A horse naming dilemma makes Slate

[Caol Ila]

Would you make your kid change its name?

I think I would. You know someone at a show is going to wince. "They're calling him what?" I did when I read it.

https://slate.com/human-interest/2022/11/daughter-horse-name-dear-prudence-advice.html

 

[Wishfilly]

I think if a horse's name has the potential to cause offence, then it should be changed! You could easily change it to something similar which doesn't have the same implications.

Insisting the daughter sells the horse over it sounds extreme- but if I was funding the shows I probably wouldn't pay for any until the name was changed, especially as it sounds like the mum is personally embarrassed by the name.

 

[Barton Bounty]

This is the perfect case of ‘reading into something far too much’ this kind of thing is pathetic ?

 

[Wishfilly]

This is the perfect case of ‘reading into something far too much’ this kind of thing is pathetic ?

In the US it's a term which has connotations strongly associated with race and racism. I don't think it's pathetic for the mother to be bothered by it.

 

[HashRouge]

I have to say that expression doesn't mean anything to me and I had to go and google it. If they are in the States then I would almost certainly change it, as it sounds like that's where the phrase originated? You could easily change it to something similar, like Silver Flight.

 

[Wishfilly]

I have to say that expression doesn't mean anything to me and I had to go and google it. If they are in the States then I would almost certainly change it, as it sounds like that's where the phrase originated? You could easily change it to something similar, like Silver Flight.

I thought silver flight too- which I think is a nicer name anyway!

 

[Barton Bounty]

In the US it's a term which has connotations strongly associated with race and racism. I don't think it's pathetic for the mother to be bothered by it.

The term means nothing to me either i dont read and analyse things other people say !!! ?

 

[Wishfilly]

The term means nothing to me either i dont read and analyse things other people say !!! ?

In the US (and I'm assuming the asker is in the US) I think it's a well known term- most people at a show would associate it with racism, which isn't really the sort of association I'd want to have with my horse, personally.

I also think if the mum is funding the showing and the name makes her personally uncomfortable, she gets to insist on a change!

 

[Barton Bounty]

In the US (and I'm assuming the asker is in the US) I think it's a well known term- most people at a show would associate it with racism, which isn't really the sort of association I'd want to have with my horse, personally.

I also think if the mum is funding the showing and the name makes her personally uncomfortable, she gets to insist on a change!

Im in Scotland and I can honestly say I have never heard of that term.

 

[HashRouge]

Im in Scotland and I can honestly say I have never heard of that term.

I haven't either and I think if it was in the UK it really wouldn't mean anything to most people. But assuming it is in the States, I wouldn't want to have a horse named something that people might find offensive.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I haven't either and I think if it was in the UK it really wouldn't mean anything to most people. But assuming it is in the States, I wouldn't want to have a horse named something that people might find offensive.

Well obviously not if I were in the states knowing now what it means. I honestly wouldnt even have put that together with that term ?

 

[Abacus]

The name should absolutely be changed. I’m also baffled that this mother has so little sway over a 10 year old. Not only would I put my foot down but would be horrified if my 10 year old didn’t get the point and also want to change it.

 

[ycbm]

I'm puzzled that so many UK people haven't heard the term. I've known it for years and heard it used in relation to areas of British towns where white people supposedly moved when areas became heavily populated by people who weren't white.

This FT article is from 10 years ago.

https://www.ft.com/content/f475a4a8-4a15-11e2-a7b1-00144feab49a

The horse's name should definitely be changed if the mother is uncomfortable with it, and also, I think, in case commentators are.
.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

The name should absolutely be changed. I’m also baffled that this mother has so little sway over a 10 year old. Not only would I put my foot down but would be horrified if my 10 year old didn’t get the point and also want to change it.

This! She's 10. It's offensive. She needs to change it. Why is this even a debate? She's TEN! A friend in the UK bought a mare with 'Coon' in the name. She OBVIOUSLY changed it. Another WTF were they thinking moment.

 

[scats]

I had to Google the term, I hadn’t heard it.
Connotations aside, it’s a dreadful name anyway!

Id encourage the child to pick a fab name of their choosing and use that (provided it’s not something daft!)

 

[Ample Prosecco]

CI what is the general tone of the replies? I am not interested enough to subscribe but curious enough to ask you. Incidentally I would not sell the pony if he was perfect. Certainly not to replace with another one anyway. Good ponies are super hard to find! I'd just change the name and can't see any reason why a parent feels she needs her 10 year old daughter's permission for that. I doubt the kid paid for the pony!

 

[teapot]

White Flight is talked about in Michelle Obama's book (and the accompanying documentary) - I can see why it would be a problem in the States.

I thought it was a reasonably well known term when it comes to the history of US society?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I am very surprised that some posters don't know the term, maybe it's because of where I live
Regardless, if mum says the name has to change, change it does. Who lets a 10 Yr old have her own way on matters like this?

 

[SEL]

We had a few ponies turn up at a riding school which specialised in kids with learning difficulties with names that were borderline inappropriate. We just changed them!!

No debate and even the youngest helpers understood why.

 

[DirectorFury]

CI what is the general tone of the replies? I am not interested enough to subscribe but curious enough to ask you. Incidentally I would not sell the pony if he was perfect. Certainly not to replace with another one anyway. Good ponies are super hard to find! I'd just change the name and can't see any reason why a parent feels she needs her 10 year old daughter's permission for that. I doubt the kid paid for the pony!

This link bypasses the paywall https://archive.ph/osAAG

 

[Surbie]

I'm puzzled that so many UK people haven't heard the term. I've known it for years and heard it used in relation to areas of British towns where white people supposedly moved when areas became heavily populated by people who weren't white.

This - it's been widely used in the UK for some years. When I worked in Hackney in the '90s it was being used in meetings on local education and employment.

The child is 10. I don't understand how changing the name is a dilemma for the mother, personally I'd explain it, tell them to decide on a new name or I would.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I'm puzzled that so many UK people haven't heard the term. I've known it for years and heard it used in relation to areas of British towns where white people supposedly moved when areas became heavily populated by people who weren't white.

Very simply , I live in a town where there is one family who arent white. The diversity in population doesnt change till you start going to a city and I am FAR away from one.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

It's not a term I have ever heard used either but I would be changing the name asap child be damned. There have been some racing names that have cut close but the BHA have always filtered out the worst offenders. Though there is a horse called Pakki's Dream. Really don't know how they got that one through!

What you call your animal at home is up to you but in public certain protocols have to come into play.

 

[babymare]

Never heard it before and given the colour of horse and its job I actually think it’s a great name. Sorry if this offends but I don’t look for political stuff in such has names ?

 

[Rowreach]

Very simply , I live in a town where there is one family who arent white. The diversity in population doesnt change till you start going to a city and I am FAR away from one.

But you have access to the internet, presumably read the article which makes it clear the person and horse are in the US, and you didn't Google to find out why the name is inaappropriate? I mean, you didn't have to do any of that, but it's odd that you'd then comment that it's pathetic to consider changing it.

 

[Rowreach]

Never heard it before and given the colour of horse and its job I actually think it’s a great name. Sorry if this offends but I don’t look for political stuff in such has names ?

It's not political, it's racist. The same way you don't see black Labradors being given a six letter name beginning with N these days, using this name for a horse is wildly wrong.

 

[cauda equina]

I find the argument 'Well I've never heard of it so it can't be a problem' a bit odd
I'm in an almost exclusively white area in rural East Anglia so it's not something that comes up here but am still aware that different things happen beyond the A11/A45

 

[Barton Bounty]

I find the argument 'Well I've never heard of it so it can't be a problem' a bit odd
I'm in an almost exclusively white area in rural East Anglia so it's not something that comes up here but am still aware that different things happen beyond the A11/A45

Not really, this is meant in no way disrespectful, if you don’t read papers, or patiently wait for the news at 6 and you have NO social media ?
how are people supposed to know? I very much stick to living my life, dont really have much time for watching tv etc

 

[ArklePig]

It's not a term I have ever heard used either but I would be changing the name asap child be damned. There have been some racing names that have cut close but the BHA have always filtered out the worst offenders. Though there is a horse called Pakki's Dream. Really don't know how they got that one through!

What you call your animal at home is up to you but in public certain protocols have to come into play.

Pakie is a nickname in Ireland for Patrick Padraig. I still wouldn't though because it does not travel well at all.

I can't get over white people saying this doesn't bother them. Talk about missing the point

 

[babymare]

It's not political, it's racist. The same way you don't see black Labradors being given a six letter name beginning with N these days, using this name for a horse is wildly wrong.

So the historic town in the northwest should change its name from Blackburn! Not everything is racist but a use of words.Blackboard. Black jack. To me when read name I saw no racism but a good name! What about whiteboard is that racist. I fully understand about racism and it’s affect on people but sometimes it’s taken to extreme ?