If Western-breed horses inherited last names, then Zippo, Bey Shah, Dreamfinder and Painted Robin would be the equine equivalents of Rockefeller, Gates, Kennedy, and DuPont. Of course, naming a registered foal isn’t quite as simple as slapping on his sire’s last name. But you’ll find the same name-connection to his ancestors as we have. And likely, your registered horse has a few legendary names–or their derivatives–in his family tree. Where did they come from? To get you started, we’ve rounded up a selection of legendary monikers from the Appaloosa, Arabian, Paint Horse, and Quarter Horse breeds.
APPALOOSA HORSE
Legendary names: Toby I (1936-1966); Patchy F-416 (1939-1963); Joker B. (1941-1966); Apache F-730 (1942-1964); Red Eagle (1946-1971); High Hand (1952-1983); Wapiti (1955-1979); Mighty Bright (1960-1974); Prince Plaudit (1963-1988); Hayes’ Roman Cloud (1965-1999); Goer (1973-1994); Dreamfinder (1984-2002); and Wap Spotted (1987).
Today: Dreaming of Roses, a daughter of Dreamfinder, won the open 3-year-old halter class at the 2002 National Appaloosa Horse Show.
ARABIAN HORSE
Legendary names: *Witez II (1939-1965 — an asterisk denotes an imported horse); *Serafix (1949-1973); *Bask (1956-1979); Bay Abi (1957-1986); Ansata Ibn Halima (1958-1980); Khemosabi (1967-2001); *Muscat (1971-1996); Bey Shah (1976-1999); *Aladdinn (1975); and *Padron (1977).
Today: BP Klassique Bey, a grandson of Bey Shah, was shown to a 2002 Arabian U.S. National Champion title.
PAINT HORSE
Legendary names: Painted Joe (1939-1958); Babette (1944-1966); Skip Hi (1959-1983); Painted Robin (1960-1971); Q Ton Eagle (1960-1975); Cherokee Maiden (1960-1988); Mister J Bar (1961-1982); Delta (1963-1994); Yellow Mount (1964-1989); and Tinky’s Spook (1965-1988).
Today: Classi Robin, a granddaughter of Painted Robin, was the 2002 World Championship Paint Horse Show world champion in youth hunter hack (13 and under).
QUARTER HORSE
Legendary names: Joe Hancock (1923-1943); King (1932-1956); Leo (1940-1967); Three Bars (1940-1968); Poco Bueno (1944-1969); Poco Lena (1949-1968); Doc Bar (1956-1992); King Fritz (1956-1975–sire of all those Chex horses); Peppy San (1960-1989); Two Eyed Jack (1961-1991); and Zippo Pine Bar (1969-1998).
Today: Nu Chex To Cash has spun his way to fame in the reining arena, taking the name of King Fritz once again to the top. Zips Chocolate Chip has continued sire Zippo Pine Bar’s legacy by winning numerous pleasure titles and siring a whole new line of show horses.
(For how some top breeders name their next champions, see “What’s In a Name,” Horse & Rider, March 2003.)