Do you think it is unlucky to change a horses name??

I've never changed any of my own horses' names, and they were all fairly healthy and fit animals. But I've looked after 2 which had their names changed by their owners. One was diagnosed with navicular 18 months/2 yrs later and had to be pts eventually. The other had various minor quirks of behaviour and some minor back problems, which were sorted out in time.
But, no, don't change a horsey's name!!!
However, I've re-homed a few dogs before and have changed some of their names. Do you think that's bad luck?
 
My ponies I didn't change although chips and goose are rather random names. I suppose grey goose works but I can't figure out chips (their passport names are broderick and roderick!)
Big chap however is passported as hand post chocolate, and was called choccy. Girl who owned him before me didn't like it and called him Nevada, nev for short :( so we went back to choccy. He didn't seem to have a problem responding to it and lets face it, we call them all sorts of things when they aren't doing what we want!lol
Looking back though, I think eeyore would have suited him better the mopey so and so!
 
I don't think it's unlucky. When we get horses dropped off at the start of the racing season, my boss' wife asks if the horse has a stable name. If the owner says no, we call them whatever we like. This is usually different things as well, as my boss calls them after their owner (i.e. calling a filly Wesley :rolleyes:), whereas I use their racing name/something similar or related to it. We also have a horse that comes back year after year (he started his racing career the same summer I started as groom) whose stable name is Sammy, but because his race name is Dark Fox my boss calls him Foxy - drives me MAD!

Also we bought a yearling filly in October, whose registered name is Fresh Ayr. I call her Daisy, as in 'fresh as a daisy', whereas my brother has started calling her DJ Fresh (which I think is horrible, especially considering how small and sweet-natured she is, it just doesn't suit at all!). Fortunately I told the trainer and his girlfriend when she was broken that her name is Daisy, so I think I'm winning on this one!
 
I have a section a passported as glynallt honey. She was born a dun colour hence her name but she is now grey with a black mane and tail. I have considered changing it but it suits her and she knows her name :-)
 
Tessy came to us as lady, that didn't suite her at all sounded more like a fine tb name not a hunka chunka cob still kept the "y" sound at the end and she knows her name now :) p.s we have had no bad luck yet
 
I got told my mares racing name the day i tried her ... To be honest im not even sure im pronouncing it right when people ask me :o

Her stable name just makes me sound like an extra from Eastenders who cant pronounce 'th' properly but instead pronounce with 'ff' .... I tend to stick to calling her 'mare' or 'madam' sometimes 'treacle' sometimes 'oi' .. 'dont you dare' ... etc :p

I dont think its bad luck to change there name but personally i wouldnt and would just stick to a nickname.

My 6 year old niece named my 6ft coastal carpet python 'Repunzel' :eek: So thats her name if im asked, lol :o
 
yeh i have changed my horses name and as 1 was not calling a 16h1 clyde x warmblood sugar so we changes her name to skye and her nick name is pie as she is such a good doer
 
I wouldn't change a name but don't really think it is unlucky. We did end up with a Sandy and a Shandy at one time and was temped to change one of them but didn't. I also didn't like the cob's name, Celt when I bought him but again I would not change it. When we recently bought the miniature I did ask the breeder to register her in a name of our choice which was done. Out of all the horses we have had only had the chance to name two of them.
 
First pony was called Hurricane, we saw on his passport his show name was "half a perryditch sixpence" so he became sixpence - again. (best pony i ever owned, never sick a day in his life)

Second pony was Domino when he came, stayed Domino. I believe 2 owners after us changed it to Minnow (urgh) but its now back to Domino. (fab pony, gutted i had to sell him, had a serious chest injury but that was his only injury).

Third horse was called Kelly... changed to Rowan (my grans choice of name)..Horrible horse, didn't get on at all...
Fourth horse was called Saffy - kept.. hated the horse and didn't get on at all - sadly had been ruined before we got her (severely spoilt by her breeders!)
Fifth horse was called Yazoo - was a pretty little mare from a dealers and i decided to name her Bella (was reading twilight at that time) suited her.. sold her because i became ill with m.e and couldn't ride two horses. Was a lovely mare, dodgy start due to a back injury but once that was sorted out - a truly genuine sweetheart of a mare who just wanted to be loved!

Sixth horse was called Spotty when we got her.. HAD to rename so decided on Gem :) - she is a true gem and i currently still own her.
Seventh addition was nameless and is now called Hugo :)

With me, i always knew it was bad luck to change the name but actually i thought sod it, if its meant to work it'll work. Also, the only horses i actually have gotten on with were all under the age of 4 (accept sixpence who was 12) and i think that because i was either there first or second home.. they weren't "ruined" and that meant i could bond and get on with them a whole lot better!
 
I'm not sure..

I've kept all my horses the same as I like all their names; Willow, Lacey and Squirrel (last one is a bit odd for a poncy warmblood but hey ho.)

Mind you, Squirrel used to be called Damien...and when his old owner changed his name, he did manage to lose an eye so could be bad luck??
 
A horse at my old yard was called Smeg. Maybe not so bad but we always refer to the lumps that come off our boys sheaths as 'smeg'... not sure if this is what other people call it but at most the places i've been if someone says "you should have seen the lump of smeg I got this morning..." we'll know what they are talking about!

I some instances I think its kinder to change it...
 
Hmm, i don't really believe in superstition, i mean, what does changing a name actually do...??

Buuutttt... I changed the name of a horse once because I didn't like it, and we had nothing but trouble together, and after a few months, I decided that life is too short to be miserable and I sold him on. Now I'm not saying it wouldn't have gone wrong if i hadn't changed his name, but I'll always wonder!!

On the flip side, I was given (because he was 'un-rideable') an ex-racer who was called B*stard (for obvious reasons), and I changed it to something much nicer, and he was one of the best horses I have ever had! I unfortunately lost him after 3 years to leg problems he had starting when I got him, but he was honestly one of the best.
 
I changed a rescue pony I took on. He is the prettiest little chestnut welsh b, looks like a mini arab. He was called Rusty, yuk. Changed it to Flynn, Celtic for red haired, much prettier. He has been fine ever since
 
I don't love the idea but acquired a mare in the summer, companion or not, called 'Dream'! Sorry hated the name and she isn't always a dream. I allowed OH o choose so she is now Lady Penelope aka Penny. I haven't changed passport due to expense and touch wood her arthritis is actually improving! :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top