Photograph Requirements for Registration

1. All applicants for registration must be accompanied by a set of at least five photographs as provided in the APHA Official Rule Book. These should be taken in good light and include a front view of the horse, a rear view of the horse, views of both sides of the horse, plus one additional side view which will be placed on the horse’s registration certificate when completed. The photograph to be placed on the certificate should be a side view with the image of the horse no larger than 2 1/2" high x 3" wide, or it will be too large for the space available on the certificate. Standing approximately 25 feet from the horse should produce the desired size of the horse image. We recommend that the side view to be used on the certificate clearly show the area qualifying the horse for Regular Registry, if questionable. Pictures are also required on Breeding Stock applications.
2. If the horse being photographed is roan, gray, white or palomino, good photographs may be difficult to obtain. Thoroughly wetting the area to be photographed may help distinguish the white markings.
3. Excessively long hair, dirt, mud, etc. will detract from the white markings and may cause APHA to write for additional photographs. Pictures taken a distance from the horse (for instance, horse running in a pasture or within a group of other horses) are usually not acceptable.
4. If the "natural paint marking" that is believed to qualify the horse for the Regular Registry is of minimal size or is not clearly visible in the five photographs, additional pictures must be submitted. A qualifying area(s) must be one solid white area in excess of two inches, within the prescribed zone, with some underlying unpigmented (pink) skin. Pink skin photographs are not required if the qualifying area is an extension of the blaze, chin white or stockings. See Rule Book Rule RG-110 for diagrams and reference points.

• Photographs should be taken outside with no flash (morning or evening lighting is best).
• The qualifying area(s) must be clean and the photographs should be taken as close to the spot as possible, yet to include the entire spot, and remain CLEARLY in focus.
• Please remove halters for photographs of the head.
• When using a ruler instead of the APHA circle, be sure the numbers are large and visible in the photographs.
• Polaroids are acceptable but many times do not produce a clear photograph.
• Light colored horses should be wet to clearly show markings.

BODY SPOTS

Photographs of the body spots should include, and must be taken, in the following order:

1. Close-up of the spot(s) before clipping
2. Close-up of the spot(s) and surrounding area after the area has been clipped (not shaved)
3. Close-up of the spot(s) with the APHA circle or ruler held beside the spot(s)
4. Close-up of the spot(s) with the APHA circle or ruler held directly across the center of the spot(s) (the white must exceed the circle on two opposite sides)
5. Close-up of the spot(s) after the area has been shaved (completely remove the hair) to clearly show the unpigmented (pink) skin. (We do not recommend using hair removal products as allergic reactions may affect the appearance of the skin.)

HEAD AND LEG MARKINGS

HEAD MARKINGS: Photographs of the extension of a blaze should be taken from a direct side view with the ruler held beside the outermost portion of white. Photographs should be taken in a manner to include the horse’s entire head from the tips of the ears to the tip of the chin with the ears forward.

CHIN MARKINGS: Photographs of the extension of the chin white should be taken with a ruler held beside the outermost portion of white. The corner of the mouth must be clearly visible.

FRONT LEG MARKINGS: Photographs should be taken to clearly show the entire leg from the floor of the chest to below the knee with a ruler held beside the uppermost extension of white. The entire knee must be clearly visible. The horse must be standing squarely and the camera held level to the area being photographed.

REAR LEG MARKINGS: Photographs should be taken to clearly show the entire leg from the flank/stifle area to below the hock with a ruler held beside the uppermost extension of white. The hock must be clearly visible. The horse must be standing squarely and the camera held level to the area being photographed.

DISCONNECTED LEG MARKINGS: Photographs of disconnected leg spots should be taken to clearly show the hock and stifle for hind legs or the knee and floor of the chest for front legs as well as the underlying unpigmented skin. The horse must be standing squarely and the camera held level to the area being photographed. See instructions in previous section for taking photographs of body spots.

Good photographs submitted in the manner described above will aid in the registration of the horse. If good photographs are sent with the registration application initially, it will help APHA in determining the horse’s status and eligibility in a more timely manner.

For more information on the color rule or submission of photographs, please contact us.