DNA and Parentage Verification
February 11, 2013
With foaling season around the corner, get the lowdown on this requirement for registering your new American Quarter Horse.
Parentage verification compares a horse’s genetic marker to that of the sire and dam recorded for that
horse. (Journal photo)
Since AQHA’s inception back in 1940, science and information technology have advanced by leaps and bounds, making it easier than ever to verify an American Quarter Horse’s identity. Utilizing these advancements, AQHA has certain DNA testing and parentage verification requirements in place to protect owners and breeders of American Quarter Horses.
A common question that we hear from AQHA members is, “What is the difference between DNA typing and parentage verification?” The truth is there isn’t much of a difference. A DNA test will derive the genetic markers of an individual horse. Think of it like a fingerprint. Each horse has its own unique genetic marker. Parentage verification still obtains that genetic marker, but it also compares it to the sire and dam recorded for that horse. Basically, parentage verification makes sure the dam is the horse’s mother and the sire is the horse’s father. AQHA has made genetic testing a requirement in some instances. Check out the list below to see if your horse needs to be DNA typed or parentage verified.
DNA typing is required if:
- Your horse is a stallion that is breeding mares.
- Your horse is a mare that is being bred and was born in 1989 or later.
Parentage verification is required if:
- Your horse’s sire or dam was under the age of 2 at the time a foal was conceived.
- Your horse was the result of embryo/oocyte transfer.
- Your horse was conceived by the use of frozen semen or cooled semen that was transported.
- Your horse is more than 48 months of age at the time the application for registration is received by AQHA.
- Your horse’s dam was exposed to more than one stallion within a 30-day time period.
- Your horse has excessive white markings, as specified in Rule REG109.8.
- Your horse is foaled after January 1, 2007, and is a descendant of the stallion Impressive 0767246 (see Rule REG109.3.3).
- Your horse is going to be raced.
- Your weanling is going to be entered into an AQHA world championship show.
- The AQHA Executive Committee deems parentage verification is necessary.
If your horse qualifies under one of the stipulations listed above, or if you just plain want to have the DNA test done, click here for an order form or contact AQHA Customer Service to order a kit by phone with a debit or credit card. Current fees for genetic testing are $50 for a registered horse and $40 for a test that is ordered on a registration application for a foal.
Genetic testing only needs to be performed once in a horse’s lifetime. Another genetic testing fact is that a horse cannot be parentage verified if his sire and dam are not both DNA typed. AQHA automatically parentage verifies horses that are eligible and reprints the certificate of registration once parentage verification is complete.
So, if you think about the opportunity science has given us, you’ll see us coming to a road where
all American Quarter Horses are verified and all American Quarter Horses have been genetically tested and have their ‘fingerprints’ on file. The next time you purchase an American Quarter Horse and notice that the markings don’t quite match the certificate, think of what DNA testing can do to resolve your fear and worries about the true identity of that horse.
Comments
51 Comments on “DNA and Parentage Verification”
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June 17th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
if a foal is parentage verified will it be necessary to DNA test if it will be used for breeding purposes.
June 19th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Michael,
Thank you for your comment! A Parentage Verification test is the same as a DNA test. It simply take the test a step further and compares the foal’s DNA with that if its sire and dam. So, a Parentage Verification test will provide what you need for breeding purposes.
If you would like to speak with me or another AQHA Customer Service Representative, please contact us at 806-376-4811 Monday-Friday 8-5 CST.
Kayla Randall
AQHA Customer Service
June 24th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
If I purchased an 8 month old already registered Quarter horse Stallion, a decendent of Impressive, with his registration papers stating he is HYPP N/N does that also mean that he was DNA typed in order to be registered?
August 11th, 2009 at 11:07 am
[...] Since the registration process is the same at any age, the first step is to get a registration application. You will complete the application the same way you do for a weanling. The only problem I see people encounter is locating the breeders for the appropriate signature and, in some instances, DNA. [...]
August 28th, 2009 at 7:58 am
Hi, I had a mare that was registrated, But I don’t have her anymore and I had a foal in 08. She (mare)was 21 years old and I don’t believe the owner before me had her DNA done(or that it was required then). The Sire was DNA is on record, so how do I get my filly registrated and DNA?
Thanks for any help you can give me..
Gail Hebets
Aguanga Ca.
January 21st, 2010 at 7:35 pm
Hello I just learned I had to have my mare dna tested. I didn’t know aqha required this. I can see why they require it but there are too many ways people can be dishonest about it. I was shocked to see that after I had paid a sizeable fee for stud services the only way I could get my colt registered was to pay fifty more for the dna test. Are you saying they will require me to dna test the colt before I can register it? i think this is going a bit too far. Not everyone can afford these charges even though some may think fifty dollrs is jut a drop in the bucket. What happened to Old fashioned trust. If they’re doint this to prevent false papers I am sure there are plenty of people out there who will find ways around it. Thanks for your time. Burl Ford
April 13th, 2010 at 10:52 am
I understand the need and purpose for DNA testing. I bred my fully registered AQHA mare last year. In order to register her filly, I had to DNA test my mare. Her DNA test excluded the dam on her paperwork as the correct dam. After hours of research, I haven’t been able to locate the correct dam. Some of the possible dams do not have DNA on file, so I can’t match my mare to the correct dam. I am frustrated that the AQHA will be revoking my mare’s paperwork for a mistake that I did not commit. The breeder only had quarter horse mares on his property so the dam has to be a quarter mare. The correct sire has been identified as a quarter horse sire. There should be a grace period for horses that fall between the required DNA registration and the previous non-requirements. Why can’t the dam be listed as “unknown?” Thanks, Cindy Holland
September 18th, 2010 at 12:05 am
I have to get a parentage verification test on my mare before I can register her colt. I was hoping to be able to register him before he was 7 months old due to a smaller registration price. On average, how long does it take to get the parentage results of the mare after the test is sent in in order to register the colt?
September 27th, 2010 at 7:42 am
I have a 1988 AQHA mare that has not had any DNA/Parentage Verification done, though she is fully registered. She has never been bred. I am planning on breeding her in 2011 for a racing prospect. Will the foal be eligible for Parentage
Verification?
December 9th, 2010 at 9:06 am
Can you register a 6 yr old mare if the sire died in a barn fire? He died only a couple of months ago but i can recieve confirmation by the breeder and i do have the broodmares papers as well as the can get the sires papers.
How do i find if he is dna typed?
March 3rd, 2011 at 11:13 pm
I’m curious why the parents need to be tested again if they’re already on file with the AQHA. I have a fantastic filly that I can’t register because of an ownership dispute involving her mother. Why can’t her DNA be presented to AQHA and they use the parent’s file to prove parentage?
May 16th, 2011 at 11:22 am
We have aquired a 7 year old mare. She is beautiful with a good disposition. We would like to breed her. The only problem is that 2 years ago she was left at a deer camp to starve and was rescued. She looks like a quarter horse but we have no other history on her. Can she be registed through DNA testing if she is ends up being a Quarter Horse and how do you go about doing this.
May 18th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
I have the same question as Brooke about a mare at 6 years old who was rescued by myself. She is a quarter horse, but the last owner who chose not to treat her right or feed her, will not give any info about her lineage. I was just really curious since she has more intelligence than any horse I have ever owned. I wondered if you can find out about her breeding by DNA like you can with people. I know it sounds off the wall but I was just curious. She is such a great horse,I was just wanting to know who she was.It won’t matter because I can’t say enough good about her. She’s here to stay. Like I said, just like to know… Thank you
July 13th, 2011 at 12:08 am
I purchased a horse that came with a certificate of registration Parentage verified 1yr ago, but I lost the origianl certificate. How do get another one? I dont remember the original name of the horse nor the person’s name I got it from. I do know I purchased it from someone in Washingtion State last year. If I would like to sell it, how do I prove the Parentage verified? Thanks.
September 2nd, 2011 at 2:10 am
I have the same question as Brooke and Sandra. I do have an 13 year old Quarter Horse mare. I own her about 3-4 years now. She is not registered because she was sold when she was 2-3 yaers old by people who where not interested in that, because there was a problem with the people’s health. I do not know her sire or dam. I wondered if you can find out about her breeding by DNA. She is a good and beautiful mare, I would like to breed her. Can she be registed through DNA testing if she is ends up being a Quarter Horse and how do you go about doing this? Thank you.
September 13th, 2011 at 10:10 pm
I also have the same question as Brooke and Sandra. I have a are that is a quater horse, sheis aproximately 25 years old. I would love to know what breeding she is from for I would like to find another horse with her breeding. She is a beautiful mare, to look at her ou would thing she is between ten and fifteen not the 25+ that she is. She is the best horse I have ever owned and I have owned a few. It would be wonderful to be able to find out how she is bred and look for another one of the same breeding. Please help for I know she will not live forever. Thank you
September 14th, 2011 at 4:56 pm
I also have the same question. I bought a loving quarter horse that has no papers and no information on him. The owner passed away and his friend took him in. is there any way to tell if he is a quarter horse?
September 19th, 2011 at 12:12 am
I have the same problem. I got my gelding from Canada and I have recently gotten into aqua shows. However I can only enter the open classes. The judges told me he has all the characteristics of a quarter horse but I have no way to tell. If there is a DNA test I could give him to tell what breed and if he was registered that would be fantastic.
November 5th, 2011 at 2:01 am
Hi there,
Does anyone read and answers the questions above?
November 22nd, 2011 at 10:52 pm
For everyone looking for info on getting an older horse registered or finding information on them, try this link: http://americashorsedaily.com/how-to-register-an-older-horse/
Good luck!
November 30th, 2011 at 12:28 pm
What about a clone? How do I do a dna on a clone?
January 10th, 2012 at 8:35 am
is it possible to DNA test a horse that has no known information of sire and dam to see what breed he is or who his parents were???
February 22nd, 2012 at 10:01 am
I just got this mare and I was wondering if she has any papers i would like to know where she came from and more about her. But I don’t know her reg. name or number. Is there some kind of test that can be done to see who her parents. She is a awesome horse and i would love to know more and show her in the AQHA shows. Please let me know thanks.
February 29th, 2012 at 11:23 am
So if you select DNA type when registering your foal and he is eliglbe for parentage verification because hes impressive descendant, will you only have to pay the $40 dna type fee and aqha will parentage verify him free since he’s eligable. Or will you have to pay $40 also for the parentage verification? From what I understand if you choose to have your horse dna typed and his parents are typed and he is eligible for parentage verification, aqha will willingly do the parentage test for the cost of dna typing. So my question essentially is should a person just check dna type for a horse they know is eligble for parentage verification and pay $40 or do we have to go ahead and also pay $40 also for the parentage since it also gives you the option. A horse cant be parentage verified if its not dna typed so how do we know if the option will make us unnecesarily pay $40 extra for something that is already included? What is the point of adding the option for parentage verification and paying an extra $40, when a dna typing will parentage verify for you with the same fee.
March 3rd, 2012 at 9:13 pm
Hi, I am not sure if this is anything related but recently I saved my 6 yr old mare from slaughter… i have heard she is registered but i have no papers, obviously. i don’t know anything about her past. & i would really love to know if there is any way to find out her genetics and what type of horse she truly is. I get mixed signals from the looks of her. if you have any information regarding such screening, please let me know. Thanks in advance.
March 6th, 2012 at 8:29 pm
I have a 6666 bred 2008 mare. Both her sire and dam are registered quarter horses however she had to be registered as a paint because of excessive white – 4 white stockings, large blaze and a small to medium white spot on her belly. She is by Justa Swinging Peppy out of Natural Pattern. Can i find out if her parents were typed and if so can she be AQHA registered? She has NCHA earnings of just over 10K.
March 24th, 2012 at 6:46 pm
I recently acquired a mare that is said to be about 12 yrs old. I have no clue as to what her history is but is told she is full quarter. I would love to get her registered by AQHA if she is but would need to do a DNA or Parentage Verification. I read that an application needs to be in with AQHA prior to the testing kit being sent however I noticed it was going to cost 1,000. If she turns out not eligible for registration, is the 1,000.00 fee refundable? I am nervous about spending so much money and she ends up not being eligible. Is there a way to do the test first to make sure she is even okay for registration?
Thanks!
June 6th, 2012 at 7:22 am
I have a thoroughbred mare who is pregnant to a QH who was recently gelded. Apparently he is registered but we have limited info on him, only that he’s a palomino. Is there any way we could find out if he is registered so we can register the foal?
July 10th, 2012 at 9:21 am
I would like to have my horse DNA tested and registered. when i bought him, they said they didn’t register him because they didnt know what stallion was his sire. Is there any way I can do this? he is getting gelded, so I wont be breeding him, but for some reason it seems important me that i register him anyway.
July 10th, 2012 at 9:22 am
can some one please email me and tell me if i can do this? (please see post above) rockithaircare@gmail.com
July 21st, 2012 at 8:08 am
Hello,
We have purchased a beautiful little mare for my daughter a few weeks ago. The mare is 10 years old. She is not registered, which is a down right shame. She will make a great brood mare in a few years and I was wondering if there is any way to register her now. I don’t have a lot of info to go on. Previous owners were divorcing and she was sold quickly. I would appreciate any help or advice.
Thanks,
Lisa
September 4th, 2012 at 11:28 pm
I have a mare that I bought but she did not come with papers! I was wondering if there is any way to get her papered and find out her blood lines?
September 29th, 2012 at 6:49 pm
I had adopted a quarter horse foal earlier this year. He is now 6 months old. The rescue has no way to find out his dam and sire. So, would a DNA or Parentage Test be able to tell me his pedigree?
November 19th, 2012 at 2:41 am
I have the same basic question that is posted by others. I recently bought this great gelding. He is incredible and I think has a ton of potential in the show ring. My problem is that I don’t have his papers or know who his parent are. I got him from a rescue that was rehabbing him from starving. They got him from a kids camp. He apparently spent a few years bouncing from kids camp to lesson barn and back again. Before the camps had him, he supposedly was a western pleasure show horse. He looks like the quintessential QH and I think he probably had papers at one time, but they are long gone. He has had many homes in the past few years and obviously not all of them were good. If there is any way to figure out who he is I would love to know.
November 30th, 2012 at 3:25 am
I have the same question, can we find out a horses bloodlines via DNA? Regardless of whether I can register the amazing little qh mare I have, I would love to know what lines she came from.
December 28th, 2012 at 6:06 pm
I have the same questions as many others. I have a quarter horse gelding I purchased around 2 years ago, but the people we bought him from did not have papers on him. He appears to be full quarter horse, and I would like to register him. Is this possible without any information about his sire and dam? Is a DNA test able to allow a horse to be registered?
January 2nd, 2013 at 10:48 am
What do I do if my horse was bought and we have no trace of the parents or any paper, only the bill of sale. We know what bread he is because they told us, he is part quarter horse and haflinger, he has never bread and is a gelding. How to I register him so that I can ride him in fairs??
January 31st, 2013 at 9:29 pm
I bought a horse almost a year ago. I just got the dna papers back today. its saying her mare on te papers is not her mare. She has a little filly about 6 mons old. I bought her because of her breeding, what can i do.
February 23rd, 2013 at 11:19 am
So I bought a black quarter horse mare from a good friend, who bought from these Indian people witch never released her papers.. Because she’s a money earner. I was wondering If I send in her DNA would they find out who her dam and sire are and find out if she’s registered…
February 24th, 2013 at 8:43 pm
Hi is there a way to paper a filly If you don’t know anything about the dam or the sire? Please help mee
February 24th, 2013 at 8:44 pm
Email me at gizmomouse@att.net if you know anything
February 26th, 2013 at 9:44 am
I DID purchase a QH that the picture on the back of the papers did not match the horse! Lucky for me, the man took her back and then had to go through the process of finding out what went wrong! Now I insist on seeing the actual papers, not just a copy of the front! A foal I am purchasing right now has excessive white and I’m waiting for his dna test to return now so his registration can be finished out and I can bring him home. I think its an excellent idea, and feel AQHA is on the front line of technology and innovation with keeping things right with their registry.
March 3rd, 2013 at 8:16 pm
hi im wantting to register my foal(stud/colt) i know for a fact that the sire is registered but the dam is in question. this is because my friends grandmother owns both the sire and the dam but when she bought the dam she was told that she is registered but the dam has had several owners and the paper work was lost and no one remembers the dams registered name. if i were to get a dna test on the dam could i get her papers? or should i get a parentage verification on the foal? and he is a cremello and i want to use him for breeding purposes.
March 24th, 2013 at 6:18 pm
I just got a 6 month old filly that had been rescued from a field of neglected horses. Her Dam and Sire both were registered quarter horses but the lady couldn’t remember who was who(believed she had Alzheimer) sad now that I don’t have anything on my filly and wish I could. Don’t know if I can register her. Just got a photo of the sire from the lady I picked up my filly from.
March 26th, 2013 at 11:43 am
Why are there no replies to these comments?!?
Has anyone gotten an answer to the question about not knowing the history of a horse?!? I want to know more about my sweet QH mare I got at auction with NO info.
March 29th, 2013 at 11:13 am
ditto to devon–i keep checking this site and no answers listed except for the first couple!! fristrating—
i also acquired a horse that another person said “oh i used to own him”–she had sold him without papers–gave me his reigstered name–and said he was DNA typed–but still wouldnt hand over the papaers-can i re-DNA him to verify his supposed registery,parents etc–then have the AQHA send her a letter requesting the papres? If she “lost them” then we could apply for duplicate etc–based on the DNA matchof existing papers out there?? Id like a reply before re-ordering the DNA kit-thanx
April 17th, 2013 at 6:15 am
I have some horses which were rescued and know that they are registered or have registered parents. I called to ask the proper protocol to getting the papers of these horses. I did send in the information for registry papers and requested DNA kits along with information as to their rescue. Knowing that the office has had problems with the computer system and a large back log. I called back and asked if I could get the DNA testing done on my own to assist in expediating the paper work. When I called back and asked this question. I was told that AQHA would not send out a DNA kit for a horse or register a horse unless they were given both registered parent names.
So, what is the truth? and why did I get two different answers? Can I even get the unregistered foals tested and registered?
April 24th, 2013 at 8:08 am
I bought a mare with foal on 2010. I have the registration of the mare, and the stallion is DNA tested. As the mother deceased 3 months after the the birth of the foal, and I can not have DNA test on the mare ( stallion was tested). I won’t be able to register my foal ???
April 28th, 2013 at 10:01 am
Ok I have a mare that I’m wanting to breed in the future but don’t know if I can register her because I don’t know if her parents are registered. Her previous owner says she is pretty sure they are so what would I need to do?
May 10th, 2013 at 3:42 pm
I have an ’04 gelding that I raised out of a mare I bought as a yearling. I never did have the mares registration transferred to my name (previous owner is my sister inlaw). That mare has since passed and so has my geldings father whom is also registered but never transferred to my mothers name…I know he’s a gelding and I will never sell him and O do know his lines but it would still be nice to know if I could still register him..
May 16th, 2013 at 10:44 pm
I have the same question as Brooke.. I bought a grade mare, was told she is aqha.. But no papers.. Can I DNA her to see what her lines are and see if I can get papers