Brown Horse Names

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Published on 10/15/20

Bay horse wearing a halter in a grassy field — AnacondaN / Getty Images

Bringing home a new horse or welcoming a new foal into the world is an exciting time. In addition to all of the other things that you need to do to prepare for your new horse, you’ll also need to come up with the perfect name. Naming horses can be more challenging than it initially seems – there are so many names to choose from, so how do you find the perfect one? If you’re bringing home a bay, brown, or chestnut horse, the following names might be particularly well-suited to him, honoring his color and giving him a unique title, too.

Most Popular Brown Horse Names

Autumn
Brownie
Cinnamon
Toffee
Clay
Chocolate
Cappuccino
Kahlua
Nutmeg
Clayton
Mocha
Teddy
Brown Sugar
Chewbacca
Bear
Beaver
Sandy
Caramel
Grizzly
Cocoa
Rusty
Copper

Tips for Naming Your Horse

These brown horse names can give you a good starting point as you brainstorm potential names for your horse. To find that perfect name, start by making a list of as many potential names that you can think of. This might take you days or even weeks, but carry that list around with you during the day – you never know when inspiration might strike. Once you have a long list, you can stop brainstorming and can instead start eliminating some of the ideas that you don’t like or that don’t really fit your horse. Narrow down that list until there are just a few names left, and hopefully one of them will be just right for your horse.

You’ll want to keep a few things in mind when coming up with a name for your horse. If you’re trying to think of a barn name, look for names that are easy to pronounce and remember. Often, names that are just a few syllables long are best. If your heart is set on a longer name that’s more difficult to pronounce, then consider coming up with a nickname for your horse, too. Try to choose something that doesn’t sound like the names of the other horses at the barn, since this could confuse your horse when you’re trying to call him in from across the pasture.

Finding the ideal show name or registered name also comes with some guidelines. While you can choose just about anything to be a show name, if you’re registering your horse, you’ll need to follow the breed registry’s regulations. Every breed registry has its own set of requirements and rules for names. Most will have a character limit, and some have other guidelines, like that you can’t use a name of a famous horse. If a name is currently in use, you probably can’t use it, too. Because there are so many rules, it’s often best if you come up with your top five or 10 registered name picks so that you’re ready if it turns out that you can’t use your top choices.

Show names that you won’t be registering don’t usually have those restrictions, but you’ll still want to keep them shorter and easy to pronounce, if possible. The easier your horse’s show name is to read and say, the better the chances that the announcer will say it correctly during horse shows and competitions. Keeping a show name under about 18 characters also increases the chances of it fitting on halter nameplates and stall nameplates, too.

You can draw inspiration from these brown horse names, but many owners also try to choose a registered or show name that reflects elements of their horse’s sire or dam’s name. This practice is a nice way to honor your horse’s bloodlines, and it also makes it easy for others to quickly identify horses who carry the bloodlines that they may like to follow. Including a piece of a sire’s name or of the breeding farm’s name in a registered name can help to make connections and ensure that your horse is recognized at competitions.

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