Like countless other AjPHA members, Heather Gerald of Chandler, Arizona, found herself falling in love with a special Paint Horse at her boarding stable—maybe it was his kind disposition or the special connection the pair shared. Nevertheless, Heather wanted to take the next step to make the gelding hers. Problem was, the cute Paint’s official identity was unknown and no one seemed to know where his registration papers could be found. On a whim, Heather contacted APHA’s MemberCare team for help.
“I was wondering if I could get some help? I have started riding a horse at my barn and I would love to show him in the APHA shows,” Heather wrote. “Problem is, his old owner abandoned him at around the age of 5, and with him went Elvis’s papers. So here I am, eight years later, trying to find lost papers. I know he was shown at APHA shows before and is registered. I just don’t know his name.”
Sharing what information she knew about her mystery horse’s background, APHA was able to help identify “Elvis” as TPR Majority, a 1997 sorrel overo gelding by Majority Too and out of Bright Impression. Armed with contact information for Elvis’ last recorded owner, Heather contacted the woman and was able to start the process of getting a duplicate set of registration papers transferred into her name.
“I wanted to send you an email to thank you for helping Heather,” her mother, Jacqueline, wrote. “She is very attached to this horse, and he is also very attached to her. The information you provided was exactly what she needed, and she did indeed find the prior owner—the woman did not realize that the horse was still in her name and thought he was lost forever when her fiancé disappeared with him 10 years ago. She was very happy to find him and learn that he was OK and not really very far away, and she is willing to work with us to turn his papers over to my daughter. She even has old photos to share with us. Once the papers are up to date, we will take possession of Elvis, and Heather is looking forward to his return to the show ring here in Arizona.”
APHA’s talented MemberCare team is always willing to help, and procedures like duplicate certificates and transfer by indemnity can help get your Paint’s registration in order.
For more tips about finding the APHA identity of a mystery Paint in your life, or to learn more about the transfer by indemnity process, read “Paint Horse P.I.” in the August 2014 Paint Horse Journal—check it out for FREE online here.
The Paint Horse Journal is your No. 1 source for Paint Horse-specific information and it’s the only magazine dedicated to the Paint Horse industry. Subscribe or renew by calling (817) 222-8454 or online at phj.apha.com/subscription.
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[Reprinting all or part of this news release is permitted, so long as credit is given to the Paint Horse Journal and a link provided back to apha.com.]
About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association, registering more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded. APHA creates and maintains programs that increase the value of American Paint Horses and enriches members’ experiences with their horses.