YOU ARE THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE TEMPI COLLECTION FOR PLANET COWGIRL CLOTHING. HOW DID THAT RELATIONSHIP START AND WHERE CAN WE LEARN MORE? Sam & I started our Planet Cowgirl clothing line a few years ago, inspired by our music. The t-shirt line just evolved, and it’s been really fun to watch the brand bloom & grow. We started working with the folks at Attitude Jack who gave Planet Cowgirl wings. We all decided a few months ago that it made sense to incorporate our song lyrics into the clothing line & hence the “tempi collection” was born.
BRYER HORSE CREATED A HOLIDAY PACKAGE JUST FOR YOU. TELL US MORE ABOUT IT?
Our relationship with Breyer started a couple of years ago when we were getting ready to make a video for our song “girls & horses.” My husband thought it would be fun if we had a Breyer model of Jane to use in the video. We didn’t know anyone at Breyer, so Sam wrote a letter to them and the dreamin’ BIG paid off! They couldn’t have been cooler & kinder to us. They agreed to make what’s called a Breyer portrait model of Jane for us to use in the video. I got to keep one & the other was auctioned off at Breyerfest ’09. Jane & I performed there that year & we debuted our “girls & horses” video as well, it was an INCREDIBLE weekend! Last October, Breyer had the idea of a Breyer package called “Templeton Thompson’s Jane.” Jane is an official, limited edition Breyer model & our music is in a special holiday package from Breyer. It’s a dream come true for this horse crazy cowgirl!