| How to Register a Paint Horse
The most important document you may ever complete as a horse
owner is a registration application. Completing this form
accurately will reduce the time it takes to process a registration.
We will walk you through the registration application, step
by step. You can download the registration
application or request one be mailed to you by contacting
us at the address below.
Keep in mind that giving false information to the association,
particularly in Sections 2 and 3 of the application, may carry
severe penalties.
You may pay a rush fee to have the registration processed
more quickly than the normal processing time.
Who is responsible for registering a foal?
The owner or lessee of the dam at foaling is responsible
for registering that foal. This person is automatically recorded
as the original owner of the foal on the registration application
and certificate. If the application is accompanied by a signed
transfer, the new owner will be contacted for more information
if needed.
Section 1: Information on the Horse to be Registered
Section 1 of the registration application asks for basic
information about the horse. As most horses are registered
when they are foals, we will use both "horse" and
"foal" interchangeably.
List three name choices in the spaces provided. You may not
use punctuation marks, numbers, Roman numerals or profanity
in the name. The name may not exceed the number of spaces
on the application.
Also, no two horses registered by the association may have
the same name or a name that sounds similar. If the APHA determines
that your choice is too similar to another name already in
use, the name will be disqualified and your next selection
will be considered.
By checking the box directly beneath the name choices, you
allow APHA staff to choose a name for you in the event your
three choices are already taken. This helps avoid delays.
If you do not check this box and your three selections are
rejected, you will receive a letter asking for another choice.
Check the appropriate box to indicate the sex of your horse.
If you are registering a gelding, you need to provide the
exact date (month/day/year) the horse was gelded.
List the month, day and year on which the foal was born.
This date should correspond to the breeding dates listed in
Section 2 of the registration application. The normal gestation
period for a horse is 11.5 months (345 days). If you do not
know the exact date of birth, estimate the foaling date as
closely as possible.
List the state, province or country in which your horse was
foaled. If omitted, the APHA records that the horse was foaled
in the state or country in which the mare owner resides. This
may be important if your state, province or country offers
any incentive programs for breeders.
Check the box that best describes the primary color of your
horse. Use the color descriptions at http://www.apha.com/breed/coatcolors.html
to help you identify the color. If your horse is predominantly
white, check the color that best describes the horse's contrasting
area. Regardless of the amount of color, the dark hair always
determines Paint color, never by the white. Of course, it
is possible that your horse is solid white. In this case,
your horse may be eligible for the Breeding Stock Registry.
Check the box that best describes your horse's type of coat
pattern: tobiano, overo,
tovero or solid. If
you are unsure, read the coat pattern descriptions on this
site or leave it blank. Registration staff will determine
the coat pattern for you after reviewing the photos.
Does this horse have blue eyes? Check the appropriate box(es):
no, right eye blue, right eye partial blue, left eye blue,
or left eye partial blue.
In the space provided, indicate any brands or scars that
could be used to identify the foal. If your horse is freeze-branded,
send a photograph of that brand with your application. That
information will become a permanent part of your horse's file.
Section 2: Breeder's Certificate
Section 2 of the Registration Application is the Breeder's
Certificate. Some information in this section may be pre-printed
on registration applications, based on information provided
by the Stallion Breeding Report.
You must have the recorded stallion owner at the time
of breeding sign the Breeder's Certificate before the foal
can be registered.
The name and registration number of the sire of the foal
should be provided on line 1. Directly underneath that space
is a box for information about the sire's color and type.
As this information is listed on the sire's registration certificate,
the stallion owner should have no trouble completing these
sections.
The stallion owner should provide the same information on
the dam on line 2, including her registered name, identification
number, color and type. If the dam is a Quarter Horse or Thoroughbred,
include a copy of both sides of the AQHA or Jockey Club registration
certificate.
The application requires the sire and dam owners' names at
the time of service, member identification numbers (if available)
and addresses. The owner or lessee of the dam at the time
of breeding is considered the "breeder" and is recorded
as such on the registration certificate.
The stallion owner must include the breeding dates or the
period of exposure. Keep in mind that the mare may have been
bred more than once to get her in foal. Therefore, the dates
should include the period of time between the first and last
exposure. If the mare was pasture-bred, the dates should begin
with the day the mare was first turned into the pasture with
the sire, as well as the date she was removed.
These dates must match the dates listed on the stallion
breeding report or there may be delays in processing the application.
The owner of the stallion at the time of breeding must sign
the Breeder's Certificate. By signing this document, the stallion
owner certifies that the information on the application is
correct and that the mare owner has satisified the breeding
agreement. If you are the record owner of both the sire and
the dam at the time of breeding and foaling, you must fill
out Section 2 but are not required to sign it.
Section 3: Original Owner of the Foal
APHA rules state that the original owner of the foal is the
record owner or lessee of the mare at the time of foaling.
This person should complete and sign Section 3. Ownership
of the foal, and membership, must be in exactly th esame name
as the dam is owned. If you buy the foal from the mare owner,
you need to get the mare owner to complete Section 3 of this
application and sign Section 4, the transfer section.
Provide the mare owner's name and APHA identification number
if you know it.
The mare owner should sign the application where it calls
for signature of "owner or lessee or agent." By
signing this certificate, the mare owner guarantees that the
information is accurate to the best of their knowledge. Their
current mailing address should be provided.
If your foal has minimal markings but is eligible for the
Regular Registry, you must certify that the horse has a "natural"
Paint marking. Describe the location of all spots with underlying,
unpigmented skin.
The American Paint Horse Breeders Trust Program provides
added incentives for Paint Horse owners to exhibit their horses
in the show arena. Nominated horses are paid cash dividends
for points earned at APHA-approved events, and everyone responsible
for the success of an outstanding foal is rewarded. The stallion
owner, foal nominator and horse's owner all share in the profit.
By completing this section and submitting the appropriate
fees, you can nominate a foal that was sired by a stallion
subscribed to the Trust. For more information about Breeders
Trust, go to that section of our site.
Section 4: Transfer of Foal
If you are not the original owner of the foal, you need to
transfer ownership from the owner or lessee of the mare at
the time of foaling to yourself. To do this, you must complete
Section 4 and pay the appropriate transfer
fee.
A transfer is simple to complete. As the buyer, you need
to provide your name, your APHA identification number if available,
your telephone number and your current address. Though membership
is not required to transfer ownership, substantially higher
fees are charged to non-members. If you are not a member and
choose not to become a member, simply include, along with
your application, a signed statement to that effect and pay
the higher fees for the registration and the transfer.
To complete the transfer, you need to record the date of
the sale and get the signature of the owner of the dam at
the time of foaling. Remember that the owner of the dam at
the time of foaling is automatically the original owner of
the foal. If you have purchased the foal from the dam owner
prior to its registration, you must transfer ownership into
your name.
Forgetting the mare owner’s signature in Section
4 is a common mistake. To avoid delays in processing, be sure
you get the signature of the mare owner on the transfer report.
What signatures do I need?
Proper signatures are extremely important. The most frequent
mistakes that result in a processing delay involves the wrong
signature. Read the instructions carefully to make sure you
are getting the correct signature in the proper place.
As for signatures, the owner or any one of the joint owners
of a horse can sign the application.
Printed signatures are not acceptable. Whoever signs the
application must sign with an individual written signature.
For example, the foal may be registered to "John and
Mary Jones." The APHA membership must be carried as "John
and Mary Jones." However, the application must be signed
by "John Jones" or by "Mary Jones" or
as "John and Mary Jones by John Jones" or "John
and Mary Jones by Mary Jones." No other variations on
the signature are acceptable.
In the event that a farm, partnership or corporation owns
the horse you want to register, a signature
authorization card must be on file with the APHA.
This card identifies the authorized people allowed to register,
transfer or conduct business for that entity. A registration
application cannot be completed until this card is filed.
You can download the form from this web site. The current
APHA Official Rule Book will list the appropriate
fee.
What Fee Do I Pay?
Current fees required to register
the horse are listed on this web site. The fee schedule is
based on the age of the horse, and whether the horse owner
is an APHA member. Other fees, such as a transfer fee, may
also be required. Fees are subject to change without notice.
All horses are aged by the calendar year, starting January
1. Therefore, a horse is considered a weanling during the
year in which it was born. On January 1 after the foal is
born, that horse becomes a yearling, regardless of how many
months old it actually is. Subsequently, the horse ages by
one year every January 1 regardless of the time of year in
which it was actually born.
You may pay by check, money order, VISA or MasterCard.
However, applications received without payment or photographs
may be returned.
Do I Have to Join the APHA?
Although membership is not a requirement to register a horse,
nonmembers pay substantially higher registration fees. To
avoid paying higher nonmembers fees, you may purchase a membership,
if you don't already have one. The membership must be carried
in exactly the same name as the dam at the time of foaling,
if you are the original owner. If you are buying the foal,
ownership of the foal and the membership purchased must be
set up in exactly the same name. Be sure you make application
for registration in the exact name as your membership. If
you are not a member, you may join at the time you register
the horse.
What Photos Do I Need to Send?
One of the most important things you will be asked to provide
when you register a horse is photographs. Applications received
without photos may be returned. All registration applications
must include at least four photos: right side, left side,
front, and rear. Photos are required with all applications,
including Breeding Stock. Color photos are preferred, but
black and white prints are acceptable. All photos are permanently
filed with APHA. Digital photographs are not recommended and
may be unacceptable for determining Regular Registry eligibility.
Here are some tips on photographing your horse.
If you will take a few extra minutes to prepare your horse
and set up the photos, you will speed up the registration
process. Take a few minutes to clean and groom your horse.
Excessively long hair, dirt and mud detract from white markings
and color and may delay processing of your paperwork.
Photos taken at a distance from the horse are usually
not acceptable. For example, you cannot take an acceptable
photo of a horse that is loose and running in a pasture.
If the "natural" Paint marking that you think qualifies
the horse for the Regular Registry is of minimal size or is
not clearly visible in the four required photos, you must
submit additional photos to document the spot. These photos
must be detailed enough to prove the horse meets the APHA’s
color requirements.
Submit one photo with a size circle (circles are available
from the APHA) or a ruler placed beside the white spot to
clearly indicate its size. A second photo should show the
size circle directly of the center of the white spot. The
white area on the horse must extend beyond the diameter of
the size circle on opposite sides. Again, a qualifying area
must be solid white hair with underlying, unpigmented skin
present on the horse at the time of its birth and at the time
of its registration. Long hair should be clipped so the true
extent and size of the spot can be determined.
Submit one photo that clearly shows the unpigmented skin
under the underlying area. It may be necessary to completely
shave off all the hair in the area in order to expose the
unpigmented skin. If the hair coat is short, wetting the spot
may make the unpigmented skin visible. However, remember to
take photos of the spot with the hair and the photo after
shaving the area to expose the skin. Once the area is shaved,
the definition of the spot will be removed, and that may delay
taking all the required photos.
If you horse is roan, gray, white or palomino, good photos
are more difficult to take. Thoroughly wetting the horse may
help distinguish white markings.
For more tips on taking photos, go to:
f you have any questions regarding these procedures, please
contact us at the address below. |
