A new baby horse changes things.  It guarantees that no day is a bad day because there is always that foal waiting to be petted, to try to bite you with his two tiny teeth, to try to kick you with his wee little hooves (which still leave a mark!) and always has new antics to show you. I waited for this baby in my life for a long time. He is all I ever dreamed about.

I promise this is the last time I will complain that another Flagmount baby stole our name. We wanted and expected to use the name Flagmount’s Reflection (it made perfect sense for us with the father being Flagmount and my mare being Blonder Reflection).   But a baby born weeks before us grabbed that name and it is gone.

Horse names maybe approved in many ways.  One is  by the breed registry.  The Jockey Club approves all the Thoroughbred horse names.  The American Quarter Horse Association,  the quarter horses,  and so on.  But there are also show registries that do not allow for any duplications of names.  So, common horse names are probably not available as a choice.

We register and compete in the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).  One measure of the success of a sire is how many of his progeny are competing at top levels.  Most of these horses shown below are from the sire we used, Flagmount’s Freedom, unless they were from Flagmount’s King, who is Flagmount’s Freedom sire, or the grand-sire of most of this group. 

This is what is out in the USEF registry today.

Horse Name in USEF	Sire as shown
FLAGMOUNT’S AMAZING GRACE	Flagmount’s Freedom
FLAGMOUNT’S ANNABELLE	Flagmount’s King
FLAGMOUNT’S COOL CUSTOMER	Flagmount’s Freedom
FLAGMOUNT’S DEVIOUS DIVA	not shown
FLAGMOUNT’S FREEDOM	Flagmount’s King
FLAGMOUNT’S FRINGE BENEFIT	Flagmount’s Freedom
FLAGMOUNT’S HARMONY	Flagmount’s Freedom
FLAGMOUNT’S HEARTBREAKER	Flagmount’s Freedom
FLAGMOUNT’S IRISH FREEDOM	Flagmount’s Freedom
FLAGMOUNT’S IRISH RIVERSTONE	Flagmount’s Freedom
FLAGMOUNT’S LIBERTY	not shown
FLAGMOUNT’S NIGHTCAP	Flagmount’s Freedom
FLAGMOUNT’S REFLECTION	Flagmount’s Freedom
FLAGMOUNT’S SEMPER FI	Flagmount’s Freedom
FLAGMOUNT’S SPARTAN	Flagmount’s Freedom
FLAGMOUNT’S STERLING PRINCE	Flagmount’s Freedom
FLAGMOUNT’S TEMPTRESS	Flagmount’s Freedom
FLAGMOUNT’S TOY IMAGE	Flagmount’s King
FLAGMOUNT’S TRADEMARK	Prite of Gloster
FLAGMOUNT’S UPTOWN LUCK	Flagmount’s Freedom

We reviewed this list for inspiration. We took name suggestions from readers. We looked up lists of synonyms for Reflection.  We even came up with a name based upon my three year-old granddaughter’s response to a Fire Ball cinnamon jaw breaker I talked her into trying (it was not pretty) and really thought we would go with the red colt and Flagmount’s Fire Ball.  We even ordered a stall name plate.  But I did not go register the name on USEF.  I still thought something else was out there.

I almost hate to admit this but when I have had some downtime (like hip replacements, shoulder surgeries, broken ribs) I have come to enjoy the TV show NCIS.  The main character is a retired marine.  Ally’s father-in-law was a Marine-a Vietnam Vet.  Our trainer was a Marine, although all of them would tell you that once a Marine, always a Marine.  My long time best friend has two sons that are active duty in the Marines.  The Marine’s motto is Semper Fi- from the Latin Semper Fidelis-Always Faithful.

After checking that it would not be disrespectful on any front to name a horse after the Marine Corp motto, we decided this big colt could be a lot of things but we would always be faithful to do the best for him, and hopefully he would be faithful to Lauren to turn in his best performance every time. We could ask little more from him.

Plus, his barn name Sims, although spelled differently in respect to Sherre Sims, it does fit the “Sem” part of Semper Fi.  At three weeks of age, this colorful, buoyant, tender and terrible (watch those teeth!) colt is already nearly 12 hands high.  Seriously.  He has gained 25 pounds a week for the last two weeks to bring him to just short of 180 pounds.  Just think of what is in mare’s milk to let these babies grow like this!  It is amazing and endearing.

Welcome-Flagmount’s Semper Fi!! I cannot wait to hear that name over the loud speakers as he enters the arena.

Thank you to all of you that have ridden along and supported us in this dream.