Naming the Model Horse

Akhal-Tekes

Colts named with the first letter of the sire's name; fillies named with the first letter of the dam's name. (While this is not a requirement, most breeders still follow that tradition.)

Horse names often incorporate similar elements: bird (kush), colors (mele--yellow), or markings.

Names commonly Russian or Turkmene in origin.

Sire often credited in offspring’s name

Pop culture names often used

Often have one-word Spanish names

Farm prefixes sometimes used

"Family" names common

Limit of 20 characters

No numbers, punctuation marks or similarly spelled names

No naming after famous/notorious people or famous horses

No vulgar & suggestive names

Appaloosa Horse Club

• "Family" names occasionally found
• Prefixes are rare

• No more than 3 separate words
• No numerals (Roman or Arabic)
• No Sr. or Jr.
• Asterisk (*) denotes importation
• Plus sign (+) after the name indicates cumulative awards

• Often have two word names including a descriptive adjective and a noun

• Usually have longer Arabic names w/ 2-3 words
• Ibn (son of), bint (daughter of), bint bint (granddaughter of) sometimes used

• Often given one word names in language of country of origin
• Tend to be named with first letter of dam’s name

• Often given one word names in language of country of origin
• Customarily start with first letter of dam’s name

• Often given one word names in language of country of origin

• Names limited to 17 spaces

• Stud prefixes are common as are family names.

A horse's name, including the prefix, will be no longer than thirty spaces, allowing a space for every letter and a space between words.

Australian Stock Horse Society

Canadian Horse names contain 3 parts.

1. herd name (name of the farm that owns the mare at the time of birth)
2. sire's last name
3. given name (first letter depends on the year foaled - 97 was the letter G, 98 was the letter H, I believe I read somewhere that the letter O was skipped since it so closely resembles the number 0)

So a horse named Mapleleaf Sandy Garland might have been sired by Fantasy Farm Baron Sandy out of Mapleleaf Lalon Coquette.

Details at http://www.canadianhorses.com/name.html

• Named with first letter of sire’s name

• The first letter of name dictated by the year of birth. A was last used in 1982; the letter for 1998 is R. Omit letter Q, X, and Y.

• Farm prefixes very common
• Simple one word names common for work horses and geldings

• Often use the word "Falabella" within name

• Names limited to 25 characters

• One word, "viking-sounding" names common

• Short, one word names common

• Year-based naming schedule: 1998 - TUV, 1997 - PQRS, 1996 - MNO, 1995 - JKL, 1994 - GHI, 1993 - DEF, 1992 - ABC, 1991 - WXYZ, 1990 - TUV, 1989 - QRS, 1988 - OP, 1987 - MN, 1986 - KL, 1985 - IJ, 1984 - GH, 1983 - EF, 1982 - CD, 1981 - AB, 1980 - VW, 1979 - TU, 1978 - QRS, 1977 - OP, 1976 - MN, 1975 - KL, 1974 - IJ, 1973 - GH, 1972 - EF, 1971 - CD, 1970 - AB

• Often use short, one-word names

• Names usually one short word
• American breeders sometimes add initials to end of name

• Colts named with first letter of sire’s name; fillies named with first letter of dam’s name

• Named with first letter of sire’s name (very few exceptions)

• Offspring entering the Hannoverian Verband breeding book must take name starting with the first letter of sire’s name

• Colts named with first letter of sire’s name. Fillies named on year based-schedule provided by verband. - 1982 U, 1983 V, 1984 W, 1985 Z, 1986 A, 1987 B, 1988 C, 1989 D, 1990 E, 1991 F, 1992 G, 1993 H, 1994 I&J, 1995 K, 1996 L, 1997 M, 1998 N, 1999 O, 2000 P, 2001 R, 2002 S, 2003 T, etc.

• Often named for color or temperament or are taken from Icelandic mythology
• Names are gender-specific - male names end in "I", "ur" or "n"; mare names almost always end in "a"
• Named from (fra) or of (av/af) a farm or stable

• Must have Icelandic names

• Roman numerals common

• Stallions named first by sire line and then by the name of his dam. Roman numerals are added if the name has already been used.
• Mares are given names that begin with the same letter as their dams and end with the letter "a".

• Farm prefixes common

• Names limited to 25 characters

• Farm names/initials allowed
• Often use sires names, esp. famous lines. (Since the stud books were closed to TWHs in only 1983, TWH names are sometimes found.)
• Mares, esp. older broodmares, tend to have very dull (human) 1-2 word names and sometimes an initial

• Farm prefixes common
• Pop culture names sometimes used

• Named with first letter of sire’s name

• "Family" names common

• Names are usually Spanish or Spanish "flavored"

• Names are usually Spanish or Spanish "flavored"

• "Family" names common

• 20 character limit including spaces
• No Roman numerals
• Arabic numerals only at end of name and 3-5 spaces
• Punctuation prohibited
• Single initials at beginning or end of name prohibited

• Year based naming schedule: A was last used in 1988 and L is the letter used for 1998. Omit W, X, Y and Z
• 20 character limit including spaces
• No numberal or initials
• No more than one word

• Roman numerals common

• Farm prefix usually not used

• Farm prefixes common

• "Imp." denotes importation

• 18 character & 4 word limit
• Names of outstanding horses may not be repeated nor may they be used a prefix or suffix unless the name is part of sire or dam’s name
• No prefix/suffix such as Junior, etc.
• No roman numerals

• Sire often credited in offspring’s name
• Single initial at beginning or end of name common

• Limit of 25 spaces, including letters & punctuation marks.
• The only recognizable characters are the twenty-six letters of the alphabet (A-Z) plus periods, hyphens, apostrophes and ampersands.
• Phonetically similar names will be considered the same.
• Quotations and numbers cannot be used.
• Profanity or sexually suggestive names not accepted.

• Sire or dam’s name often incorporated into foal’s name

• Limit of 18 characters
• May not consist of initials only
• May not end in horse related term (ex. "filly", "colt", "mare", etc.)
• May not be used if easily confused with name of previously named horse
• May not consist of numbers (unless spelled out)
• No numeral designations ("II", "3^rd", etc.)
• Prefixes prohibited
• Names of living persons may not be used w/o written permission
• Names of deceased famous persons may not be used unless approval granted by Jockey Club
• Names of deceased "notorious" people may not be used
• Names of racetracks or stakes races not allowed
• Names w/ commercial significance not allowed
• Copyrighted material (ex. names of books, movies, etc.) not allowed
• Suggestive or obscene names not allowed
• Names currently in use not allowed
• Names that have been designated "permanent names" (means they can’t be used again after the horse has died, often used for famous horses such a Secretariat) or names similar in spelling or pronunciation may not be used

• Fullbreds named with first letter of dam’s name.
• Halfbreds colts named with first letter of sire’s name, fillies with the first letter of the dam’s name.

• Farm prefixes common
• Named in English or Welsh

• Length up to 30 characters

• Welsh names sometimes used

• Named with first letter of sire’s name