Naming Conventions

Let’s say, hypothetically, that you were considering an import with a slightly unfortunate show name (and, indeed, a horse who had more than one full sibling with the same show name, one of whom looks physically similar, and was recently imported and kept the name), and you were considering renaming the aforementioned horse. Setting aside that I know some people think it is absolutely terrible luck to do that and they never would, here’s the question: like most WBs, this one’s studbook’s naming convention is that the horse has a name that starts with the first letter of his sire’s name. Would you feel constrained by or follow that convention in giving the horse a new show name for his new life stateside? For the sake of argument, we’re talking about a gelding, so there’s no issue about the names of any future offspring.

TIA.

I’d pick a new name. Mostly because I probably cannot pronounce the European studbook name… The EU name will be cross referenced with the USEF registry so you will not lose the history.

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Many horses have show names that are very different from their registered names.

That said, isn’t USEF moving toward following the FEI with regards to name changes (ie not insignificant financial penalty)? Or is this just wishful thinking I’ve made up in my head?

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At least as far as I know, it’s a $60 fee.

Could you keep the originale name and add something in front?

Like if horse is called “Humpty Dumpty”

His new show name could be “Houpsie Humpty Dumpty”… ?

So you would get your new name, but could still trace its origins.

Just thinking out loud.

That may not work if the name is really and truly unfortunate, though. Sometimes names are just a matter of taste, but occasionally you do run across one that is actually borderline inappropriate, totally ridiculous, or doesn’t port well between languages.

Change it. This is your horse; why be unhappy with ANY aspect of it that is within your control? Enjoy!

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Thanks, all. I think we’d lean in the “change it” direction, but I’m wondering whether we should feel constrained to pick a name that has the same first letter, or not worry about it. The whole idea of importing something still seems head-scratchingly exotic (but exciting), so I don’t want to break any written or unwritten rules by mistake!

My horses registered name is Edelstein 33. His sire is Escudo 2. His show name since import is Peleus. Not sure how he got a Greek name as he is a Hanoverian. We acquired him with the name Peleus and his extensive show record since import is under Peleus. While I like Edelstein as it means Gem in German, I also like Peleus as it is unique. USEF was not willing to add the alias of Edelstein 33 to his recording membership without the payment of $60.00, but I don’t want to chAnge the name, just add the name.

His registered name with the German Hanoverian society will always be Edelstein 33 which goes with his show record in Europe as is his FEI name. His US name will stay Peleus.

I think that following the tradition of using the same first letter as the sire could be a nice way of giving a nod of respect to his breeding, and still giving him a name that you choose. If you can’t think of a name using that letter, I’ve seen lots of people use the letter by itself then place the name after (ex. C Coast Z). Good luck!!

It is just the $60 fee right now. I just changed my horse’s name with USEF last week.

Slightly different situation though - my horse is full Thoroughbred, but not JC registered (AI breeding) as he was bred as a polo prospect. He came with a show name, but no papers, so nothing to marry me to it, though I registered it with USEF because I couldn’t find anything better at the time. I went through a lot of options, mostly trying to stick to something relating to his sire’s name - came up with lots of great ideas, but none that fit him. Several months later, I found something I love and paid the fee to do the name swap. That said, he’s just a baby and doesn’t have a show record yet to carry from one alias to another, so it was pretty straightforward.

OP, I’ve seen lots of WB folks stick with the letter naming convention (either for the sire or for the year, depending on the book), and I’ve seen just as many name their horses something completely different. I’d say to do what speaks to you, as 222orchids suggested. It would be your horse, you can have fun with this part. If you want to keep with the letter requirement and nothing sticks, then I wouldn’t feel badly if you went in a different direction. Or, do what PKP suggested and use the letter standalone with a new name. It isn’t so much about what we would do, this is all about what you would want.

I import regularly and rename them
all.

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Rename him. If he has incredible bloodlines and is an investment horse, then it may be worth following the first-letter naming conventions as a nod to his breeding, but otherwise, whatever makes you happy.

I would probably start by seeing if I could come up with something I liked that started with the same first letter as the sire, but if I was striking out on sticking with that convention, I would move on to something that I liked regardless of what letter it started with!

I don’t think you need to worry about naming conventions for a new show name. That is for registry purposes so that has already been followed. Change it to what you like and enjoy. Horses in my barn are A and AA show horses and often do that. Have fun!!!

I would rename and would not have any problem having to keep the same first letter.

i would follow the first letter convention. i often recognize a sire line that way, and it does have meaning to people who care about bloodlines IMHO

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So am I the only person wondering what the horse’s registered name is?

OP, even though I’m a pretty die-hard about keeping the horse’s registered name (my old QH had his real name Otoes Taffy Apple on his the CEF passport and I hated that name), it is now your horse, change away.

I imported and renamed I did keep the breeder’s end letter, which was just a “V”). If you like the Studbook name use it, if not dont. I was careful when I registered my horse with USEF to list his breeder and lineage correctly FWIW

Hah! Once he’s safely on American soil, I will totally tell you what his studbook name is. It’s not like truly inappropriate, but it is unfortunate, and particularly given that his full sibling with the same name was imported and kept the name for USEF purposes, I figured maybe it was a reasonable step to consider.

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