Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells . . .?

"Jingle Bells" was written by James S. Pierpont (1822-1893) in 1857

In the original song, there isn't a mention of the name of the horse, but there is a line: "Bells on bobtail ring", but I think that refers to the way the horse is groomed. A "bobtail" is a horse with a shortened tail.

Jingle Bells is probably the first non-religious Christmas Carol of popularity in the U.S. , even though it makes no reference to Christmas in the lyrics

Here are the lyrics to the original Jingle Bells. I see no mention of the horse having a name.

Jingle Bells

Dashing through the snow

On a one-horse open sleigh,

Over the fields we go,

Laughing all the way;

Bells on bob-tail ring,

Making spirits bright,

What fun it is to ride and sing

A sleighing song tonight

Jingle bells, jingle bells,

Jingle all the way!

O what fun it is to ride

In a one-horse open sleigh

A day or two ago,

I thought I'd take a ride,

And soon Miss Fanny Bright

Was seated by my side;

The horse was lean and lank;

Misfortune seemed his lot;

He got into a drifted bank,

And we, we got upsot.

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,

Jingle all the way!

What fun it is to ride

In a one-horse open sleigh.

A day or two ago,

The story I must tell

I went out on the snow

And on my back I fell;

A gent was riding by

In a one-horse open sleigh,

He laughed as there

I sprawling lie,

But quickly drove away.

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,

Jingle all the way!

What fun it is to ride

In a one-horse open sleigh.

Now the ground is white

Go it while you're young,

Take the girls tonight

And sing this sleighing song;

Just get a bob-tailed bay

Two-forty as his speed

Hitch him to an open sleigh

And crack! you'll take the lead.

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,

Jingle all the way!

What fun it is to ride

In a one-horse open sleigh.

In the third verse it states"

Now the ground is white. go it while you're young just take the girl tonight and sing this sleighing song... Just get a bob tail nag to 40 for his speed and hitch him to an open sleigh and crack you'll take the lead.

Bob tail nag is just the type of horse not his name.

No, it does not. In the song it says "Bells on bobtail ring" which means it has a tail that was "bobbed" or cut short, and not a reference to his name.

no the horse is only mentioned, but not named

Nope, it just says that there is one horse - no name given.

The horse is not named - just Miss Fanny Bright

Bob-Tail..."Bells on Bob-Tail ring".....

this was asked at a Christmas Party I attended....and bob-tail was their answer.