 STABLE
TALK
by Bruce Roy
published in The Draft Horse Journal, Autumn 2004
The promotion of a draft horse involves many
factors. This includes a factor most breeders give little thought
to. The selection of a good name for a registered horse.
Stable names are important. They label your product for life.
Horses with the Millisle, Hillmoor, Belleau, Hatfield or Thistle
Ridge prefix interest Clydesdale breeders, just as horses with
a Pennwoods, Windermere, Justamere, Blackhome or Lone Oak prefix
interest Percheron enthusiasts. While never used as a prefix,
Meadow Brook is identified with superior Belgians. The innovative
names of Conquest, Constable, Congolaise, Conelrad and Constrico
were given to descendants of Conqueror, the stable’s
celebrated breeding horse.
 Stable names are easier to remember and are a source of less
confusion than stable letters. Exceptions such as L & C
Belgians, E.T.F. Clydesdales and G.T. Percherons do come to
mind. However, this is because of the inordinate success of
these stables. The reigning World Champion Percheron Mare,
High Hope Heather, carries a name that will be remembered.
Had she been registered as D.G. Heather, I suspect breed enthusiasts
would soon forget her.
Most registered horses have names which only their owners
know. However, those in the breed’s forefront will be
remembered, especially when they have a name easily remembered.
The great breeding stallions Justamere Showtime, Balgreen Final
Command and Penn State Conqueror died years ago. Still their
names are remembered in breed circles.
Never give pedigreed horses names like OSH Conqueror’s
Friday Girl Faye or Meadowbank Acre’s First Lady in Waiting.
They are too long. When printed in magazines, show or sale
catalogues, they will often be incomplete. They require too
much space. Computers often fail to handle them and they are
not readily remembered. More often than not the apostrophe
will be missed. This all creates confusion, not the valued
publicity a breeder desires. To add to this confusion, subsequent
owners often give such horses a nickname. One that is used
in conversation, on occasion in an advertisement.
A good horse deserves a good name, one easily remembered and
readily used. One that will be complete when printed in publications.
At least this is how I see it.
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