Beginner's Barn - Establishing a Barn Name
by Mary Vinyard

Starting with this issue, we are going to focus on the basics of pedigree assignment so that new members to the hobby will know where to start in the vast world of Pedigree Assignment. This column assumes that you have a general idea of what pedigree assignment is, but just haven't taken the steps necessary to pedigree your stock, stand horses to other hobbyists, ect. The topics to be included are...

• Pedigreeing your models
• Putting Together Your S/D List
• Promoting Your Stable
• Accepting Breedings
• Keeping Records

(Editor's Note: If there is another topic that you would like to be covered, please let Chris know and she will pass it on to Mary.)

This month's topic: Establishing A Barn Name

So you've decided to take up Pedigree Assignment! (PA) Perhaps you have been doing it unofficially for years or have just heard about it and think it's a great aspect of the hobby. In either case you have taken the initiative to jump in headfirst....you've even joined the club! But what should you do now? There are several things you'll want to do to get started. Towards the top of the list: Establishing a barn name!

Establish Your Name
One of the first things you'll want to do is establish a barn name. This name will be your identity with other PA'ers. While it isn't required, most people prefer to have a barn name as opposed to using their personal name. That way when someone performs a breeding with your stable, they will associate it with your horses. When choosing your name, you should think up something different and unique. Something that people will recognize as yours and not get it confused with someone else's. For ideas, you can take a look at any breed magazine. From Farms to Ranches, Stables to Manors, you can put an endless number of unique names together. For example, our IPABRA President uses October Moon Acres while I chose Rocking M Ranch. What you choose may be related to what kind of horses you specialize in or what towns you live in or just something you think sounds neat. You should not directly copy real horse operation names (such as Al-Marah Arabians or King Ranch). This is looked down on in the hobby! You are not that operation and should not attempt to recreate it. Using their name may confuse model breeders who use real horses from that barn in their breeding program and/or anger the real operation owners. There are also several real horse breeders in the model horse industry that would surely be offended if you used their already established name. Obviously you can't be aware of all the names that other hobbyists and real horse breeders used and may copy them out of ignorance, but don't use those that you know are out there.

Thought of a name yet? Better start working because in the next issue we are going to be naming a whole stable full of things.... your horses!

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