How necessary are Registration Papers??

stardust · 10-19-2009, 09:32 AM

I bought star a couple of year ago, was told that she could be registered, but the lady that had her did not have the papers at that time (star was 1) So at 2 years old she went to trainers came home and all of a sudden the papers show up when it was going to cost me an arm and leg to pay for it. So now she is 3 and my new BO said that it will only cost me 300.00 AQHA it register her. is it really worth it in this day and age. and if so can i only do a 12 month membership to get the cheaper rate? I am so clueless..

Tardystepsaver1 · 10-19-2009, 09:40 AM

No I think worh it at unless the takes a leap for the better! I have horse that is reg. and have never put him in my name reg. doesn't not matter me. So people say send the with the new owers then it will be on bill to get done. But if you going to a lot money me her then maybe you reg. her that away you cn get money back out her.

muttduck · 10-19-2009, 09:42 AM

Depends on what you want to do with her in the future, and if you ever plan to resell.

Resale value will increase with registration papers.

Some shows are only for registered horses.

Should you want to breed, it's better to be able to register the offspring, and to do so, she needs to be registered.

If you're hacking around on trails or in your yard, papers aren't necessary.

If your kids want to show 4H, papers aren't necessary.

qtrhorse1993 · 10-19-2009, 09:46 AM

i register mine, but it depends on the person, you cant ride your papers, but when it comes to selling you may get better money, if you want to show aqha then you need the papers. after the age of 4 i dont think you can register them, but to me it is worth it. if you decide to breed or anything you may want them. and yes you can just do the 1 year membership.

pippy · 10-19-2009, 09:54 AM

I am all for registering horses- I like to know history of lines etc if I buy a horse. A person can look back at the close up lines and see what potential and disposition a horse might have.
There are some shows or futurities that require registration- if you want to go to them.
I do think it increases their value but training & accomplishments are what makes a horse the most valuable- in my opinion- whether they are registered or not.
But it does add up the older they get- I suppose the registry's hike the price to get folks to get it done while they are young, but to many don't want to put any money in their babes so they don't register them & leave it up to the buyer..sometimes by then, the horse is older and hence it never gets done.

You may want to give the registry a call- I brought a young horse home in May, and thought I'd register the colt (born March 2008). I found out along w/ the registration fee, I'd have to pay a fee to have him parentage verified plus, in my case, a hypp test. And- since my colt was past his 12 month birthdate of March , even though he is considered a yearling, I have to pay the 2 yr old fee, so I am paying more.

ron · 10-19-2009, 10:01 AM

AQHA puts on specials at times to register at reduced costs

less than 100 bucks usually

Horselady44 · 10-19-2009, 10:54 AM

What Ron said is true...APHA is doing that right now. I think papers are worth it...but thats just me. My bf bought a mare and didnt want to pay to get her registered...and ended up having to sell her and he only got $250 for her!!! Greenbroke 3 year old palomino paint...so yes for resale it is def worth it! I would go for it...it is spendy...but worth it in my eyes...and the eyes of potential buyers...no one 'plans' on selling

Slim Pikkens · 10-19-2009, 11:04 AM

Unless the seller has filled out the Transfer of Ownership form you could probably get her to date the transfer within the past 30 day. It can be downloaded from the Internet or a Transfer will be mailed at your request. Hopefully she had kept everything else up to date. Some of the registries have been offering a much cheaper deal to encourage people to register. Each Registry provides all the info you need and then some, on the internet. Reg. papers also validate a horse's age. More and more are demanding DNA testing to eliminate fraudulent registries.

pagcam · 10-19-2009, 11:32 AM

IMO - Please, please, please get her papers.
Unless you can guarantee you'll never sell her; and if you died tomorrow, your family would never sell her, she needs papers. The future is an uncertain place, and IMO, a horse owner has certain responsibilities to make sure that their horse has a less uncertain future. One thing that can make a horses future less uncertain is papers - people generally prefer registered stock; they like having the knowledge of the history and breeding. In a choice between two horses of equally good conformation and training, they're more likely to choose the one with the papers. Will it make her more valuable? Maybe/maybe not, but it's worth it to me.

singing tree · 10-19-2009, 11:40 AM

The price difference between a reg. Haflinger and a grade one is tremendous -thousands of dollars. Obviously, I am not as familiar with AQHA, but I would strongly suggest you do it, in the cheapest way possible of course. And if you sell, do the transfer and send it in for the buyer. That way it all stays done. My Morgan mare is also registered. She is also worth alot more than she would be with no papers, even in this economy.

merleliz · 10-19-2009, 12:27 PM

I would do the registration...and this is why. If you ever sell her, her future value may depend on being registered. If you ever breed her, ditto...the foals will be more valuable if registered.

And it may save her life someday. Our mare was purchased as a rehab/resale project by her previous owner just because she had the bloodlines and was well trained. It saved her from going to auction. She was bone thin and her feet had been badly neglected. Had she been unregistered, her previous owner probably wouldn't have bought her, because even with her training, she would not have been worth anything as a WP mare if she wasn't registered....but as she said "As soon as I saw the names on her papers, I knew she would be worth a try, so I rode her, and her trot convinced me!"

We all hope and pray that our loved horses will never end up in such a situation, but sometimes the "best laid plans", you know?

I don't show and don't plan to ever breed, just trail ride...but I keep her registration current just in case...if due to some unforseen catastrophe she ever enters the market again, I want the deck loaded in her favor as much as possible!

shayla · 10-19-2009, 12:44 PM

I'm another one who votes "Register".

Both of mine are trail horses only. No plans to show. BUT, if something happens to me, or something happens, period, they stand a better chance of finding a good home.

I think grade horses are nice, sure. However, any sort of paperwork, any sort of paper trail can only help, not hurt.

I mean, how many people say "I'm not going to go look at that horse because it's registered" versus how many people say "Well, I'll go check out that horse because it IS registered and has *so-and-so* in their pedigree"?

stardust · 10-19-2009, 12:46 PM

I was approached about using her for reining and or western pleasure. I have never done any kind of competition. Would not having her papers affect any of these competitions? Here is a picture of Star at the trainers last year as a 2 year old. Please forgive my posture I was a little nervous, its my first time on her, we were outside and its a brand new saddle. What in your opinions would she be good for??

Rhiannon · 10-19-2009, 03:12 PM

It's worth it. If you plan to sell, breed, or show, you will need papers on the horse. You will increase her value with the papers, even if you can't ride papers.

It's worth the $300.00.

Horselady44 · 10-19-2009, 03:47 PM

Yep...if you are planning on showing in WP or reining...you will need papers...plus like said before it will increase her value if you ever 'needed' to sell her and it secures her future better like someone said. Its def worth the $300!
She is a beautiful girl. I think she would be great at WP. Thats another thing...you can see what she may excel in if you get her papers as you will see who is on them!

TB's_are_my_thing · 10-19-2009, 03:56 PM

pic is a bit small- i LOVE her colour- as many have said for re-sale value it is worth it. more people would come out to look just because she's registered as compared to non-registered. And, if having to decie between 2 equally good horses (when looking to buy) i would go for the registered as compared to non-registered.

NorthernHorseGirl · 10-19-2009, 10:17 PM

Absolutely get her papers if you can. I'd have gladly paid $300 for papers for my grulla quarter horse mare. It would have increased her value by at least the $300, likely alot more.
I may not ever show in a breed show and you can't breed a gelding but it's so much fun to check out your horse's background.
Also, if she ever -God forbid- is injured in such a way that she's only good for breeding she'd be valueless if she's a grade.

enchanting · 10-20-2009, 07:02 AM

I am a big fan of registration papers. One advantage that I didn't see mentioned is that as a buyer I would have a better idea of the actual age of the horse. I don't know if it happens as frequently but there used to be many cases of people being sold a great looking 25+ yr old horse as a 10-15 yr old kid's horse. Many buyers of grade horses don't pay for vet checks that would help to prevent cases like this. Some buyers don't have enough experience to read the ages on teeth, or even think about it when they are being told by seller that the horse is 10.

That is one of my reasons for looking for registered stock normally. But even having the paperwork to prove the animal was able to be registered can help there. But none guarantee that someone didn't swap papers or horses somewhere along the line though. Two solid bay mares without any markings look pretty much the same to me. Hard to tell which was the registered AQHA and which is the grade mix that happened to be better built.

stardust · 10-20-2009, 07:52 AM

Thank you for all of your wonderful advise. I have to wait till the original owner gets back from vacation then I will go talk to her to pick up the paperwork on Star. Then I will be having my new BO or any boarder out there help me in the registration process.. Thank you again..

stardust · 10-20-2009, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TB's_are_my_thing

pic is a bit small- i LOVE her colour- as many have said for re-sale value it is worth it. more people would come out to look just because she's registered as compared to non-registered. And, if having to decie between 2 equally good horses (when looking to buy) i would go for the registered as compared to non-registered.

Sorry I know the picture is small, I had to pull it off of myspace and it looked distorted. Check back I will try to post it again in a larger scale. Just please ignore me in the photo as I said I was a little nervous, and I was trying to make her listen, stand, use both reins (not used to) and listen to the trainer while taking the picture. I am not very multi-tasked..

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Registration papers mixup?	flexy	Breeding & Genetics	3	10-01-2009 10:08 AM
Registration papers	Palomino06	General Horse Advice	3	01-07-2007 06:30 PM
Registration Papers {dealing with an uncooperative breeder}	paige5785	General Horse Advice	13	06-09-2006 08:57 PM

10-19-2009, 09:32 AM
stardust Halter broke Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 173	How necessary are Registration Papers?? I bought star a couple of year ago, was told that she could be registered, but the lady that had her did not have the papers at that time (star was 1) So at 2 years old she went to trainers came home and all of a sudden the papers show up when it was going to cost me an arm and leg to pay for it. So now she is 3 and my new BO said that it will only cost me 300.00 AQHA it register her. is it really worth it in this day and age. and if so can i only do a 12 month membership to get the cheaper rate? I am so clueless..

10-19-2009, 09:40 AM
Tardystepsaver1 Weanling Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 304	No I think worh it at unless the takes a leap for the better! I have horse that is reg. and have never put him in my name reg. doesn't not matter me. So people say send the with the new owers then it will be on bill to get done. But if you going to a lot money me her then maybe you reg. her that away you cn get money back out her. __________________ Live your as life as if it's your last day

10-19-2009, 09:42 AM
muttduck Kid Safe Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 6,957	Depends on what you want to do with her in the future, and if you ever plan to resell. Resale value will increase with registration papers. Some shows are only for registered horses. Should you want to breed, it's better to be able to register the offspring, and to do so, she needs to be registered. If you're hacking around on trails or in your yard, papers aren't necessary. If your kids want to show 4H, papers aren't necessary. __________________ Custom stall signs and pet portraits, Wood Burned by hand with your equine's (or pet's) image: www.WoodburnedPetPortraits.com Self Defense Supplies, Stun Guns, Pepper Sprays: https://selfprotectionsupplies.com/

10-19-2009, 09:46 AM
qtrhorse1993 Yearling Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Johnstown, New York Posts: 706	i register mine, but it depends on the person, you cant ride your papers, but when it comes to selling you may get better money, if you want to show aqha then you need the papers. after the age of 4 i dont think you can register them, but to me it is worth it. if you decide to breed or anything you may want them. and yes you can just do the 1 year membership. __________________ The world meets no one half way, but your horse will meet you all the way.

10-19-2009, 09:54 AM
pippy Started Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: minnesota Posts: 2,298	I am all for registering horses- I like to know history of lines etc if I buy a horse. A person can look back at the close up lines and see what potential and disposition a horse might have. There are some shows or futurities that require registration- if you want to go to them. I do think it increases their value but training & accomplishments are what makes a horse the most valuable- in my opinion- whether they are registered or not. But it does add up the older they get- I suppose the registry's hike the price to get folks to get it done while they are young, but to many don't want to put any money in their babes so they don't register them & leave it up to the buyer..sometimes by then, the horse is older and hence it never gets done. You may want to give the registry a call- I brought a young horse home in May, and thought I'd register the colt (born March 2008). I found out along w/ the registration fee, I'd have to pay a fee to have him parentage verified plus, in my case, a hypp test. And- since my colt was past his 12 month birthdate of March , even though he is considered a yearling, I have to pay the 2 yr old fee, so I am paying more. __________________ "It's never to late to live happily ever after."

10-19-2009, 10:01 AM
ron Started Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 2,810	AQHA puts on specials at times to register at reduced costs less than 100 bucks usually __________________ Well now boogie little baby, boogie woogie all night long. A haw, haw, haw, haw, a haw.

10-19-2009, 10:54 AM
Horselady44 Started Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Montana Posts: 2,401	What Ron said is true...APHA is doing that right now. I think papers are worth it...but thats just me. My bf bought a mare and didnt want to pay to get her registered...and ended up having to sell her and he only got $250 for her!!! Greenbroke 3 year old palomino paint...so yes for resale it is def worth it! I would go for it...it is spendy...but worth it in my eyes...and the eyes of potential buyers...no one 'plans' on selling __________________ A happy horse equals a happy rider!

10-19-2009, 11:04 AM
Slim Pikkens Seasoned Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,047	Unless the seller has filled out the Transfer of Ownership form you could probably get her to date the transfer within the past 30 day. It can be downloaded from the Internet or a Transfer will be mailed at your request. Hopefully she had kept everything else up to date. Some of the registries have been offering a much cheaper deal to encourage people to register. Each Registry provides all the info you need and then some, on the internet. Reg. papers also validate a horse's age. More and more are demanding DNA testing to eliminate fraudulent registries. Last edited by Slim Pikkens : 10-19-2009 at 11:06 AM.

10-19-2009, 11:32 AM
pagcam Newborn Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 19	IMO - Please, please, please get her papers. Unless you can guarantee you'll never sell her; and if you died tomorrow, your family would never sell her, she needs papers. The future is an uncertain place, and IMO, a horse owner has certain responsibilities to make sure that their horse has a less uncertain future. One thing that can make a horses future less uncertain is papers - people generally prefer registered stock; they like having the knowledge of the history and breeding. In a choice between two horses of equally good conformation and training, they're more likely to choose the one with the papers. Will it make her more valuable? Maybe/maybe not, but it's worth it to me.

10-19-2009, 11:40 AM
singing tree Long Yearling Join Date: May 2009 Location: Hartville, Ohio Posts: 1,025	The price difference between a reg. Haflinger and a grade one is tremendous -thousands of dollars. Obviously, I am not as familiar with AQHA, but I would strongly suggest you do it, in the cheapest way possible of course. And if you sell, do the transfer and send it in for the buyer. That way it all stays done. My Morgan mare is also registered. She is also worth alot more than she would be with no papers, even in this economy.

10-19-2009, 12:27 PM
merleliz Seasoned Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fairburn, Georgia Posts: 4,467	I would do the registration...and this is why. If you ever sell her, her future value may depend on being registered. If you ever breed her, ditto...the foals will be more valuable if registered. And it may save her life someday. Our mare was purchased as a rehab/resale project by her previous owner just because she had the bloodlines and was well trained. It saved her from going to auction. She was bone thin and her feet had been badly neglected. Had she been unregistered, her previous owner probably wouldn't have bought her, because even with her training, she would not have been worth anything as a WP mare if she wasn't registered....but as she said "As soon as I saw the names on her papers, I knew she would be worth a try, so I rode her, and her trot convinced me!" We all hope and pray that our loved horses will never end up in such a situation, but sometimes the "best laid plans", you know? I don't show and don't plan to ever breed, just trail ride...but I keep her registration current just in case...if due to some unforseen catastrophe she ever enters the market again, I want the deck loaded in her favor as much as possible! __________________ VOTE FOR "DUSTY TRAILS HORSE RESCUE" DAILY IN THE PETFINDER SHELTER CHALLENGE! http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/c...faces?siteId=3

10-19-2009, 12:44 PM
shayla Coming two Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 1,783	I'm another one who votes "Register". Both of mine are trail horses only. No plans to show. BUT, if something happens to me, or something happens, period, they stand a better chance of finding a good home. I think grade horses are nice, sure. However, any sort of paperwork, any sort of paper trail can only help, not hurt. I mean, how many people say "I'm not going to go look at that horse because it's registered" versus how many people say "Well, I'll go check out that horse because it IS registered and has so-and-so in their pedigree"? __________________ "Oftentime, the notion of "Following one's heart" is used as an excuse to avoid doing what is best because it's to hard or to complicated." ~David Hopkins

10-19-2009, 12:46 PM
stardust Halter broke Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 173	I was approached about using her for reining and or western pleasure. I have never done any kind of competition. Would not having her papers affect any of these competitions? Here is a picture of Star at the trainers last year as a 2 year old. Please forgive my posture I was a little nervous, its my first time on her, we were outside and its a brand new saddle. What in your opinions would she be good for??

10-19-2009, 03:12 PM
Rhiannon Yearling Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Lacey, WA Posts: 624	It's worth it. If you plan to sell, breed, or show, you will need papers on the horse. You will increase her value with the papers, even if you can't ride papers. It's worth the $300.00.

10-19-2009, 03:47 PM
Horselady44 Started Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Montana Posts: 2,401	Yep...if you are planning on showing in WP or reining...you will need papers...plus like said before it will increase her value if you ever 'needed' to sell her and it secures her future better like someone said. Its def worth the $300! She is a beautiful girl. I think she would be great at WP. Thats another thing...you can see what she may excel in if you get her papers as you will see who is on them! __________________ A happy horse equals a happy rider!

10-19-2009, 03:56 PM
TB's_are_my_thing Halter broke Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 172	pic is a bit small- i LOVE her colour- as many have said for re-sale value it is worth it. more people would come out to look just because she's registered as compared to non-registered. And, if having to decie between 2 equally good horses (when looking to buy) i would go for the registered as compared to non-registered.

10-19-2009, 10:17 PM
NorthernHorseGirl Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 509	Absolutely get her papers if you can. I'd have gladly paid $300 for papers for my grulla quarter horse mare. It would have increased her value by at least the $300, likely alot more. I may not ever show in a breed show and you can't breed a gelding but it's so much fun to check out your horse's background. Also, if she ever -God forbid- is injured in such a way that she's only good for breeding she'd be valueless if she's a grade. __________________ Some horses come into our lives and quickly go. Others stay awhile and make hoofprints on our hearts and we are never, ever the same. Anonymous Rest in peace Clint, I'll always love you and I'll miss you for the rest of my life. You were and will always be my perfect horse.

10-20-2009, 07:02 AM
enchanting Halter broke Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 197	I am a big fan of registration papers. One advantage that I didn't see mentioned is that as a buyer I would have a better idea of the actual age of the horse. I don't know if it happens as frequently but there used to be many cases of people being sold a great looking 25+ yr old horse as a 10-15 yr old kid's horse. Many buyers of grade horses don't pay for vet checks that would help to prevent cases like this. Some buyers don't have enough experience to read the ages on teeth, or even think about it when they are being told by seller that the horse is 10. That is one of my reasons for looking for registered stock normally. But even having the paperwork to prove the animal was able to be registered can help there. But none guarantee that someone didn't swap papers or horses somewhere along the line though. Two solid bay mares without any markings look pretty much the same to me. Hard to tell which was the registered AQHA and which is the grade mix that happened to be better built. __________________ Enchanting Acres Appaloosas www.enchantingacres.com

10-20-2009, 07:52 AM
stardust Halter broke Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 173	Thank you for all of your wonderful advise. I have to wait till the original owner gets back from vacation then I will go talk to her to pick up the paperwork on Star. Then I will be having my new BO or any boarder out there help me in the registration process.. Thank you again..