There are endless names for mares you could choose, but finding the right one for the lovely lady in your life comes down to a range of factors, including appearance and temperament of your horse, and your own personal preference.
It is considered by many bad luck to change your horse’s name, but if you really think her current tag doesn’t suit her, then you might want to consider her breed, colour and personality when coming up with something new.
If you’re naming a young filly for the first time, have a good look at certain aspects of her type and appearance. Does she have a distinctive marking or colour pattern, or does she have a stand-out character trait you could work with?
Looking at the registered breeding of your filly and creating the name from the sire’s name, dam’s name, or both, is another option. If your mare has a registered name, then you could choose a stable name which is a shortened version, has similarities, has the same beginning letter or rhymes.
It’s also beneficial to find a name you can say, and spell, to make communication easy in the stable, when in the saddle and when writing out documents such as competition entry forms.
If you have another horse, ensuring your mare has a distinctly different name is recommended so they learn the difference when you call them.
Most importantly, choose a name which completely ‘fits’ your horse.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoythe magazine deliveredto your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access ouronline servicethat brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Former H&H showing editor and deputy features editor
Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.
