I always loved those fancy Gypsy Cobs with feathered feet and flowing manes, but naming them felt like cracking some secret code. Seriously, where do you even start? So I decided to figure it out myself and jot it down for other confused beginners.
Step 1: Just stare at the horse first
No kidding – I plopped myself by the paddock with my coffee and watched my new mare for like an hour. Noticed she had this star-shaped white mark right between her eyes and kept flicking her ears like she was listening to ghosts. Wrote down “ghost” + “star” in my notebook immediately. Physical stuff and weird behaviors are gold for names.
Step 2: Dug up old travel maps
Remembered these horses came from Romani travelers in Ireland and England. Grabbed my grandma’s road atlas and circled towns with funny-sounding names. Kerry, Clover, Shannon – all got scribbled on my list. Even if the town’s tiny or doesn’t exist anymore, who cares? Sounds mystical.
Step 3: Raided the kitchen pantry
Got stuck until I started baking cookies. Suddenly thought – Biscuit, Honey, Toffee – perfect for golden-colored cobs! Also spotted paprika in my spice rack and tossed that in too. Everyday household things totally work when you’re desperate.
Step 4: Made terrible name combos
Started slapping words together from Steps 1-3 like a toddler playing Scrabble. My mare’s ghost-ear thing plus Irish towns became:
- Clover Whisper
- Kerry Spirit
- Star Meadow
Sounded ridiculous at first but kinda grew on me? Don’t overthink combinations – just vomit ideas on paper.
Step 5: Shouted names at her face
Stood in the field yelling “PAPRIKA!” and “TOFFEE SPIRIT!” like a lunatic. She blinked at “Toffee Spirit” but totally ignored “Clover Whisper.” That’s how I knew – horses vote with their ears. Finalized her name when she nickered back at Star Meadow. Done deal.
So yeah, naming these cobs ain’t rocket science once you stop worrying about “rules.” Just steal words from whatever’s around you and yell them at your horse. Works every time.
