Choosing A Name for Your Horse

Choosing A Horse Name
by Sydney

How did you choose the name for your horse or pony? Every girl wants a name for her horse or pony that has special meaning to just them. There are a lot of ways to come up with just the right name, too.

Sometimes horses are given a name because of their color. I've seen horses named Chestnut, Brownie, Black, Blondie, and even Candy! I've also heard of horses being named after someone famous, like a president, a hero, food, singer or movie star. Horses have been named after royalty too. One of my favorites is "Prince Charming." It works if you have a stallion!

I like names like Thunder, Goliath, Samson, King, or Noble for big, strong horses. I like the names Princess, Kiss, Holly Hobby, Whisper, or Kiwi for a pony. Some of the horse names I've seen tell you right away about the horse and what he or she is like. A patient horse might be named Patience. Maybe you have an Arabian horse who thinks all the mares like him. You might want to think about naming him Casanova or Handsome.

When thinking about a name for your horse or pony, say it a few times out loud. How does it sound? Try this, too – call it out as if you were calling your horse in from the pasture. Do you like the way the name sounds? Try to put the name with other words, too. Say you want to tell my horse, 'whoa' or 'giddy up' - how does the name sound with those words?

Horses and ponies are just like friends to most of us. Once I get to know a friend pretty well, I give her a nickname. It's a name that only I call her and reminds her that I think she is special. When I get to know my horse really well, I usually give him or her a nickname. This is another reason to think about what your horses' real name will be. Say you choose the name Wind Runner for your horse. His nickname could be Windy. What if you named your mare Misty? What would her nickname be?

I have a friend who named her horse Gambler. He is a gray appaloosa and he likes to take risks! Another friend of mine named her horse Sundance. The reason she did was because, on the day he was born, the sun was dancing through the tree limbs.

Maybe your horse has an unusual marking that makes them really different. Think about naming your horse or pony after that marking. For example, maybe your horse has a marking on her face that resembles something…name her 'Star' or 'Dot'! That would be so sweet!

I just found out that Madonna has a horse and she named him Tom. Yep, just, Tom. His real name is Ystrad Dewi Briton. Maybe his real name is just too difficult to say, though I think Dewi makes a cute horse name.

Did you know that if you show your horse, he or she has to have an official name? The names are pretty long too. I learned recently that Canadian horse owners have to give their horses three names. The first name is the herd name. That can be the breeder's last name, the name of the farm where the horse was born, or any name they decide they like. The second name is the sire's name. Basically, that means the horse's dad's name. Then, the third name is the subject's name. That name has to begin with a certain letter. That letter stands for the year the horse was born. So, the official name of a horse has three whole parts and sometimes more than three words.

There are some names that you can't use for your horse. You can't name your horse or pony after a racetrack or the winner of a big horse race.

There are also some fun online tools (link to http://ultimatehorsesite.com/info/names/horsenames.html) for naming horses. Horse name directories and online name generators can help you find names you may not have thought of by yourself.

I think choosing a name for your horse or pony can be fun, but harder than you may think. I hope you find a name you love. No matter what name you go with, your horse or pony will know you love them just by the way you say their name to them.

Sydney is a horsecrazy 9-year old girl from Florida. Her website for horsecrazy girls, HorseCrazyGirls.com features online horse games, printables, horse and pony names, and much more!

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