Papers to Prove It
January 2, 2009
Pointers on transferring your American Quarter Horse.
View the full ad!
By AQHA Executive Director of Registration Gary Griffith
The first thing professional tie-down roper Stran Smith asks when purchasing a horse is if the horse has AQHA papers.
“The papers help me verify the bloodlines because a horse’s pedigree is one of the things I value,” he says. “I have American Quarter Horses, and I have the papers to prove it!”
That testimonial was part of a promotion that we ran a few years ago to encourage horse owners to transfer a horse’s registration into the new owner’s name when the horse is sold.
AQHA processes hundreds of thousands of horse transfers each year. Close to 90 percent of transfers pass through AQHA’s registration and transfer department without any problems. Of those that aren’t cleared, it’s usually because the new owners forgot to include the registration certificate or because the date of sale was altered or omitted.
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A Smooth Transaction
Here are a few tips to make sure your horse’s transfer sails through AQHA’s offices:
- The transfer report requires the names of the buyer and seller, along with the seller’s signature and the date of the sale. You also need to include basic information about the horse to ensure that the same horse is being transferred as the registration certificate suggests. This, along with the original registration certificate and the fee, is all that needs to be sent to AQHA.
- If you buy your horse at an auction, chances are the auction company will wait until your check has cleared the bank before it sends the transfer report and registration certificate to AQHA.
- When buying a horse from an individual, make sure you get the original registration certificate with the signed transfer at the time of payment or be certain the seller mails them to AQHA. Make sure that the horse’s age, color and markings match those on the certificate.
- Make sure the person who signs the transfer is the same person whose name is on the registration certificate as the owner. AQHA rules also require that each owner must be recorded on the horse’s certificate. If you buy a horse from someone who is not the last owner listed on the certificate, AQHA has to have transfers from each person who has owned the horse up until that time. This often results in lengthy delays in processing. If you need assistance with this situation, call (806) 376-4811.
- If the horse is in a ranch or company name, call AQHA to find out who is authorized to sign on behalf of that business. In some cases, we may not have an authorization on file. If that happens, AQHA has to obtain an authorization before the horse can be transferred.
- If you buy a horse from someone who recently died and you haven’t sent in the transfer form, be sure the date of sale was prior to the person’s death. Otherwise, AQHA can advise the buyer on what documents are needed to accept an executor’s or heir’s signature on behalf of the deceased person. These situations can cause lengthy delays in the process.
- Neither the seller nor the buyer has to be a member of AQHA to transfer a horse. However, if the buyer is not an AQHA member, he will have to pay a nonmember fee of $55, which ends up being the same amount as the cost of a membership and a transfer combined. In this case, AQHA gives the buyer a one-year membership.
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- The only way you can show a horse in amateur competition is if the horse is in your name or a family member’s name.
- If you own a mare and use her for breeding, it’s important to transfer the mare into your name because the name on the mare’s certificate at the time of foaling is also considered the owner of the foal. If the mare isn’t transferred at the time of foaling, you’ll have to get the signature of the previous owner to register the foal.
- The recorded owner or their authorized agent or lessee is the only person AQHA can recognize when conducting business with regard to any American Quarter Horse.
- Transferring a horse isn’t a hassle if it’s done promptly and correctly. Without it, you can’t brag that you own an American Quarter Horse and have the papers to prove it.
Call AQHA’s customer service department at (806) 376-4811 for assistance in transferring your horse.
Click here to download a transfer report.
Special Pricing
For a limited time, AQHA is charging just one transfer fee per horse, no matter how many times the horse has been bought and sold. Get your horse’s registration record squared away today for one low price! Membership requirements apply, and transfers must be sent in together. Contact AQHA for more details.
Comments
39 Comments on “Papers to Prove It”
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January 6th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
I really liked this article. I recently bought a Quarter horse mare from an individual and she keeps stalling on getting us the papers. Our stable owner says that this lady never gives up the papers. Our mare goes by the name of Leah. She has Peppy San, and Poco Bueno bloodlines and we think she is about 28 years old. We were told she only had one foal and it was a filly named Peppy Leah Bar. With possibly another name on the end of that. Her original owner was Jim Clutch in Bakersfield, Calif. Can you help guide me in where we might be able to acquire a copy of Leah’s papers?
Thank you,
Rhonda Smith
January 7th, 2009 at 8:51 am
I wish this article had came out about a month ago. As a new quarter horse owner I made the mistake of not sending the original registration certificate.
Thanks
Jason Skelton
January 7th, 2009 at 10:47 am
Hello, I have a friend who has aquired some horses from a gal she knew. She has a photo copy of the sale agreement which says she can get the papers when she picks up the horses. The horses were siezed by the spca here and she was able to get them shen she showed them here photo copied reciept. Now she cannot find the woman to get the official papers. What advice should I give her? Thanks, I am a member.
January 7th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
AQHA Staff – Thanks for your hard work and the ability to put up with all of our mistakes and still keep our paperwork organized. I enjoy the Racing News and regular AQHA Newsletter very much.
Thanks Again,
Vandee James and Cal DeCora
January 16th, 2009 at 11:03 am
I have a question regarding the appropriate date I should put on my transfer papers. I bought my horse from a friend and the final payment was at least a year ago. She gave me a hard time with getting the transfer papers and signing them. I recently have obtained the transfer form, she has signed it, but I’m not certain as to what date should go on the form. Are there penalty fees for not processing transfer papers immediately after finalizing payment? I did have posession of the horse during, and now after, the final payment was made.
Thank you for your time and attention.
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Thank you for your comments and support of http://www.americashorsedaily.com!
For an answer to Rhonda’s question, I have searched AQHA records and am unable to locate the breeder mentioned or your mare’s only foal. It can get tricky sometimes looking up an unknown horse! We do have more search options, however, so call AQHA Customer Service and one of our records representatives will be happy to assist you in your search for the registered name of your horse!
you can reach Customer Service by phone at 806-376-4811 Monday-Friday 8-5CST or click on the contact us link at the bottom of the home page at http://www.aqha.com!
Kayla Randall
AQHA Customer Service
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Cathy, AQHA does not have a deadline for transfers, and there is no penalty fee for waiting to submit them to AQHA offices. Normaly, the transfer date you submit to AQHA is the date you take possesion of the horse. Since you were making payments on the horse, you should speek to the seller-as this would actually be a private matter between the two of you. The only factor you need to consider is whether the mare was bred during the time you were making payments or whether the mare had a foal during that time. A date of sale-in this instance- could change the breeder or owner of the resulting foal. Check out AQHA’s Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations for complete rules.
As always, contact AQHA Customer Service Monday-Friday 8-5CST or send us another comment with more questions!
Kayla Randall
AQHA Customer Service
January 27th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
on questionable transfers will the Aqha go back to the original breeder of the horse,to find out who they originally sold the horse to? If not I think it would be a good idea. Thanks Lucy.
January 28th, 2009 at 5:38 am
I am AMAZED at the number of people who have problems with obtaining their horse’s papers at the time of purchase. It can take years to track down the last registered owner and get the paperwork taken care of. I learned my lesson when we purchased my daughter’s horse and the previous owner (who was a boarder at our barn) promised to mail me the paperwork since it was in his safety deposit box at the bank. After calling him for months, I found out that he never had the papers and had lied to us. We tried for several years to find out who held the papers since the the horses’ name did not appear on the AQHA registry. We had pretty much given up hope when somebody recognized the horse at a local all breed show and was able to give us his correct registered name. Long story short, we eventually got his papers. Unfortunately I have heard of others experiencing this same problem when buying a horse.
Now I don’t complete the transaction until the seller has the papers to give me when I give him his money. If the papers are not available, I wait to complete the transaction until they are.
February 4th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Lucy,
AQHA goes back to the last recorded owner of a horse to verify transfer errors and skipped ownership. Because AQHA rules currently require that transfers start with the recorded owner’s signature, verification from the breeder is not necessary. Also, the breeder is not always the first owner of the horse. For complete transfer rules, please see The AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations Rule 224 at the following link. http://www.aqha.com/association/registration/pdf/registrationrules_09.pdf.
Thank you and keep your comments coming!
Kayla Randall
AQHA Customer Service
February 22nd, 2009 at 8:26 pm
We are about to buy a horse for our daughter, but the owner has not papers. Apparently the previous owner is stalling and not giving up the papers. We would love to have the papers if possible. The horse is probably a Quarter horse mare, could be Appendix as well, and has a lip tattoo that is easy to read. We deciphered 5 numbers. We are now wondering whether we should or should not buy this horse. Any chance we can trace this horse via the tattoo?
March 2nd, 2009 at 9:57 pm
i just moved from my house into a new one and i lost my horse papers how do i get new ones?
March 3rd, 2009 at 9:09 am
Colton,
You will need to file for a duplicate certificate. AQHA has a form called an Affidavit for Duplicate Certificate that you may download from the Web Site at http://www.aqha.com/forms/pdf/AffidavitDupCertWEB.pdf. Please follow the instructions at the top of the form, submit the required materials to AQHA and we will reissue a certificate for your horse.
Please feel free to comment back with further questions, or speak with myself or another Customer Service Representative at 806-376-4811 Monday-Friday 8-5CST.
Kayla Randall
AQHA Customer Service
April 24th, 2009 at 11:47 am
I aquired a bred mare last year, received her registration and a transfer form. The transfer for the recorded owner to the person I obtained her from is missing. I have tried to contact both the recorded owner and the person I aquired her from to no avail. The mare is ready to foal and I want to get her transferred prior to foaling, so where do I go from here? By the way, you guys n gals at AQHA have been nothing but fantastic in my many dealings with you. Thank you very much.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
I bought a mare a few years back and the previous owners kept saying they would send me her papers, well i still haven’t recieved her papers. I am now ready to sell her and the interested buyer wants her papers. What can I do?
June 21st, 2009 at 7:36 am
My husband and I aquired a 2 year old last year, and was promised the papers on her. We would love to show her and send her to the trainers to finish out, but have yet to get the papers. It has been nothing but a run around between the mare owner and the stallion owner. Is there any way we can get them through DNA, with out these two?
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:35 pm
I have had a horse now for 6 years given to a close friend of mine, she didnt take to him so she gave him to me. i have been trying to get his papers from this lady for a while now. she has told me that she has lost them and when I called today to tell her I had a solution and would pay to get the duplicates and for a transfer her friedn (who i have been talking through since she wont give me the ladies number) said even if she could find the papers would not transfer ownership. i have been paying the bills for this horse for 6 years, and would really like to have more then just a copy of his papers.
We suspect that there was an insurance scam with his dam. I am worried this is also the case with him. does any one have advice. this horse is my life, and i am planning on taking him with me next month for school. but i need his papers.
December 13th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
I recently purchased a mare from a person who cannot find the original registration certificate. She raced the mare so she is definitely the owner of record, no problems there. Does she need to get a duplicate before I send in the transfer or will the bill of sale be enough??
December 14th, 2009 at 8:02 am
Please utilize the link(s) below to obtain information regarding duplicating a lost/destroyed certificate and transfer of ownership.
Affidavit for Duplicate:
http://www.aqha.com/association/registration/duplications.html
Transfer of Ownership:
http://www.aqha.com/association/registration/transfer.html
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Customer Service Department at (806) 376-4811, Monday – Friday, 8-5 CST.
Thank you for your interest and support of AQHA!
May 5th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
With a move, I lost the papers on my horse. How do I go about searching this out.
June 9th, 2010 at 1:55 am
I have a question, in the late 70’s i had to give up my beautilful App. Rustler Angelina Star due money and ive regretted ever since, i was wondering if there was anyway to find out what happen to her. All i can remember is the Girl ran barrels in Keithville , La and she was about eleven and her first name was Lisa or kim. I may regret trying to find out but i just knew she was going to a better home, with people who could afford to take care of her. It would be great if she had along and healthy life and was buried on that farm. Any suggestions?????
July 18th, 2010 at 5:51 pm
i have a horse named Ritz and we got him about three years ago he is 4 maybe 5 we are the 3rd owners of him. his first owner didn’t want to give us the papers because he didn’t want us to show him and make alot from him he wanted to sell the papers for 1500 so we didn’t get them my moms best friends dad bought him from the first owners and sold him to me. if any body knows how to get his papers that we want please tell me.
August 3rd, 2010 at 7:23 am
[...] wouldn’t have been possible without the AQHA transfer reports … a definite benefit to buying registered [...]
August 5th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
I recently bought a horse and received a copy of the papers. The lady promised to get the papers from her ex boyfriend who purchased the horse and gave it to her four years ago. When she contacted her ex boyfriend he refused to give her the original papers because he was still mad with her. I have a great horse with a great bloodline for breeding with no original papers. I don’t know what to do . Please help.
October 22nd, 2010 at 7:52 am
[...] remoteness of these areas allows them to commit the crime without being seen. Second, many of the owners release horses in these areas thinking they’re making a compassionate move, allowing their horses [...]
October 22nd, 2010 at 4:24 pm
My husband died with a will. The will is registered in the state of Nevada. My husband lived and died in NV. We were estranged. I am the executrix and heir on his will. The will states that if I were to die within 120 days of my husbands death the estate would then pass to his sons. The 120 days have passed. I am still alive and well. The horses are in the custody of a woman that my husband lived with. She is selling them off. In at least one instance I believe she has forged his name of the registration papers. The four horses are registered with the AQHA with my husband and this woman like this “j. doe/smith ranch”. This woman is aware that my husband died and began selling the horses as soon as he died. I am the heir in his will, unless like I stated I were to die within 120 days of his death and then the sons are the heir. Please tell me how to get this womans name off the horses registration papers and how to prevent her from continuing to sell off horses that she clearly does not own. Also how can I hold her accountable for the stallion she has already transfered into her name alone and for forging my deceased husbands name on documents submitted to the AQHA. Please – do not tell me to call registration – they have no answers for me, also – do not tell me contact a lawyer as they have told me to contact the AQHA and get your rules regarding this matter. I would appreciate communicating with someone in your organization knowledgable about the law, in particular estate law. This estate has not been put into probate since under Nevada law this estate does not meet the value threshold requiring the probate process. How can I stop this woman from steeling our estate, and how can I encourage the AQHA to stop enabling this woman to sell stolen horses? Thank you.
October 22nd, 2010 at 4:53 pm
How can I reach Gary Griffith now? Thank you.
October 29th, 2010 at 4:02 am
[...] bill,” Sandy says. “Many of these animals were abandoned and neglected because the owners didn’t have any place to go with their unwanted [...]
March 27th, 2011 at 11:09 pm
I recently was given a registered horse, from a woman that was estranged from her husband.. She had 8 children and couldn’t care for the horse anymore… She gave me the registration certificate with the horse, but she signed the transfer papers… Will this be acknowledged, since her husbands name is on the registration and she has no way of contacting him???
April 22nd, 2011 at 10:04 pm
I have bought a mare from a man and he never sent in the transfer of ownership . but they filled out info on the back to do it. Now how do I transfer her to my name . I do not know the owner of her before mr tip who I got her from.What do I do now ?
July 14th, 2011 at 1:05 pm
In 2000 i bought a yearling stallion my friend had brought me from a breeder im not sure what state though he had gone on a yearling hunt to bring back to illinois to sell, his certificate says his owner lived in canada, his owner signed the transfer and everything just so the day the person who actually decided to keep the horse could register him. Since my friend owned that horse for a short period of time before i got him does he still have to be on the certificate? he never sent the transfer in for himself, and i am now in the process of putting him under my name and like i said i have the transfer with the signature of the original owner so whoever kept it could send it in when they please. can i simply transfer him as if i had bought him from the original owner since he is the one who signed the horse over on the transfer and none of his previous owners transfered him to their names?
July 21st, 2011 at 1:08 pm
i bought a beautiful paint gelding in march of this year. i was told he had papers but the lady i got them from no longer had them. (she lost them!) is there any way i can go about getting them? i dont know much about this horse except he has morgan horse in him. i have a letter transferring all ownership to me. along with all vet records/boarding records since ive had him.
July 21st, 2011 at 1:12 pm
additional info:
is there anyway i can get a copy of his papers?
his name was whiskey when i got him. (thats all i know-may have had something else, hes a bay/white paint w/ blue eyes. black and white in winter.
September 13th, 2011 at 8:03 pm
i have a question about get papers on a quater horse i bought about 4 yrs ago. the guy i got him from was the second owner of this horse the first owner signed the transfer papers but the guy i got him from never had the papers fully transfered to his name and i was about to send them in but they were lost in my last move and i do not know the horses original name and i think the first owner is now deseaced what should i do and how do i get the papers back?
September 13th, 2011 at 8:04 pm
i have a question about get papers on a quater horse i bought about 4 yrs ago. the guy i got him from was the second owner of this horse the first owner signed the transfer papers but the guy i got him from never had the papers fully transfered to his name and i was about to send them in but they were lost in my last move and i do not know the horses original name and i think the first owner is now deseaced what should i do and how do i get the papers back?
September 13th, 2011 at 8:07 pm
he is a sorel gelding with a blaze and a snip his name when i got hin was wildfire but that is not the original name he has doc bar and badger background
September 13th, 2011 at 8:09 pm
he is aproximatly 7 years according to the vet
March 11th, 2012 at 5:11 pm
I have an very urged question!
My horse was donated to a non-profit ranch. The ranch owner did not want him and gave him to me, the girl which rode him even agreed upon letting the ranch owner give him to me. Now I have all the paperwork of the horse etc.
Now the PARENTS of the girl are claiming the horse back, but he was given to me by the non-profit ranch owner and the girl (who is over the age of 21 now).
Is the horse legally owned by me? will the ranch owner get in trouble?
Please please anyone help me, if I dont find an answer he will be picked up in 2 days.
Thank you in advance
May 3rd, 2012 at 5:53 pm
I purcused my gelding a few weeks ago from a “friend” of mine. He alawys made sure to tell me that he was registered and he had the paper work. Well we had a falling out and I am no longer in contact with him. When I looked at my registration papers for my horse I saw that it didn’t have his name on it. Aparently he aquiered him from the lady who owns the ranch he was working on. Her name isen’t on the papers either because the ranch and horses we apparently left to her when her husband/boyfriend passed away. What can i do.I have the rgistration paper but thats it.
Thank you for any help you can give me