Name changing - unlucky? suggestions?

JenJ

JenJ

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Is it still considered 'not the done thing' to change a horse's name?

I've just had my offer accepted on Ronan, but I'm really not keen on his name, as much as I love the rest of him!

If name changing is acceptable, any suggestions?

He's s 16.2hh Irish chestnut gelding. Forward going with a bit of a spark, loves hacking.

Personally I'm a fan of human names for horses rather than made up ones.

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I did it...not offically...when I was schooling a horse for the YO, as I refused point blank to call it 'stiffler' so we called him 'Jack' while he was with us after the previous occupent of the stable as the name plate was still on the door.

I don't know about luck, but the horse never noticed and reponded the same whatever I called him.
 
I have three that have stable names and then nick names...don't know about being unlucky.

Show Name: Cynafon Prince
Stable Name: Prince
Nickname: Pringle

Show Name: Lady Lion
Stable Name: Lady
Nickname: Bug

Show Name: Moorbridge Sundance
Stable Name: Sunny
Nickname: Solar

Thier show names are what the breeder registered them with. (Passport Names)
 
I think its quite a British thing as when I mentioned over here that it was unlucky I got shocked stares. I changed my last horse's name (well she came with the same name as my mother and that just wasn't going to happen) and its seen as totally normal. However, she did turn out to be a complete nutter... hmmm... maybe this is something I had missed before!

I suppose it depends how superstitious you are - or you could stay close to the original. My first pony was called Romany and the owners before her had changed it to that from Gyspy.
 
Ours have loads of names!

St Flannan's Seoirse aka George, Gorge, Bear
Amber's Revenge (don't ask!) aka Amber, Bambi, Bambles, Bramble, Bambino
and we used to have a pony called Robert who was generally known as Bobbin or Bobbles.
There another pony on the yard called April Frost and she is generally known as Doris!

I don't think it matters, call him whatever you think suits him! Much better to call him a name you like than one you don't.
 
up to you but after changing Marleys name well.....ive now had 18months of bad luck with him including a year turned away :p hes getting there now though

but the superstitious part of me thinks i didnt help by changing his name but calling him Sergio was just NOT happening
 
JenJ said:
Ronan

Personally I'm a fan of human names for horses rather than made up ones.

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Ronan is a human name - Ronan Keating? Presumably Ronan is an irish name.

Anyway, change it to whatever you want - I believe horses respond more to our voices than to their names - for instance if I call my horse across the field he looks up, but if someone else calls his name he doesn't bother to look over.

Years ago I bought a pony called Black Beauty which I thought was rather corny and so I changed the 'Beauty' to 'Bertie'. It sounded very similar and he didn't turn into a raging loony for having his name changed. About 3 years after I sold him I came across him at a show and his name had been changed back to 'Beauty' because it was 'bad luck to change the name' - 'change the name, change the personality' - what tosh!

I'm hopeless at names, so have no suggestions, but goodluck with your new horse - exciting.
 
I do like Ronan as a name, but it's the Ronan Keating link I want to break (not a fan!).

I'm thinking something simple like Jack, Ted, Jim, Bob, Ben etc.

The horse next door to him is called Trevor, and I'm tempted to call mine Dave as it's an equally odd name for a horse!

I really like Bertie, but not sure it suits mine.
 
JenJ said:
I do like Ronan as a name, but it's the Ronan Keating link I want to break (not a fan!).

I'm thinking something simple like Jack, Ted, Jim, Bob, Ben etc.

The horse next door to him is called Trevor, and I'm tempted to call mine Dave as it's an equally odd name for a horse!

I really like Bertie, but not sure it suits mine.
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I had a Trevor! I didn't like the name but it got people talking and everyone knew him because he was a blanket spot pony - so unusual/funny name and unusual colour.

Currently have Manni and Toby and used to have a Tom. As you have Ronan, what about keeping the 'Ro' and calling him Rob or Robbie?

I do love 'Dave' though - I have always wanted to have a cat and call it Dave!
 
I remember years ago on 'vets in practice' there was a cat called Dave. It seemed so funny that I've been fairly obsessed with it ever since!

Someone at work has just suggested Collin. And Nigel...

(why worm? Sounds like there's a good story there!)
 
never change the names!


i have changed the spelling on mine, but not the name! the last two i changed their names and i had bad luck with both!!




eta..... i really want the next horse to be called brian :D
 
My Dad is a very old fasioned dealer and he would cut my legs of if I a) mentioned "monkey" at auction b) put a saddle on before a briddle and c) ever ever ever changed a horses name.

Its nice to have tradition.... However I have changed horses names if they have been a bit "naff" - I wont name the ones ive changed incase someone here has the same name!!

My current horse is called Stanley and it suits him down to the ground - but I changed my previous one to marshal because I couldt face calling him...what he was named lol
 
My old boy, I got from an auction 14 years ago didn't come with a name apart from being No. 79 so we had to name him. He became Edward on that day. Never had a days’ sick or sorry and being 17.1 and nearly 30 isn't doing badly.
My new boy has a posh passport name and was called a shortened version of that, it didn't really fit in with our other boys names, (Edward, Barnaby and Jake) so wasn't keen on it but when having a look through his passport noticed an old vetting cert from several years back and noticed his stable name was Henry :)

Good luck with whatever you decide
 
I did slightly :D

Changed Misty to Mysterious as its posher and i bet theres zillions of little grey "mistys" out there and mines one of a kind ;)

But shes called Moo unless shes naughty :p
 
Worm, well the story was something along the lines of the girl who owned her before me took her for a long hack with her friends one day and they all got off for lunch. Worm was 'worming' her way round the girl in attempt to get at her sandwich and she said 'oi you little worm.' It stuck and I didn't have the heart to change it.

It suits her oddly :P
 
Ronan is a human name and I really like it.

I would never change a horses name anyway but i've known people do it. My friend changed her ponies name from Creamy to Dreamy (both terrible I know - LOL)
 
Sorry but I couldn't have a pony called Creamy!!! lol, gives me very dirty jokes! Jen if you don't like it how about Rowan? Nearly the same! I never change names, not even if they are terrible, hence having horses with some pretty odd names running about.
 
lol, natalia has inside info!

He was called Rowan for the first few days, as someone misread his name...

I'm thinking if I did change it, it'd be to Jack or Ted. (Dave is still tempting but I wouldn't dare). However I may just keep him as he is. Is it really that bad for people to think you named your horse after a boyband member? Oh, actually...
 
My friend has a stallion called 'Dave' I chuckle to myself everytime she says 'right, I'm off to ride Dave!'

Anyways, but to the point......

I have changed a horses name.... I bought a black 16.2hh HW hunter called.......BINKIE! The said horse WAS orignally called Dixie (I knew his breeder), and I re-named him NERO.

I'm not superstitious, therefore, it doesn't bother me.
 
You don't want a Jack or Ted on the yard as the last two we had by those names were notorious shites. Ted is deff a bad omen! And in fact all the Jack's we've had have been horrid!
 
natalia said:
You don't want a Jack or Ted on the yard as the last two we had by those names were notorious shites. Ted is deff a bad omen! And in fact all the Jack's we've had have been horrid!
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Really? Oh no :(

Ronan/Rowan it is then...

*learns to like Boyzone*
 
natalia said:
You don't want a Jack or Ted on the yard as the last two we had by those names were notorious shites. Ted is deff a bad omen! And in fact all the Jack's we've had have been horrid!
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Don't tar ALL Ted's with the same brush.....my Ted/Teddy/Teddles/Tedwin/Tedlers/ Mr Edward if hes very naughty :p is THE most amazing princess (yes princess hes a bit of a pansy) ever and i wouldnt swap him for the world....and i think Nailed would agree that Teds are the best ever!!
 
The first pony I learnt to ride on was called Rowan. I love him to bits.

My first horse was called Lady. So couldnt call her that so changed it to Tia Maria.

When I bought Cooper he was called Bertie so changed it to Cooper.

What about Connor? Thats the other name I was tempted by.
 
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