Saddle The Pony

'Saddle the Pony' is a jig tune popular among Irish musicians. It has a somewhat complicated history and several variations exist.

Names and Origins:

The tune appears in various collections under different names. It is found in O’Neill’s collection as “The Priest’s Leap”. Some people have mistakenly referred to it as "The Priest's Lap." Early versions were also listed as “Rough Diamond” in the Ryan collection. It is also known as “Down with the Tithes” and “The Widow Well Married” based on Joyce's collection. There are other tunes with similar names, including a slip jig also called “Saddle the Pony” featured on Kevin Burke's *Across the Black River* album, and tunes called "Red Stockings", "A Draught of Ale", and "A Boy from Home". These are considered to be distinct from the jig discussed here.

How it's Played:

Many musicians have learned this tune from Kevin Burke’s instructional videos and DVDs. Burke frequently uses a triplet ornament, and some players add a grace note on the G note. There's some debate about a particular note in the 7th measure of the tune; some players prefer to play it as “ege” instead of “efe.” A variation includes altering the opening notes and "craning" (bending) high E notes on the whistle.

Geographic Distribution:

The tune is played in sessions in the Paris suburbs. It is not widely played in some regions; one person reported that it was unknown in their local area. Some claim the version found in O’Neill’s books is a “Newmarket version.”

Other Notable Associations:

• The tune is often played in conjunction with “My Darling Asleep.” Some players suggest pairing it with "The Mountain Stage" for added contrast.
• It has been played by Patrick Street, and recorded as a ringtone for Motorola cell phones.
• It's been linked to the Irish fiddler Jackie Daly.

Note: Information about the tune's origins is sometimes speculative.