Registered vs. Show Names

[Ponichiwa]

People of DDBB,

I've posted what is probably too many times with too many photos of my new QH. He's adorable, but his registered name just isn't my favorite and does not nickname well ("Sonny" just isn't the best). If you were me, would you:

a) file his USEF/USDF registrations under his AQHA name: Continuity is important!

b) rename him for USEF/USDF purposes, keep the AQHA name the same;

or:

c) rename him in all three

If the latter, I'm willing to entertain full names that include plays on "Queso".

Gratuitous Queso photo:

[Ryeissa]

Rename him! just disclose it and I don't see a problem if you don't need QH points or anything with that registry.

[PaulaO]

Ariel’s JC name is Boomshakalaka. Horrible. Bob’s AQHA name was Whata Sweet Talker. Keep Queso’s AQHA name but perhaps give him a new barn name. I wouldn’t go through the trouble and expense to change his registered name.

P.S. There is no such thing as too many pictures.

[Ponichiwa]

Ariel’s JC name is Boomshakalaka. Horrible. Bob’s AQHA name was Whata Sweet Talker. Keep Queso’s AQHA name but perhaps give him a new barn name. I wouldn’t go through the trouble and expense to change his registered name.

P.S. There is no such thing as too many pictures.

Wise moves on both of your horse's barn names vs. show names: definite improvements to the originals, I agree with you.

I also support your support of my too-many-photos.

Finally, Queso has no show record and was not registered with USEF/USDF-- does that change any recommendations? I'm not breaking a legacy of a show record here. That's actually the root of my problem; I've never had to lifetime-register a horse before, so the decision was always made for me. Now the world is my oyster and I don't know whether I should shuck his "real" name or not.

Decisions, decisions.

[piedmontfields]

First, you must share his "real" name. Then we will weigh in on his super-queso-fragilistic name.

[Chisamba]

I always believed it was unfair to the breeder to change the registered name so with a registered horse I have always kept it the same.

[exvet]

As a breeder I agree with Chisamba; but, I'll also admit that at least with AQHA there are no (as a matter of conformity) prefixes that truthfully distinguishes by name one breeder over another. I, however, do own (and paid for a prefix) that is attached to those I produced. As a breeder, my hope is that the registered name is kept/honored. I do look at show results and USDF rankings and pay attention to prefixes. It did influence my decisions in my breeding program; and so far, they look like they were appropriate decisions.

[Chisamba]

There are people who like dressage and quarter horses, they look at pedigrees when looking for their next sport horse. Having a show record under the original breed name may not help you, but does help others.

[Kelo]

Keep his registered name. Use it for his show name too. Use whatever name you want for a call name, he doesn't care.

I will tell you why:

1. I realize dressage competitors have their own naming traditions, and thus QH names seem "odd," but QH names have a tradition, too. His name is, in many ways, his legacy.

As a QH person, I can guess his bloodlines with pretty good accuracy based on his name -- and he has a lot of legacy to be proud of. All that is lost forever with some generic "dressagey" name.

2. His registered name is a portal to awards. You can sign up for AQHA's dressage program and earn AQHA points for showing USDF/USEF shows. They have some pretty cool prizes -- you should see the year-end high point buckles and trophies! But you have to use the horse's registered name (its how AQHA keeps track of who is who).

3. While you're winning awards, you can sign him up for USDF's all-breed award. Again it uses their registered name. You just need to get him transferred to your name, keep a current membership and send a copy of his papers to USDF.

4. I find some horse names that other people like to be stupid, and they probably think the same about my horses. What I'm getting at here is that names are personal and their quality is subjective. So if you want to change it "just because," keep in mind that the next person looking to buy him might dislike that name you pick, but yet he's stuck with it.

If you give him some generic name, a lot of legacy and a lot of ability to keep track of him will be lost. I vote that you honor who he is, instead. Learn a little bit about his bloodlines and history, and when he starts winning, you can brag about it -- and educate people on why his registered name is actually pretty cool.

PS...it IS possible to change his AQHA registered name, if you want. It's a $100 fee, and must be done before the horse competes.

[acheyarcher]

My horse came with a name that in hindsight, said a lot about his historic breeding, Justa Lil Hancock. This was before AQHA had dressage program. His barn name was J L. He evolved into Jaybird. Best little brown horse in history, I wish I had taken the opportunity to inform his breeder what a good job she did.

[StraightForward]

There are people who like dressage and quarter horses, they look at pedigrees when looking for their next sport horse. Having a show record under the original breed name may not help you, but does help others.

Or if you change the AQHA name so it matches the USEF name, they can still look up the bloodlines. There are so many QH's, and the names aren't according to a convention where someone would know who the specific breeder is just from the name. E.g. I see a lot of Drift or Driftin' this or that, and look at the pedigree and do not see Driftwood on the entire 4 generations or so, even though that is a less widespread line than some of the modern performance lines.

I changed Obie's AQHA name when I got him, but his breeder was a horrible person, so I didn't want any association with her anyway.

Since it's a clean slate, I would probably change the AQHA name and have them all match.

[Ponichiwa]

First, you must share his "real" name. Then we will weigh in on his super-queso-fragilistic name.

I see what you did there, and I approve of it.

His registered name is Sans Golden Son. Nothing offensive, nothing awful, just not really personal.

Kelo-- thanks for the feedback from the QH perspective! I definitely do not want to violate QH norms out of ignorance.

Snipped:

3. While you're winning awards, you can sign him up for USDF's all-breed award. Again it uses their registered name. You just need to get him transferred to your name, keep a current membership and send a copy of his papers to USDF.
...
If you give him some generic name, a lot of legacy and a lot of ability to keep track of him will be lost. I vote that you honor who he is, instead. Learn a little bit about his bloodlines and history, and when he starts winning, you can brag about it -- and educate people on why his registered name is actually pretty cool.

I also appreciate the confidence re: winning all the things. It's probably unearned confidence, but I appreciate it all the same. Not going to lie, I looked up AQHA dressage awards yesterday because I am a ridiculous person and in my mind, Queso is going to be the champion of everything (despite not currently being 100% under saddle yet). Like I said, I'm ridiculous.

There are people who like dressage and quarter horses, they look at pedigrees when looking for their next sport horse. Having a show record under the original breed name may not help you, but does help others.

Thanks, Chisamba! Similar to the above-- I don't know if we're going to be the beacons of the QH dressage scene but it feels good to think about all the same.

Appreciate all the feedback, folks. I'm currently in the process of getting him transferred over to me in AQHA terms and will get him all squared up with USEF/USDF after that's done.

[piedmontfields]

The registered name isn't that bad--just devoid of meaning or interest.

I do see the point of AQHA names/awards/breeding. But that said, if I didn't think my horse came from a great breeder/place (not saying this is your situation), I probably wouldn't be that interested in advertising for them...

We stand ready to cheer you and Queso on...under any name.

[Woost2]

Oh man, you dodged a bullet on that name! Too many QHs had the legacy of someone's terrific idea to name a horse Bugs Alive in '75. Who became a very prolific stallion. Creating decades of Bug This That or Something. There's an easily traced lineage for you but .... ugh.

[Kelo]

Too many QHs had the legacy of someone's terrific idea to name a horse Bugs Alive in '75. Who became a very prolific stallion. Creating decades of Bug This That or Something. There's an easily traced lineage for you but .... ugh.

But...Bugs Alive In 75 WAS alive in 1975 He ran up half a million dollars that year alone...about the equivalent of $2.5 million today...won the All American....he was a heck of a horse that year.

Then proved his name was just exactly right on, as he was "not alive" in 1976, couldn't repeat his speed, so retired to stud and produced a regular infestation of "bugs" He is well known in racing and speed events (barrel racing, rodeo).

But the word "bugs" actually comes from the great Oklahoma-based foundation mare FL Lady Bug...she and her family produced many champions and top runners and producers, Bugs Alive In 75 was one, but also famous sire Lady Bug's Moon (by Top Moon), who is the sire of Rose Bug, the second dam of all-time leading everything sire First Down Dash, as one example.

I realize you guys aren't looking for QH history But this is my thang, and my point is you see "ugh, Bugs Alive in 75, what a terrible name, bugs are gross" and I think "Man, he was a nice horse, and that FL Lady Bug was a heck of a producer such that 50 years later her family is still influencing this great breed." The names tell a story, if you choose to listen

[heddylamar]

The names tell a story, if you choose to listen

They do tell a story, but that doesn't mean some of the names aren't terrible!

Mom's appy gelding was saddled with Straw-Bar-E. Roman Straw Man and Ms. Bar Plaudit (Prince Plaudit offspring) bloodlines. My QH mare was relatively lucky with Joy's Lucky Charm. I can't recall her bloodlines, and allbreedpedigree is no help, but there are AAA racing stock on both sides.

[exvet]

I had a Lucky Oil Field Reb who came off the King Ranch, speaking of AQHA and 'Lucky'.

No matter the breed, as long as there is/was a 'program' in place the names usually do tell a story whether it's with the God awful prefixes that we Welsh people put on them (most sound like Klingon) or the names that the jockey club folks or AQHA folks or the Aphc or AMHA (lots of my surname in the foundation stock, just sayin' and another breed that uses a prefix which some are from cousins of mine a few generations removed lol) etc, etc, etc. I am mesmerized by bloodlines and picking those out of each breed/registry that really stamp their get which is why I love the best of get classes that some breed shows offer.

The horse is yours to do with as you choose. I think every breeder realizes that but for many programs there was a method and a lot of blood, sweat and/or tears that went into it. It's nice to have your stock end up in the hands of capable people and capable minds who see the potential. That is the most important thing and if most of us had to choose between the two I think we would all agree. While I think most breeders realize it's a two-way street, it's still nice to not lose them (what your program produced) to name changes so that you can track their progress. It helps us continue to improve. Just another angle on the breeder perspective.

[goldhorse]

At least he doesn't have Pepto in his name. I have an unregistered QH that was sired by Super Sweet Skip by Buena Tambien. I could never come up with a combination of those two parents but I never showed him so I never had to deal with the AQHA registry. I also have a Morgan with the registered name of Icon Golden Farceur. I can't even make a nickname out of that. Barn name is Piglet. At schooling shows, I let whomever is riding him come up with a name. But at a rated show, he has to show under his registered name. I insist on that out of respect for his breeder.

[StraightForward]

Barbie Doll Blob is still my all-time favorite AQHA name!

[redsoxluvr]

If you want to earn AQHA points in dressage, you have to use his AQHA name. Otherwise, call him whatever suits you.

Signed,

Redsoxluvr, whose AQHA gelding Late Night Escape shall be known as Leonardo di Ponio in Dressage-Land.
It suits him!

[redsoxluvr]

Oh man, you dodged a bullet on that name! Too many QHs had the legacy of someone's terrific idea to name a horse Bugs Alive in '75. Who became a very prolific stallion. Creating decades of Bug This That or Something. There's an easily traced lineage for you but .... ugh.

Indeed, like Spooks Whiz on This, Spooks Whiz This Way, etc etc etc.. I want to ask folks if they intended to name their horses after actual urine and a racial slur.

[Ponichiwa]

I very clearly want to earn AQHA points in dressage. I am very motivated by those types of things. Again, I recognize that I am a ridiculous person.

Unrelated, but did you guys see the COTH photo blog of the reiners' trot-up at the WEG? Some fabulous hair. New Queso goals?

http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/all ... es-trot-up

[Canyon]

Some fabulous hair.

Some of those horses have serious hair! Who needs bling with a mane like that?

Anyway, add me to the Queso Fan Club!

[quinta]

Completely understand breeders wanting the name to persist. I had this conundrum with my Morgan, but never ended up showing recognized so she always went under her barn name ('Quinta') instead of her registered / pornstar name ('Tetonia Playmate').

Looking forward to continued updates on this guy, no matter his name!

[Kyra's Mom]

I have always left the registered name. I have no imagination.

One arab was Obra Sahib but did have a cute barn name...Sherman. For an arab he was built like a tank and had an injury when he was a weanling that required regular doctoring. He tired of that quickly and nearly put the owner's two sons (adult sons) through the barn wall. Hence the name Sherman (as in Sherman tank).

Most horses, I just call by shortening their registered name. Current model's registered name is Valkyra GPA. Just Kyra for everyday. Although I do have some names of endearment for her...Sweet Pea, Kyrabee, Hell on Wheels . She does have her days .

Sans Golden Son isn't bad IMHO. I certainly like Queso for a barn name. I would keep his AQHA name for showing.

Susan