Why does everyone want a show name for their horse?

Well.... Some horses have really stupid registered names given to them by a previous owner that NOBODY would ever use in the show ring.

Some horses have very dull names that you wouldn't want to use at a show (For instance, if your horse's name is Joe, you wouldn't want to use that at a show, it doesn't stick out)

If you want your horse to stick out, sometimes an original show name is the best thing to use to get people's attention

It's fun to make them up!

For instance, "my" horse (She's technically my cousin's but my cousin hasn't ridden her since she went to college 7 years ago, my aunt and uncle gave her to me) is named Lauren. My cousin named her that, and Lauren is 19 so changing her name now just isn't a good idea. However, that name won't stick out in the show ring. I picked A Little Bit Dramatic for her show name because that's what she is. I also love the show name Insert Name Here, because it'd be hilarious to see people's faces when the announcer says that.

Granted, if a horse has a perfectly good registered name that isn't something stupid, then there's no reason you shouldn't use it. It's just that sometimes it's just easier to use a show name then to go to the trouble of changing your horse's registered name.

I think it's because a lot of them are going to little local shows, with a horse that perhaps isn't registered. It doesn't matter at the little local show that's basically just for fun, but they need a name besides what they call the horse to enter.

But, yeah. I'd just use the name I registered the horse with. Though I have had a few registered by other people with some really stupid names.

Well, a lot of times the horse is not registered or their registered name isn't right for what they're showing in.

My horse is a thoroughbred registered with the jockey club. Since he was supposed to be a racehorse, his registered name is Reality Run. But that doesn't fit for jumping. Thats most definitely a racing name! So we decided he needed a separate show name. And came up with Keep the Faith.

THANK YOU!

The show name thing really bugs me. The registered name is the show name.

I guess people want the additional name because they want to be able to name their horse themselves or they don't like the registered name. Either way though, I think it makes a lot more sense to just use the registered name, that way people can look up the horse if they are interested in breeding/buying.

it really depends on what shows you go to. if you've only been to schooling shows in the past, then people just use their horses regular names. in bigger shows, i suppose show names are for fun? i'm participating in 4-H and we're not required to have a show name, but i'd like my horse to have one to sound flashy.

-- EDIT --

some horses aren't registered, if their a cross or something. so for horses that aren't registered, people may still want to give them a show name as if they were registered.

The horse's show name or registered name should be its true name. The barn name is just a nickname. For example, my horse was registered as Excel to Victory. It would be really inconvenient to be like "I'm gona go see excel to victory" or whatever, so then barn names were created in my horse's case, he was Lucky.

Some horses aren't registered. Therefore you can't use it as their show name.

Some horses have very bad registered names. Some people want to re-register their horse under a different association.

It is often customery to have a show name be different than the barn name, I guess.

I think that is why people ask for show names.

Because most people don't have the luxury of naming their horse. They come with a name. Making up a show name is a way for them to get to do that.

The horse I used to show on was Maggie..her show name was Maggie..her stable name was.. Maggie..her registered name was Poco Inda Go.

My other horse was named MacBeth, his stable name was Mac. he wasnt registered and was half Tb half god knows what ( his "breeder" bred a black Tb to a white mare to get a black horse with a white mane and tail.....they got a buckskin)

I think sometimes people think they need fancy names to prove the "quality " of their horse. its like keeping up with the jones or something.

I use my horses registered name, Shez Skippin Hot, for shows. I guess these people don't like their horses name or have never really shown to know what people use.