New pony at the barn! New pony at the barn! More to come on him, but cross your fingers for my renaming to stick (previous efforts to rebaptise Max the Halflinger as Halfpint, in honor of his wee size and resemblance to a draft horse, were sadly unsuccessful). Yesterday's cute little chestnut, who has lovely warm eyes, perfect ground manners, a canter that made me want to stand up in the stirrups and cheer, and a general willingness to please, arrived wearing the ridiculous name of Tank. He's still a little wary, as any horse is in a new place, but while he's always on the watch lest someone near him act unpredictable and wacky, he's trying to do his best. His ring skills and perfect manners have already attracted a coterie of admirers, women with ready smiles and grimy hands. He's in beautiful condition, well muscled and polished of coat. He's here on approval, but given the warmth he's already engendered in many hearts, I suspect he'll be asked to stay. But not as Tank. Tank. Feh.
Hm, what's a name appropriate for someone who's a little nervous but also smart, shiny, buff, and appealing? Funny but not glib, unpretentious but evocative, appropriate for daily use but maybe a bit of an inside joke?
Simon it is.
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2 comments:
That's really exciting - a new and well-mannered lesson horse! I like Simon and hate Tank.
There is a threat of naming the newborn colt at our barn "Dude", and I am hoping this passes over as a bad joke. He's the first of his gender in many years, but he deserves much better.
Rename him quick, that's my advice! The names of convenience tend to stick, cf. Max. I stumbled on "Simon" after mumbling a monologue of possible names while I was grooming him. "You're spice-colored, but we've got a Nutmeg...Cinnamon, no, All-Spice, Basil, good boy stand, Cardamom, no...Western towns, Cimmaron, Tucson, Phoenix, Flagstaff, Rio, stepping behind your tail, no...Red hair, you could be Patrick. Would Patrick suit you? Are you a saint? Peter, Mark, Luke, your coat is so shiny. Shiny. Hm. Simon?"
We also have to remember how barn names mutate. Morris, in honor of one of my horse-training cousins, got shot down due to the risk of him becoming Morrie. "Dude" means an elevated risk of Big Lebowski jokes.
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