AQHA launches $15 transfer fee for a limited time.
America’s Horse, October 9, 2007 – While not transferring your horse isn’t a federal offense, we’re offering a limited-time amnesty program: Have your American Quarter Horse’s ownership paperwork updated for only $15 per horse regardless of how many times he or she has been sold.
Normally, there would be a $15 charge for every time the horse changed hands and the transfer paperwork wasn’t completed. That charge would be $50 for nonmembers.
With this limited-time offer, completed and signed transfer forms from each previous owner are still needed, but the fee is a low, one-time charge of $15 for members. Nonmembers can take advantage of the $15 transfer offer by joining AQHA for only $35.
“This is an extremely important sale and a great way for AQHA members and all American Quarter Horse owners to get their paperwork updated during this limited-time offer,” says AQHA Executive Vice President Bill Brewer. “Properly updated ownership papers benefit both owner and horse in a variety of ways.”
Properly updated registration papers:
· Provide verification that an owner owns a particular horse
· Help preserve the breed
· Increases a horse’s value
· Makes horses eligible to compete in various events
· Demonstrates pride in a horse
Sometimes, members forget or get busy and their paperwork simply gets out of hand. By offering a flat $15 fee for a limited time, AQHA is helping owners get their records straight. If you need help researching unrecorded owners or if you’ve lost contact with a previous owner, contact AQHA to receive assistance. Here are some tips to get you started:
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, such as the horse’s name, to ensure the correct horse is being transferred. This, along with the original registration certificate and the fee, is all that needs to be sent 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 the horse’s age, color and markings match those on the certificate.
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.
The only way you can show a horse in amateur and youth 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 owner’s 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 need 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. You can download a transfer report from www.aqha.com/forms/index.html.
AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal, The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal or America’s Horse, visit www.aqha.com/magazines.