(Disclaimer: this is all my own opinion. These are not set rules.)
SHOW HORSE NAME DO'S:
- Pick a name that is classy and timeless. Names that are deemed today as 'cool', generally are not tomorrow. Try not to pick a name about a 'phase', whether it be a singer/rapper, website you like, type of food you like etc.
- Choose something that is going to be easy to pronounce and spell. Names that are in a different language such a french or italian, as pretty as they can sound, are often very hard to pronounce and spell. Judges who are judging a ring/s for long periods throughout the day/s are not going to want to have to think to hard about how to spell or pronounce a horses name, neither are the stewards and your horses name may be pronounced wrong which can lead to embarrassment and confusion.
- Keep it as simple as possible. Some of the most memorable/classy names are just one word.
- Try and find other horses of the same breed. Seeing what other people with the same breed of horse have named their horses is a great way to gain inspiration.
- Check for availability. In Australia, the Equestrian Australia website has a 'Search Horse Name' section. This is extremely handy to check the availability of your chosen name for your horse. It's quick and easy. If you plan on registering your horse (to qualify for competitions, e.g. HOTY, nationals etc, you and your horse must be registered), you can only have a name that isn't taken by another registered horse, so checking on this website is a great way to make sure that no other horse has the same name as you plan to use, even if you aren't planning on registering your horse. http://www.equestrian.org.au/eq/horseSearch.aspx?Action=PostSearch&fHorseName=Maywood+Limited+Edition&SUBMIT1=Search (that is the website).
SHOW NAME DON'TS:
- Don't pick a name that is already taken or common in the show circuit. Again, check the availability of the name you would like to chose. If the name is already taken, don't use it, it can look very tacky and like your 'tagging' the other horse/rider. It will also create confusion at shows and competitions.
- Don't make the name super long. If you have a stud or farm name, by all means use it, we do for our horses but if you have a long one such as "Maple Park Equestrian", it's best not to make the name "Maple Park Equestrian blah blah..". Try and use an acronym such as "MP Wishful Thinking", yes it is still long but not it is not a mouth full for the judge to say or the judge to spell. It is clear and would be unlikely to be pronounced wrong.
- Don't try and use a 'famous' horses name. It's all well and good to like a famous horse's name, of course we would, they're FAMOUS (haha), but using their name can look tacky and it's likely your horse won't live up to the already famous name. If you love love love the name, try and make it your own by taking parts or a part of the name and making it your own. This will not label your horse as a copy and will make him/her an individual and you'll be remembered for YOUR achievements and not another horse's.
If you need help picking your horse's name, try not to use the horse name generators because chances are, they people who create those websites and upload the names have already heard of those names which means there is another horse/horses out there with that exact name OR people will go on those websites and use those names so there's probably already a horse with that name out there by now anyway. Try and use the dictionary or words which have meaning to you or your horse.
