At Your Service

How To Register Your AQHA Foal

August 4, 2009

A horse registration survival guide to help keep you sane!

Everyone loves babies. And American Quarter Horse babies are just about the sweetest things to look at!

I love going through files to find a picture to place on a horse’s registration certificate, because I get to see all the cute little foals in line to be registered. But it takes a lot more than a sire and dam to get a foal registration in the works. Read on for the answer to one of our most frequently asked questions – ‘How do I register my foal?’

AQHa Customer Service Rep Kayla Randall

AQHA Customer Service Rep Kayla Randall

You’ve found the perfect stallion for your mare and the deed is done. About a year has gone by and you have a sweet little foal on the ground. You’ve done the breeding, done the waiting, and now it’s time for the paperwork!

Every year AQHA mails out a pre-printed Registration Application (also called a Breeder’s Certificate) to every stallion owner that files a Stallion Breeding Report. This application will contain pertinent information such as the sire and dam’s information, mare and stallion owner’s name and address and the breeding dates. It’s up to you, the proud owner of a new foal, to fill in the rest.

But what if you don’t have your pre-printed application? AQHA has a registration application available for download. This is the same form, but you have to fill in all the information that would come ready for you in the pre-printed version.

Now you need to ask yourself a few questions:

  • Do I have the proper photos of the foal?
  • Do I have all the signatures I need to get my foal registered?

Once you have all of these basic things covered, you can get your markings drawn in and ship it off to AQHA, with the peace of mind that it will probably go off without a hitch!

If an AQHA foal registration isn’t something you do every day, it can get a little confusing. And there are a lot of scenarios that can come into play when registering your foal. Not all registrations are the same, and depending on several factors, there are some additional things you may need to do. Read up on AQHA registration rules in our Handbook.

Have a special situation that needs to be addressed? Send me a comment and I’ll be happy to help you out!

As always, at your service…

Kayla Randall
AQHA Customer Service

Comments

65 Comments on “How To Register Your AQHA Foal”

  • Theresa

    May I register a QH/Paint filly through AQHA?

    Thank you,
    Theresa

  • Jill Anderson

    I purchased a Quarterhorse mare & her foal 10/07. I have not transfered the papers yet. I have the mare’s and foal’s papers, but not the foal’s permanent papers with her markings filled in. All the papers I have are completed. I wasn’t sure how to get her markings on her papers until I read this article. If I take the 5 pictures as described in the article and send them along with the papers for transfer for both her and her mom, how much will that cost so I know how much money to send? Also, which forms do I need to include? Thanks. I have wanted to get this done since I purchased them both, but didn’t know how. Thanks again,
    Jill Anderson
    Member #0762326

  • kayla

    Theresa, AQHA is an equine breed registry, whereas, APHA is actually a color registry. AQHA will not register a foal that does not follow the guidelines below.

    Foals resulting from the following breedings that are eligible to be registered with AQHA:
    Registered Appendix (X) + Registered Quarter Horse (QH)= Registered Appendix foal (X)

    Registered Quarter Horse (QH) + Registered Quarter Horse (QH) = Registered Quarter Horse foal (QH)

    Recognized Thoroughbred (TB) + Registered Quarter Horse (QH) = Registered Appendix foal (X)

    Some examples of horses that are not eligible for registration with AQHA:
    Appendix (X) + Appendix (X)= not eligible to be registered
    (Unless one Appendix horse is eligible for advancement)

    Thoroughbred (TB)+ Appendix (X)= not eligible to be registered
    (Unless the Appendix horse advances)

    Quarter Horse (QH)+ Any other breed of horse besides a registered Appendix, acknowledged Thoroughbred, or registered Quarter Horse are not eligible to be registered with AQHA.

    As always, please comment back with further questions, or speak to me or another AQHA Customer Service Rep directly Monday-Friday 8-5CST by calling 806-376-4811.

    Kayla Randall
    AQHA Customer Service

  • kayla

    Jill, If your foal has extensive leg markings, please be sure to include close-up photos of each leg. The same for the face or any other part of the body with white markings. Also, include a note to AQHA stating you are submitting photos in lieu of drawing markings. If we need additional photos, or more information regarding the markings, we will let you know during processing.

    As for the fees, that depends on the age of the foal and your membership status. Please click on the link below for a complete price listing for foal registration.

    http://www.aqha.com/association/registration/registration.html

    Please feel free to comment back with further questions, or speak with me or another AQHA Customer service Rep directly Monday-Friday 8-5CST by calling 806-376-4811.

    Kayla Randall
    AQHA Customer Service

  • Dave/Norma Lacey

    With colour, that does not show untill about 12 months, how do you get it right? Pictures are ok if you don’t live in the North where it starts to snow in Oct. winter hair is now growing and long,and the background is white.Because temperatures are in the -degrees,untill the end of March, Mares are usualy bread to foal in April or May which makes them 6 months for the first snow fall. If colour was reg. at 12 months, you could get better pictures and better colour as they would be sheading out.

  • kayla

    Dave and Norma, AQHA rules allow six months from the issue date on the certificate or until the 12 month birthdate-whichever is the later date- for corrections on a horse’s certificate. For this reason, you may still register the foal early and make necessary corrections. You may register the foal the color he is at birth, or submit photos of the foal for our equine color speciaists to analyze at the time of registration. They look at the points of the horse and the color of the sire and dam and can usualy make an informed color choice. Read more about equine color genetics in AQHA’s Color Coat Genetics brochure, available for download at the following link.
    http://www.aqha.com/association/download/pdf/GeneticsBook.pdf

    Kayla Randall
    AQHA Customer Service

  • william walters

    i have a quarter horse mare
    that was sold by david &stacie mcdavid at a sale she was avertised
    as bread to be bread to hes a peptospoonful. at the sale they said
    she was not.they owned both the stallion and mare at time of service.I got in touch with him he said he would not sign the papers because he did not sail the horse to me as bread.
    If you could help me in eny way it would be much appreated.
    I can not afford 8500 hundard dollars. thanks william

  • kayla

    William,
    In reviewing AQHA records, I do show a Stallion Breeding Report was filed for your mare in 2008. If your mare is set to foal in 2009, you can still obtain a Registration Application and fill it out to the best of your abilities. Submit it to AQHA and we will write a letter to the breeders requesting the necessary information. AQHA rules do state, however, that they are required to sign the breeder’s certificate, and without their signature, the foal is not registerable. I do suggest you try because this will at least lock in your registration fee for the foal.

    Please feel free to comment back with further questions, or speak with me or another AQHA Customer service Rep directly Monday-Friday 8-5CST by calling 806-376-4811.

    Kayla Randall
    AQHA Customer Service

  • Jeannie

    I have a foal that was given to me at 1month of age and she is out of an AQHA stallion and mare. They have two stallions and are not sure of which one is the sire. Can I get this foal registered and what do i need to do.

    Thanks

  • kayla

    Jeannie,
    This is not uncommon in the horse registry world! Please apply for your foal’s registration certificate as normal, choose the best possible sire that would fit your foal and request parentage verification on the application. If that stallion is not the sire, AQHA will ask you for the name of another stallion. We will perform the parentage test multiple times (without charging you more for it) until we find your foal’s sire.

    This not only accomplishes the task of finding the correct parent of your horse, it will also take care of your foal’s DNA type for the future (if you choose to breed it).

    Please feel free to comment back with further questions, or speak with me or another AQHA Customer service Rep directly Monday-Friday 8-5CST by calling 806-376-4811.

    Kayla Randall
    AQHA Customer Service

  • Judy R. Cook

    Please send me a foal registration form to 6901 Anders Bottom Rd. La Grange, Texas 78945

  • kayla

    Judy,
    I have ordered a registration application for you. It should arrive via US Post in 7-14 business days. You may also print an application from the following link.

    http://www.aqha.com/forms/index.html

    Please feel free to comment back with further questions, or speak with me or another AQHA Customer Service Rep directly Monday-Friday 8-5CST by calling 806-376-4811.

    Kayla Randall
    AQHA Customer Service

  • kara

    Hi, I am considering purchasing a reg. paint filly. She is solid black and her sire is a reg. QH stallion. Can she be AQHA registered?

  • Colleen

    I have a 9YO registered Breeding Stock APHA mare. She is unpainted, her dam’s side is all AQHA and her sire’s side is APHA on top and AQHA on bottom. Is there any way to get AQHA papers on her. If so, can you give me an approximate cost?

  • kayla

    Kara and Colleen,

    AQHA is an equine breed registry, whereas, APHA is actually a color registry. AQHA will not register a foal that does not follow the guidelines below.

    Foals resulting from the following breedings that are eligible to be registered with AQHA:
    Registered Appendix (X) + Registered Quarter Horse (QH)= Registered Appendix foal (X)

    Registered Quarter Horse (QH) + Registered Quarter Horse (QH) = Registered Quarter Horse foal (QH)

    Recognized Thoroughbred (TB) + Registered Quarter Horse (QH) = Registered Appendix foal (X)

    Some examples of horses that are not eligible for registration with AQHA:
    Appendix (X) + Appendix (X)= not eligible to be registered
    (Unless one Appendix horse is eligible for advancement)

    Thoroughbred (TB)+ Appendix (X)= not eligible to be registered
    (Unless the Appendix horse advances)

    Quarter Horse (QH)+ Any other breed of horse besides a registered Appendix, acknowledged Thoroughbred, or registered Quarter Horse are not eligible to be registered with AQHA.

    As always, please comment back with further questions, or speak to me or another AQHA Customer Service Rep directly Monday-Friday 8-5CST by calling 806-376-4811.

    Kayla Randall
    AQHA Customer Service

  • Brooke

    I have a registered APHA horse. He is an 8 year old bay tobiano, on his sire side they are all APHA except for one. on the dam side they are all registered AQHA horses. Can my horse be registered with AQHA?

  • Becky Auker

    I bred my thoroughbred mare who is registered with the Performance Horse Registry to a 100% foundation bred Quarter Horse. The stud is Jaz Mighty Mateo, a golden dun. I had a colt born that looks like he is going to be a red dun. If I send pictures of the mare and colt, will I be able to register him as an appendix quarter horse? I am a member of AQHA.

  • kayla

    Becky,
    If your Thoroughbred is registered with the Jockey Club, AQHA will list the horse as breeding stock. A Thoroughbred bred to an American Quarter Horse will result in a foal that is registerable in the AQHA Appendix Registy. Please see the link below for more about Appendix Registered American Quarter Horses.

    http://www.aqha.com/association/registration/generalglossary.html#appendixhorse

    Please feel free to contact me or another AQHA Customer Service Representative at 806-376-4811 Monday-Friday 8-5 CST.

    Kayla Randall
    AQHA Customer Service

  • Kristy

    We recently bought a colt for our daughter. They told me he could be registered but that they hadn’t done it yet. I just got the papers for his dam and sire and it looks like the sire is registered APHA and the dam is AQHA. Is there a way to determine if the sire is an appendix breed so that I can register the colt…? Or did I get misinformation on registering?
    Also, I see a lot of questions about DNA typing, etc? Is this required as part of the registration process if we know who the parents are?

    I’d like to get this taken care of as soon as possible as he turns a year in May. I know we are going to need some specific steps to the registration process….!!

    Thanks!!

  • bertina

    I purchased bred mares in the fall. They are now foaling, I was just checking on the next steps I need to take at getting these registered. I was told by one of the mares previous owners that they get the papers from the stud owner, fill them out register the foal to them and then the papers for the foals are given to me. A little confused at how this whole process works??

  • kayla

    Kristy,

    AQHA does not list paints as breeding stock for our Appendix registry.

    AQHA will not register a foal who’s breeding does not follow the guidelines below:

    Registered Appendix (X) + Registered Quarter Horse (QH)= Registered Appendix foal (X)

    Registered Quarter Horse (QH) + Registered Quarter Horse (QH) = Registered Quarter Horse foal (QH)

    Recognized Thoroughbred (TB) + Registered Quarter Horse (QH) = Registered Appendix foal (X)

    Please feel free to contact AQHA Customer Service at 806-376-4811 Monday-Friday 8-5 CST and a representative will be happy to assist you.

    Kayla Randall
    AQHA Customer Service

  • kayla

    Bertina,

    That process is correct. AQHA sends each stallion owner pre-printed registration applications upon receipt of their stallion breeding reports each year. The stallion owner then signs and gives the applications to the mare owners. Since you purchased your mares bred, you will need to contact the previous owners of the mares for the application. If you are unable to obtain the pre-printed application, you may print a registration application from the following link.

    http://www.aqha.com/forms/index.html

    Please feel free to contact AQHA Customer Service at 806-376-4811 Monday-Friday 8-5 CST and a representative will be happy to assist you with further questions!

    Kayla Randall
    AQHA Customer Service

  • Amanda

    How do I register my TB Stallion to be able to breed to AQHA mares and have registerable babies?

  • Brent

    I purchased three yearlings three years ago under the understanding that they where to be registered by the previous owner. They have not been registered. He has the breeding certificates and owns the dams. Can I register these colts and what would it cost per colt?

  • Brent

    The sire and dam are both AQHA registered.

  • kayla

    Amanda,

    Thoroughbred horses are eligable to breed American Quarter Horses per AQHA rules so long as they have been approved by AQHA to do so. Your stallion will need what is commonly referred to as a T-number. This is a seven digit number that begins with a T (indicative of Thoroughbred).

    Please see the link below for information regarding Thoroughbred Recording.

    http://www.aqha.com/association/registration/tbrecording.html

    A signed statement giving AQHA permission to obtain any exsisting DNA markers from the Jockey Club is also required. (If we are able to obtain and use any existing DNA info, we will not charge a fee to get the information. If not, you will need to DNA type the horse through UC Davis. AQHA charges $50 per kit.)

    Kayla Randall
    AQHA Customer Service

  • kayla

    Brent,
    AQHA will accept a foal registration at any age. Please see the link below for a current fee schedule.

    http://www.aqha.com/association/registration/registration.html

    You may print a Registration Application and Transfer Report for each foal from http://www.aqha.com/forms. Fill the forms out to the best of your ability and submit them to AQHA. We will lock in your registration fee and write the appropriate persons for any missing information.

    Thank you for your comment and good luck getting your foals registered! Please contact Customer Service if you need any more assistance and we’ll be happy to help! http://www.aqha.com/contact.html

    Kayla Randall
    AQHA Customer Service

  • Ken

    Kayla,
    Recently purchased a Foundation Bred colt and have owned for 5 months with no further contact from the previous owners. Upon purchase they advised they had forgotten papers, then got call that stated they found them and would send them…Never received another word. They advised us that his Grandfather was the “Bob Evans” horse. Is there anyway to register him?
    Thanks,

  • kayla

    Ken,
    Thank you for your comment!

    To be eligable for registration with AQHA, your horse must have an AQHA registered sire and dam. If this is the case, and you know their names, you can get a Registration Application and fill it out. You will also need a transfer.

    You do still need signatures in order for your foal to be registered. However, if you send what information you have on the application, AQHA will lock in the fee for your foal and we will then write letters to obtain the appropriate signatures. I’ve included the link to the AQHA forms page so you may print the necessary documents.

    http://www.aqha.com/forms/index.html

    Please feel free to contact AQHA Customer Service if you need further assistance!

    http://www.aqha.com/contact.html

    Kayla Randall
    AQHA Customer Service

  • Julia

    What makes a horse foundation bred?

  • Christina Vermeer

    I have an APHA registered stallion and I am breeding him to 3 AQHA mares. If I get a solid foal, can the foal be registered as AQHA . Or can it only be registered as APHA. I have been trying to find out but every one tells me something different. I am hoping you can help.

    I thank you for your time.

    Christina Vermeer.

    C.M.G. Horses.

  • Holly Marshall

    Hi, I was wondering how do i register my 4yr old Australian QH? He is elegiable to be American Registered but i was wondering how do i get the form and how much will it cost? Thanks heaps Holly Marshall

  • kayla

    Holly,
    Please submit a front and back copy of the Austrailian QHA certificate along with an AQHA Registration Application available here: http://www.aqha.com/forms/index.html. AQHA also requires a pedigree for both the sire and dam of the horse. The fee is $25.

    Kayla Randall
    AQHA Customer Service

  • Matt

    I have a gelding that could have been registered but the people I got him from never received the papers from the breeder. With the age of DNA is it possible to send DNA in from the gelding and do a DNA search to find his Dam and Sire? More interested in his bloodlines and actual age then registering him.

  • kayla

    Matt,
    AQHA does not currently have a system in place to identify a horse based on DNA type alone.

    If you feel that the parents of this horse have been DNA typed, it’s definately worth a shot to contact UC Davis – the lab AQHA utilizes exclusively for genetic testing. Please see direct contact information below.

    http://vgl.ucdavis.edu/

    Kayla Randall
    AQHA Customer Service

  • Amanda

    My new colt has a large white spot on his inner thigh, his parents are both AQHA registered and DNA’d , his sire is also fountation registered can he still be registered with AQHA. If not can I register with APHA.

  • carrie

    why is it that a appendix x appendix can not be registered. would it still not be 1/2 thoroubred and 1/2 quarter horse (therefore still a appendix horse) the same as a thoroughbred x quarter horse…… i have a appendix stud and it really limits what i can breed. i am just not sure why two horses with papers can not be registered yet you allow a thoroughbred into the registry by crossing it on a quarter horse.

  • josh

    i have a four year old mare that is maaking a nicce calf horse. but i have no papers. i got her from a house trader a he said that they may have got lost along the way. if she had papers or not could the DNA testing help me?

  • Anne

    We have a new foal whose dam is a buckskin. The sire is a black. The foal is a questionable color and may mature to be a black, a dun, a buckskin or a grulla. If I select a grulla or dun as a color on the foal’s registration papers and the foal sheds out and matures to be a totally different color (changes from grulla to black?) then how do we correct the color on the AQHA registration?

  • Lori

    A little complicated. I have a couple of APHA mares that have 100% AQHA breeding. In their lineage is an AQHA crop-out that was registered with the APHA, and since crossed with AQHA stock. The crop-out stallion is 3 generations back, and is long deceased. Some of my foals are solid, meaning they have APHA undesirable characteristics. But,their AQHA breeding makes them conformationally superior. With the registration incentive program, I could conceivably register these horses AQHA for around $1200. Would their APHA papers, with AQHA names & registration suffice; or, would blood-typing still be required on unavailable horses (i.e. deceased).

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  • kala

    i have an APHA mare that is bred to an AQHA stallion how do i go about registering the foal.

  • Keely

    We just purchased a horse and wanted to see if there was anyway of finding out any more inof on her. We have her Appendix Certificate thru AQHA. We will need to transfer her info to us. Please let me know. Thanks

  • Cassandra

    Hello,
    My name is Cassandra. I just recently bought a foal and there is a huge contriversy. The owner of the dam doesnt want foal registered and will not give out mares name. I know sires name and owner. And a little info on that. Is there anyways possible i can get this foal registered.
    Sire was paint Dam was Quarter

  • Nicole

    I have a 2yr.old filly out of Reg. AQHA mare/stallion. Owners of both never sent me paperwork for registration as promised. I know that I can fill out the paperwork with the info. I know along w/registration fees and AQHA will send letters to the owners of sire/dam to fill out the paperwork but what if they don’t? Am I out of the money for the fees or can you bypass owners signing?? Thanks!

  • Lexi Williams

    I am trying to figure out the paperwork to get my appendix filly registered. The mare was TB (Betty’s Babe) and was bred AI. The mare has a DNA type #QH441527 sticker on her jockey club papers. The stallion is Larks Tuff E Nuff. What other information do I need to put on the application and where? I have never done one like this before.

  • kayla

    Nocole,
    Thank you for your comment! AQHA requires a completed breeder’s certificate in order to register a foal. If the appropriate signatures are not obtained, the foal cannot be registered. AQHA locks in registration fees from the time the applicaton is received. If AQHA is unable to complete the registration, any money submitted is refunded. The application can be reactivated at a later date if the missing informatin is obtained. The origional fees will be assessed plus an activation fee.

    Kayla Randall
    AQHA Customer Service

  • Kevin Sonnier

    Can i find out a horses pedigree by just knowing its previous owner

  • Brett

    Dear Kayla,
    I have a five-year old Paint(Quarter Horse) gelding. His sire is a registered Quarter Horse and his dam is a regitered Paint(Quarter Horse), however, my horse was never registered. Is it possible that I can still register him now at this age, with a registered Quarter horse sire AND Registered Paint dam?

  • Kaitlin

    I had my mare bred last fall, the foal is on the ground but the stallion owner never signed the breeders certificate, and they will not reaturn any phone calls so pretty much I am stuck. Is there anything else that I can do? Or is my filly pretty much going to be a grade horse? Does anyone have any ideas??

  • Jaclyn

    I have a 17 year old mare, she is registered with the Appendix Quarter Horse Association, however I would like to register her with the AQHA as an appendix. When I bought her the guy said she was registered but I got a run around on the papers. Is there any way to determine who she is and get her papers? Or is there any way of registering he so I can breed her to a registered stallion and register the baby?

  • Daniel Casillas

    Daniel Casillas Apil 29th,2010 at4:30 I would like to get information on how to register 1 colt and 2 filles over the internet .

  • Daniel Casillas

    I would like to get information on how to register 1 colt and 2 fillies over the internet

  • sara

    i sent in a registration for my two year old mare about three months ago, and have not heard anything further about it. i was wondering how long it usualy takes to process the regestration for a horse, or if something went wrong with the papers

  • robert

    I have a stallion I purchased abour 3 years ago, I was told that he was a qh, however, I donot hold the papers, and am unable to contact the previous owner… am I able to register?… what would I need?

  • jenifer

    I had a foal born yesterday that has overo paint markings on his face and legs. He also has one small line of white on his underside. I can prove via dna that the colt is pure breed QH. How do I know if I can register him?

  • kayla

    Jenifer,

    Thank you for your comment! Please utilize the link below for information regarding registration/transfer requirements and fees.

    http://americashorsedaily.com/images/pdfs/registeraquarterhorse.pdf

    Transfer – (if person registering was not the mare owner at time of foaling)
    http://www.aqha.com/association/registration/transfer.html

    If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Customer Service Department, Monday-Friday, 8-5 CST, (806) 376-4811.

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  • josu deva

    I need to register a foal from a thoroughbred mare ana an AQHA stallion but the mare is not registered in the Jockey club of America, just in the spanish club. What i have to do to register this mare in the AQHA? DNA kit is required?
    Thanks
    Josu

  • Danielle

    can you register a horse if just one of the parents are registered??

  • kayla

    AQHA is an equine breed registry, whereas, APHA is actually a color registry. AQHA will not register a foal that does not follow the guidelines below.

    Foals resulting from the following breedings that are eligible to be registered with AQHA:
    Registered Appendix (X) + Registered Quarter Horse (QH)= Registered Appendix foal (X)

    Registered Quarter Horse (QH) + Registered Quarter Horse (QH) = Registered Quarter Horse foal (QH)

    Recognized Thoroughbred (TB) + Registered Quarter Horse (QH) = Registered Appendix foal (X)

    Some examples of horses that are not eligible for registration with AQHA:
    Appendix (X) + Appendix (X)= not eligible to be registered
    (Unless one Appendix horse is eligible for advancement)

    Thoroughbred (TB)+ Appendix (X)= not eligible to be registered
    (Unless the Appendix horse advances)

    Quarter Horse (QH)+ Any other breed of horse besides a registered Appendix, acknowledged Thoroughbred, or registered Quarter Horse are not eligible to be registered with AQHA.

    As always, please comment back with further questions, or speak to me or another AQHA Customer Service Rep directly Monday-Friday 8-5CST by calling 806-376-4811.

  • Mike R

    I purchased a mare in foal in Dec 2008, with the seller promising to send the paperwork to register the foal once they did the late breeders report. To date I have not recieved the paperwork for my 2009 filly. Can I submit name of Sire and Dam with DNA kit to register my filly? Seller is not owed money but demands more money each and every time we attempt to collect the paperwork on our yearling!

  • Kelly

    I have a seven year old mare who isn’t registered with two registered parents. The pricing sheet said it would cost me about 1,040 to get her registered but there was a link to an article about special pricing, i was wondering if that still applies and if it applies when i sent my papers in and not bring them to an AQHA event.

  • Tracey

    I own a section II registered mare and I would like to breed from her using a pure bred quarter horse Sire.
    Would any resulting foal be eligible for registration as a full quarter horse without the appendix?

  • Brandee

    I have 5 mares that I would like to start breeding, I am just wondering whether or not I have to get them dna typed to register the resulting foals?

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