Naming Show Horses
How are show horses named? Names of actual persons cannot be used unless written permission to use their name is on file with the Jockey Club. Show names tend to be more elegant or long, often based on the horse’s pedigree or breed registration.
If your horse is registered with a breed association, your horse’s “show name” is usually the name on his papers. Come up with a show name on your own by taking into account your horse’s features and breeding. You can also include words that communicate a certain ambiance you want people to feel around your horse.
It can take mixing, matching, and mulling before you are able to find the perfect show name for your horse. "There are myriad ways that a name is chosen for a horse, but one of the most common is to name a horse after its pedigree,” Bailey said. Some racehorses get their names from one side of their lineage or the other, while some owners will find a clever way to use both the mother, or “dam,” and the father, or “sire.”
Horse Show Names
How many letters can a horse name have? Naming is a critical step for racehorses as they must be named in order to race or breed. Owners have eighteen characters, the limit for racehorse names, to create something memorable for future generations.
Why are Derby horses names so weird? Racehorse names are weird because they must comply with strict naming regulations. The requirements inevitably lead owners to stretch their imagination; for example, Thoroughbred names can’t exceed 18 characters, be offensive, or be the same as former grade I Stakes winners.
Interaction with Horses
Horses know their name, but not in the same way that people do. Horses recognize themselves and others as individuals, but do not use names when communicating. To horses, their name is somewhat of a cue word. They associate the word with something positive, like food or affection from their owner.
The best (and quickest) way to get your horse to know his name is to train him to do so. When a horse raises his head and puts his ears forward in response to you calling him, it’s a sign he knows his name.
Studies performed over the years suggest that horses do remember their owners similar to the way they would remember another horse. Past experiences, memories, and auditory cues provide the horse with information as to who an individual is.
Scientific studies have shown that horses are capable of recognizing and responding to their specific name independent of rewards and punishments. Overall, equine name recognition is a fascinating area of study that challenges common misconceptions. By understanding the complexity of equine communication and cognition, we can develop better training techniques and enhance our interactions with these magnificent animals.