HPJRA: Physical trait often determine horses' names

Freedom New Mexico: Liliana Castillo Keylee Crowder, 8, and her horse Keebler compete in the 8-and-under barrels on Friday at the High Plains Junior Rodeo at Curry County Events Center.

What’s in a name? For the participants in the 36th annual High Plains Junior Rodeo Association Finals in Clovis on Friday, they often named their horse after a physical trait.

Keylee Crowder, 9, of Hobbs competes on her horse named Keebler.

“When he was born he was as small as an elf,” Crowder said.

Sometimes the horse comes with the name. In some cases it’s due to their size and color.

Shelby Mayfield, 11, of Clovis said she and her family have had her horse Banjo for six years.

“We call him that because he is big and brown like a banjo,” Mayfield said. “When I was in the 8-and-under (division) and me and my brother Chad was starting to do breakaway, I was having a hard time on my horse so I would hop onto Banjo and use him.”

Kortni McConnell of Hereford said her brother Korey named the horse that Stetson Jameson, 7, of Canyon, Texas, rides. Her brother sold Hot Shot to the Jameson’s family a couple of months ago and McConnell helps take care of the horse. McConnell said she and her brother Korey raised Hot Shot from a colt.

“When Hot Shot was born he was kind of fiery and ornery,” McConnell said. “He thought he was hot stuff, so Korey called him Hot Shot.”

McConnell said it makes her a little nervous seeing Jameson out rodeoing, but she knows Hot Shot will take care of him.

Myles Brown, 16, of Stinnett, Texas, got his horse about five years ago.

“His name is Deacon,” Brown said. “We got him from a horse trainer who was a good Christian guy, so I guess he just liked the name Deacon. I’ve won two competitions with him. When you’re roping off of him, he has a hard stop because he’s been well-trained. So, when he stops the calf is going to feel it.”

Brett North, 16, of Lovington named his horse Diamond because of the white diamond shape on the horse’s forehead.

“I use him a lot,” North said of the time when him and Diamond aren’t competing. “I use him to check on the cattle and he is very reliable.”

Other horses names:

• Kennedy Kirkpatrick, 11, of Lovington horse’s name is Duke, but she calls him Buddy because he is her friend.

• Josh Walker, 14, of Dora said his horse’s name is Pistol because his nieces and nephews called him that.