This is going to sound ridiculous, but...

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Kittykins

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would you ever change a horse's name?

I've just bought a lovely black warmblood, currently named Treacle. There's nothing wrong with the name as such, I could live with it, but I'm not mad keen and don't really think it suits her.

On the other hand, I have this foreboding idea that changing things' names is bad luck.

We've had two cats second hand and stuck with their old names - even though the last one was called Ahzrei (ridiculous name, had to explain that I didn't name her every time someone asked why she was called that). But that suited her.
 
I wouldn't, personally. I've had a pony, a horse and my current horse and kept all their names. None of them were awful TBF, but I think they would have to be completely grotesque for me to consider a change. (I won't give any examples in case someone's is called that!!).

Treacle's not so bad, anyway, it's quite sweet (terrible joke, sorry)

I think there was a thread on this quite recently, you could try searching for that if you don't get many replies :)
 
This probably sounds stupid but I do think its bad luck! done it twice and both horses I had a bit of bad luck with!

So I wont do it anymore lol
 
Yep have done once.

Murphy became Splodge :)

My mare was renamed before me, she was called Sophia but now is Cassie.

Wouldn't usually, he was just an exception.
 
Vardi came to me called wait for it!

Axioma's Heartbreaker his stable name was Spotty!

I changed his name to Nevada or Vardi for short.

Now 9 months later he was cast and injured badly but I don't really think that this had anything to do with me changing his name more that he was not used to being in a stable with dividing bars rolled and kicked his legs up too far and got caught.
 
Lord, no!

How better to get up people's noses than by calling him Treacly Weacly Ponio the Third?

PS You could have called him Tate & Lyle if they hadn't just been flogged to the Americans....
 
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Was always told never to change a horses name - bad luck. But you can update it!! You can have her registered name and a stable name - which may have absolutely no reference to each other. So, if the name is Treacle, get her registered with another name and use a variation of that. Or if her registered name is Treacle, come up with a stable name!
But you must always admit to the 2 names.

As in, Eclipse is Sexy Mare. When I introduce her, its Eclipse, but the name she answers to is Sexy Mare... She doesn't like Eclipse and totally ignores me if I call her that..
 
i'd not change an animals name - not sure why.... but i just wouldn't
hence why i have a v smart lab gun dog called........ waggy :rolleyes: lol!
 
The only horse i didn't change the name of was a complete *******!! the rest have never been any trouble, my welsh D was called 'Happy' when i got him, clearly someone was beong ironic as he a miserable old sod :D his name swiftly got changed to harley as he tends to go a bit like a bike :D
 
i've changed lots of horses names and they have been no more or less lucky than the ones who kept their original names.
 
Gosh yes of course. My horse's passported name and stable name was USA (prounounced You Sir) but I changed his name to Bailey! I could not envisage calling him USA in the field. Also I never use his passported name as a show name other than when I had to when I joined the BSJA and they insisted on it. Competing unaffiliated Bailey has always been Bailey, although I have started calling him Minnerdor now as a show name as his Grandad is Nimmerdor and I think its nice to recognise the name in his name.
 
She already has a registered name - Treacle is her stable name.

Thing is, when she was bought by a friend of mine 18 months ago, she was called Diva. My friend changed her name to Treacle, and proceeded to spend 18 months arguing with the mare. In all that time, she not managed to get out to a show which is why she sold her to me (as a bad loader).

That, to me, sounds like bad luck after a name change....

Maybe she'll just have to have three names - her registered name, her official stable name, and her unofficial stable name. But that's a bit ridiculous. :o
 
no i dont believe it is bad luck at all. i dont believe in it :)

ive changed some names and nothing bad has happened, no unexplained injuries or lameness, no piano falling on my head or anything.
the only too (old) horses that have had anything bad happen (broken leg / tumour) are the ones that have had the same name for 20 odd yrs from birth :)

ive even changed my own name lol
 
I lost my old lad in April aged 31. I had had him for 28 years. When I got him age 3 he was called George. I renamed him Hadleigh and very rarely had a vet out to him. In all that time he had 2 serious health problems, the 2nd one being the last and cancer.
He was the most gentlemanly horse and a pleasure to own and ride.
Change the name if you don't like it.
 
Kittykins said:
Actually, my mum has too - she changed her surname as she thought it was ridiculous to still have my dad's name when they've been divorced 25-odd years. Since then, life has actually improved for her...

I feel a name change coming on for this mare...
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yes i changed my surname, and i also changed by christian name. i was called Treacle...:)
well no, i wasnt called Treacle but i did change my complete name ;)
 
She's not going to have a sudden personality transplant just because you change her name, come on.

She's your horse now and you want to call her something different, don't be afraid to just because other people say its bad luck, you believe what you want at the end of the day.
 
Kittykins said:
Ah. Sorry to hear that.
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oh no worries :)

without him i wouldnt have moved where i am now, wouldnt have met my OH, and wouldnt have been able to pick myself a nice shiny new name, frankly the old name was a bit rubbish anyway.

bright side and all that :)
 
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