Whats in a horses name?

Are you struggling to think of a name for your new foal? Maybe you don't like the name of your new horse and want to change it?

Before you chose that all important name think carefully.

Picking a horses or ponies name can be just as difficult as trying to name your child. Lots of consideration and thought goes into picking the correct name and ensuring its just right for your new four-legged friend. Despite the fact horse owners don't have to worry about subjecting their equines to ridicule on the playground, they still must select names that sound good and usually have a meaning.

So, how do owners come up with names for their horses?

Whilst most racehorses and competition horses are given 'show names' referring to their bloodlines, they still usually have a stable name in which they are known as.

For example, my American Thoroughbred 'Khalisa' (pronounced Kaleaf) came to us with only his racing name 'Lay the Cash' and the nickname 'Layla'. Whilst this is a self explanatory name for a racehorse, the nickname Layla didn't quite suite HIM.

Where did his name come from?

A few years back my Dad and I went on holiday to Malta and went horse-riding. Upon arrival we were introduced to a stunning but hot headed chestnut gelding with a white stripe called 'Kaleaf'. When we asked what his name meant we were told it was Arabic for a born leader and famous king. So, this name fitted.

When 'our' Khalisa arrived we noted the similarity straight away and decided Layla would now be called Khalisa. We were told by the Maltese riding school owner that in English it was spelt Khalisa so this is what he became. Despite many struggling to pronounce his name correctly, most get it right.

Isn't it bad luck to change a horses name?

Many believe its bad luck to change a horses name and can bring bad luck to your partnership. Of course if you're superstitious you'll be apprehensive to change your new four-legged friends name, but I've never had any bad experiences.

When I was 7 I got my second pony, Sara, a lovely 12.2hh chestnut mare. She didn't come with a name as she had arrived straight from a dealers yard and I was given the delightful task of giving her a name.

Being the age I was I decided I wanted to call her after my middle name and so she became known as Sara. I still had the difficult task of giving her a show name that fitted though.

So, when a few weeks later I put on my bright orange Pyjamas and walked into a room to be told "Oh dear Sian, You've been tango'd" I instantly decided that being a bright chestnut with a quirky attitude, that would be her show name: "You've been Tango'd" and for years she has famously been known on the show circuit because of it.

Lots of people decide on their horses name according to what they look like. For example my friend has a stunning dun pony, with a black mane and tail that looks exactly like Spirit, the horse out of the film. Of course her horse is called Spirit. Which fits.

I am also sure no one is a stranger to a good old cob called Bob. I met my first Bob at my University's riding school in the 1st year when I went for team tryouts. I was put on the cob, Bob which I instantly thought "Oh joy, he's going to be slow." Within ten minutes though I had changed my tune as I was being carted round the indoor school at 90mph. Again, his name suited him. There has always got to be a Bob the cob on the yard.

I also always get asked why my Palamino is called Jelly. Its simple. Jelly was mistreated as a foal and had the name 'Memphis'. When we rescued him we realised his hooves had grown slightly facing inwards due to not being turned out for the first eighteen months of his life. So, when Dad went to rescue him and Jelly first got to run around a big wide open field he didn't know what to do and acted slightly like Bambi we decided Jelly fitted. It resembled something wobbling and in reality that's just what Jelly did!

Picking an equines name is a hard task, its something that hopefully will stick with them forever and they will be known as throughout the equine world. Usually they are given names according to their traits, mannerisms and looks.

Throughout the years I have met 'Stars' that have a star on their heads, 'Snips' that have snips on their noses and even a sooty that was entirely black.

Why does your horse have his name? Where did it come from? Let us know by tweeting @FurryMane

For those who are struggling to name their horse or pony, here's a list of names that are classed as the top 500 most popular equine names.

Top 10 most popular horse names overall

Rosie

Jack

Charlie

Billy

Ruby

Bella

Molly

Poppy

Harry

Tilly

Moving on to the girls...

Top 10 most popular horse names for girls

Rosie

Ruby

Bella

Molly

Poppy

Tilly

Millie

Lady

Lucy

Bonnie

One thing to note specifically with the girls names is that you seem to love the ‘e’ sounding names, they’re nice and girly - but not too much. 

Have you noticed the recent trend in naming your horses with the more human names?

What about the boys then? 

Top 10 most popular horse names for boys

Jack

Charlie

Billy

Harry

Bailey

Alfie

George

Murphy

Bobby

Paddy 

Top 10 unisex horse names names 

Star

Blue

Magic

Storm

Beauty

Spirit

Splash

Dancer

Breeze

Puzzle 

If you don't like any of these, here is a list of the top 500 names!

A...

Abbie

Abby

Ace

Albert

Alfie

Alice

Amber

angel

Anna

Annie

Antionette

Apache

Apollo

Apple

April

Archie

Arthur

Ash

Asti

Aston Doulton

Austin

Autumn

Avon

B...

Bacardi

Badger

Bailey

Bandit

Banjo

Barfields Marco

Barney

Barry

Basil

BAZ

Beanie

Beano

Beatrice

Beau

Beauty

Bedwellty Viking By Nebo Bouncer

Beenda

Bella

Belle

Ben

Benji

Bentley

Bertie

Bess

Betty

Biggles

Bill

Billy

Billy Boy

Biscuit

Black Jack

Blackie

Blake

Blaze

Blossom

Blue

Blue Boy

Bluebell

Bluey

Bob

Bobby

Bonnie

Bonny

Boo

Boris

Bowe flight

Boy

Bracken

Bramble

Brandy

Breaking and schooling

Breeze

Brooke

Brownie

Bruce

Bruno

Bryerley Springs Jemeriquai

Bryerley Springs Nelson

Bubbles

Buddy

Buffy

Bumble

Bunny

Buster

Buttons

C...

Candy

Captain

Caramel

Casino

Casper

Cassie

Catalina

Cavalier

Chalkie

Champ

Chance

Charlie

Charm

Chelsea

Cherokee

Cherry

Cherrytop Roi Du Soleil (Leo)

Chesney

Chester

Chico

Chloe

Chucky

Cilla

Cindy

CJ

Cleo

Cloud

Clover

Clyde

Coco

Cody

Coedana Eirian

Colleen

Connie

Connor

Cookie

Copper

Cracker

Crest

Crunchie

D...

Daisy

Dallas

Dan

Dancer

Dandy

Daniel

Danny

Danny Boy

Darcy

Darkhorse Galatea

Darkhorse Gucci

Dee

Del

Devland Snow

Dexter

Diamond

Diego

Diesel

Dillon

Dinky

Diva

Dixie

DJ

Dodger

Dollar

Dolly

Domino

Dora

Dotty

Dougal

Dream

Drummer

Dublin

Duchess

Dudley

Duffy

Duke

Duncan

Dylan

E...

Ebony

Echo

Eclipse

Eddie

Edward

Ella

Elle

Ellie

Elvis

Emma

Eric

Ernie

Evie

F...

Felix

Fenna

Fern

Fifi

Fin

Finley

Finn

Fiona

Flame

Flash

Flea

Flicka

Flicker

Flo

Flower

Flynn

Foxy

Foxy Lady

Frankie

Fred

Freddie

Freddy

Frenchie

Freya

Fudge

G...

Gem

Gemma

George

Georgie

Ginger

Gizmo

Goldie

Grace

Gracie

Guiness

Guinness

Gypsy

H...

Harley

Harry

Harvey

Hattie

Heather

Hector

Heidi

Henry

Herbie

Hero

Hollie

Holly

Honey

Hugo

I...

Indi

Indie

Indy

Izzy

J...

Jack

Jacko

Jackson

Jacob

Jaffa

Jake

Jasmine

Jasper

Jay

Jazz

Jen

Jenny

Jerry

Jess

Jessie

Jester

Jet

Jigsaw

Jim

Jimmy

JJ

Jo

Joe

Joey

Johnny

Jumbo

Junior

K...

Kai

Katie

Kerry

Kilmurray Tom

Kizzie

Kizzy

L...

Lacks Ren

Lad

Lady

Lady Tara

Lemon

Leo

Lexi

Libby

Lilly

Lily

Logan

Lola

Lottie

Louis

Lucky

Lucy

Lulu

Luna

M...

Mac

Maddie

Maddy

Maggie

Magic

Maisie

Maisy

Major

Mallan

Marley

Mary

Mattie

Maverick

Max

May

Meg

Megan

Melody

Merlin

Mia

Mickey

Midnight

Millie

Milly

Milo

Minnie

Minstrel

Minty

Missy

Misty

Mojo

Molly

Monty

Moon

Morgan

Mouse

Mr Darcy

Murphy

N...

Nancy

Nellie

Nelly

Nemo

Nutmeg

O...

Oliver

Ollie

Orion

Oscar

Ozzie

Ozzy

P...

Paddy

Paris

Patch

Patrick

pebbles

Peggy

Pen

Penny

Pepper

Pepsi

Percy

Peter

Phoebe

Phoenix

Pip

Piper

Pippa

Pixie

Polly

Polo

Pop

poppet

Poppy

Pride

Prince

Princess

Puzzle

Q...

Queenie

R...

Ralph

Rambo

Red

Reggie

Riley

Rio

Robbie

Robin

Rocco

Rocky

Rodney

Roger

Rolo

Romeo

Ronnie

Roo

Rooney

Rose

Rosie

Roxy

Roy

royal

Ruby

Ruby Tuesday

Rufus

Rupert

Rusty

Ryan

S...

Sally

Sam

Sammy

Samson

Sandy

Sapphire

Sasha

Savannah

Scarlet

Scooby

Seamus

Selection

Seren

Shadow

Shannon

Sherry

Sid

sienna

Silver

Simba

Sky

Skye

Smartie

Smokey

Smudge

Snip

Snoopy

Snowball

Snowy

Socks

Solly

Solo

sonic

Sonny

Sooty

Sophie

Sox

Sparky

spice

Spike

spirit

Splash

Spot

Spring

Stan

Stanley

Star

Stella

Storm

Sugar

Summer

Sunny

Suzi

Suzie

Syd

T...

Tammy

Tango

Tara

Taz

Ted

Teddy

Tess

Theo

Thomas

Thunder

Tia

Tigger

Tilly

Timmy

Tinker

Tinkerbell

Tiny

Toby

Toffee

tom

Tommy

Tonto

Topaz

Treacle

Troy

Tucker

Twiggy

Tyson

V...

Vinnie

W...

Warrior

Whisper

Will

William

Willow

Winnie

Winston

Wispa

Wizard

Wombat

Woody

Z...

Zara

Ziggy

Zizou

Zorro

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Labels: dressage , equestrian , equines , horse superstitions , horses name , naming my horse , show jumping