How to come up with a good name for a horse – suitable and inappropriate names

When deciding to buy a horse, you should consider not only the conditions for its maintenance and use, but also what you will call this graceful and intelligent animal. If you need a horse only as an assistant in the household, then the choice of a nickname is limited only by your imagination, since for such purposes you do not have to choose a thoroughbred winner with a good pedigree. In this case, absolutely any nickname is allowed – you are not limited by the rules of horse breeders, pedigrees and other nuances that apply to purebred horses.

But if you can’t imagine life without racing and want your horse to take part in them, then it’s time to learn more about the rules for choosing a nickname.

How to choose a name for a thoroughbred horse

A prospective horse racer needs a registered name. Finding the right one can take some time, so use your imagination and be patient. It doesn’t hurt to search the internet to see if there are any selection rulesthat are preferred for your pet’s breed.

• Thinking about how to name a horse, you can rely on its character or external features. For example, the owner of a violent temper can well be called a Hooligan or an Amazon, and nicknames like Veterok or Cloud are more suitable for a calm and quiet stallion.
• You can also choose a nickname for a horse based on the season or month in which it was born. If you are into horoscopes, you can also use the names of the zodiac signs.
• You can rely on the features of the suit or appearance. Bay, Pearl, Asterisk or Giant – these options are easy to remember, as they are also distinctive features.
• If you love literature or history, then you may well draw inspiration from famous nicknames. Rosinante, Bucephalus, Pegasus, or Bolívar are fine for your stallion.
• Sites with variant names will be good helpers for those who find it difficult to come up with their own.

If at first some nickname seems like a stupid option to you, do not rush to reject it. Talk to experienced horse owners and compare your selections with lists of names already registered.

Whichever name you choose, remember that future racers should not be given complex, difficult to pronounce and hard to remember nicknames. Think of the cheerleaders who are likely to chant your pet’s name.

Traditions adopted when choosing a name

It is considered good practice to use the names of the foal’s parents in order to choose a nickname for him based on them. If the pedigree is in the first place for you, then this rule becomes a necessity. Equestrian clubs in some countries require that a foal’s name begin with the first letter of the mother mare’s name and must contain the first letter of the stud stallion’s name in the middle. For example, if the mare’s name is Amelia, and the stallion’s name is Zhemchug, then the born foal can be called Adagio.

It should also be taken into account that many clubs of horse breeders do not allow horses to be given nicknames longer than 18 characters (including spaces).

Names that must not be used

Not everything is so simple with the nicknames of horses, as it might seem at first glance. Along with the rules for choosing a name for a horse, there is also a list of rules, in case of non-compliance with which you may be denied registration.

• First of all, these are nicknames currently registered. This is especially true for purebred elite sires and queens. For such horses there is list of guarded names, and it should be noted that these nicknames cannot be used for several years after their death.
• Nicknames of legendary race winners. You cannot name a newborn foal like a legendary champion, no matter how much time has passed since the moment of victory. It is allowed to give a nickname consonant with the champion. For example, you do not have the right to name a foal Siabiskvit, but if you name it Siabiskvik or Sinbiscuit, theoretically there will be no claims against you.
• Also banned are names that consist entirely of from capital letters and numbers. This does not mean that you cannot give a horse a numeral. If 30 is not a suitable option, then the thirtieth is quite acceptable.
• Vulgar and offensive nicknames – this is understandable. You should not give the horse as a name abusive and humiliating words in other languages.
• Name belonging to a living person. There is one caveat here – if you have received written permission from this very person, then you have every right to name your horse in his honor. But if there is no permission – if you please think about another option.

Whatever nickname you come up with when registering for a horse, most likely, you will call it outside the races “home”, a diminutive option. For example, if your mare is registered under the name Summer Night, you and your family members may well call her Night.

After choosing a nickname and filling out the form provided by the equestrian club, do not forget to make sure that the name you have chosen accepted, approved and registered.