How to Register Your Paint Horse

Good-quality photos are essential to the APHA registration process. These serve as permanent identification for the horse, are logged on the horse’s profile and registration certificate, and help categorize your horse as Regular Registry or Solid Paint-Bred Registry.

The required color photos show the entire horse from the left side, right side, front and rear. Providing additional close-up photos of any minimal markings is also recommended—include closeups with and without a ruler next to the white marking. Here are some more tips:

• Color photos are required. Black and white photos are not accepted. Do not trim the photos. We recommend side-view photos are taken in landscape format.
• Groom your horse. Mud and manure can obscure markings and coat color, so start with a clean horse.
• Focus on the horse. Make sure your photos are sharp and in-focus, and try to only show the horse that’s being registered if possible.
• Make sure markings stand out. Review your photos to ensure all markings are clearly represented in the photos—that includes identifying markings on the head, legs, etc. These are easier to see when the coat is short (summer-coat length using a #10 blade) or with any obscuring long hair clipped short. Try taking your photos in the early morning or late afternoon so the sun helps best show the horse’s color. If you’ve got a light-colored horse (gray, palomino, cremello, perlino, etc.), try taking the photos with the horse in the shade or while his coat is wet to help contrast the areas of white vs. colored hair.
• Minimal markings. If your horse exhibits minimal markings that may qualify for regular registry, please also include close up photos of the area with and without measurement. Take care not to cover any of the white marking so that a correct measurement and review decision may be reached.
• Enlist a helper to hold the horse. Position the horse so he’s standing squarely, with all four legs visible from the left and right sides. A handler’s help makes capturing any necessary close-up photos easier and safer.
• Watch the background. A non-cluttered, clear background helps depict your horse better in the photos.
• More is better. If possible, submit several shots of each side and of the qualifying areas. APHA’s MemberCare team will choose the best photos for use.

Transferring ownership keeps a Paint Horse’s record up to date and lets you take advantage of all opportunities offered by APHA. Usually, this is submitted by the buyer. Transfers can be submitted at PHcentral or by postal mail.

Let’s get started! You’ll need the following:

• Original APHA registration certificate for the horse
  • If you don’t have this, complete the Affidavit for Duplicate Certificate form and provide its required photos, plus material below.
• Signed transfer report form (usually on the back of the original certificate)
  • The owner of record signs as the seller.
  • Your information goes in the buyer section.
  • Note date of sale.
• Payment for fees.
  • Submit your transfer online at PHCentral for faster service and lower fees. Watch our how-to video for step-by-step details.

Before a foal can be registered with APHA, a Stallion Breeding Report must be on file with the association. The Stallion Breeding Report is filed by the stallion owner at the time of breeding. It lists details about the stallion, exposed mares, breeding dates, breeding method and more. Report all eligible mares exposed to the stallion for a particular breeding season.

The stallion owner at time of breeding can submit the Stallion Breeding Report online at PHcentral or via postal mail using the physical form. Submit the work online for faster service and discounted fees!

Tips for Stallion Breeding Report submission:

• • Make sure your stallion is enrolled for breeding. All stallions (Paint, Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred) must be enrolled for breeding with APHA before a Stallion Breeding Report can be filed and the foal(s) registered. Enroll the stallion for breeding online at PHcentral or by submitting the Horse Enrollment for Breeding form by mail to APHA along with your Stallion Breeding Report. Check your stallion’s status at PHcentral.com—log into your profile, select the stallion from your list of owned horses and check “Breeding Records.”
  • Submit by the deadline for lowest rates. The Stallion Breeding Report form can be submitted to APHA via PHcentral or physical mail—the deadline for submission is November 30 of the breeding year (postmark date) to avoid late fees. For stallions standing south of the equator, the deadline is by May 31 of the breeding year.
  • Submit your Stallion Breeding Report online for the best rates. Watch our “How to Submit a Stallion Report” video for a step-by-step guide.
  • Use the correct registration number. If a stallion or mare is registered with multiple associations, make sure you use the horse’s APHA registration number on all APHA work. For a Quarter Horse, put a Q or QX (appendix) before the AQHA registration number (if there is a zero after the X, please omit the zero). For a Thoroughbred, put a J before the Jockey Club registration number.
  • Stallion owner signature required. Be sure the correct signature appears on the report. Even if a third party stands the stallion, only the recorded stallion owner or authorized agent can sign the report or submit the Stallion Breeding Report online. If the stallion sells during breeding season, each owner is responsible for submitting a report reflecting the breedings occurring during his or her ownership.
  • Release your breedings. Marking a breeding “released” is for both the stallion owner and mare owner—this allows the mare owner to register their foal online for fastest service and lowest fees. Both online Stallion Breeding Reports and the current Stallion Breeding Report form designate breedings as “released” by default.
  • One breeding year per report. Each breeding year requires its own Stallion Breeding Report submission.
  • Include payment for fees. That allows your work to process faster and in the most efficient way. Current fees always apply—see the APHA Rule Book fee schedule for details.
  • Mare Entry. If you’ve searched for the horse by registered name or registration number and she’s not found, it is probably because the mare hasn’t yet been enrolled for breeding with APHA. You will use the checkbox that says “Enter Mare Data Manually.”  When that is checked, you are able to enter details for a Quarter Horse or Thoroughbred mare by typing in her information. Only use that Manual Data Entry when the horse is not found in the search function.