How to Find a Horse's Pedigree

All else being equal, a registered horse will have a much higher value on the open market than a horse whose parentage is unknown. There are a number of reasons for this disparity, including the fact that registered horses with a known heritage have more value as breeding stock, and the fact that certain lines of horses are known to have exceptional skills for showing, racing, endurance and other popular equine events. If you know that your horse is registered but do not have a pedigree you may be able to get the papers by doing a little bit of homework.

Things You'll Need

  • Horse's name
  • Internet access
  • Flashlight
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lift up your horse's lip and look for a tattoo. All thoroughbreds are tattooed so that they can be identified if they become separated from their papers. This helps to protect these potentially valuable horses from theft, and helps them find their way back to their owners if they are stolen.

    • 2

      Write down the tattoo number you find. You may need to shine a flashlight on your horse's gums to read the tattoo properly, especially if it has begun to fade. If you cannot make out the entire number, write down as much of it as you can.

    • 3

      Visit the Jockey Club website and look for your horse's information using the tattoo number you recorded. You can also ask a trainer at the local horse racing track to check the tattoo number for you. Once you have the tattoo number you can order a set of replacement papers and a full pedigree from the Jockey Club--if your horse is a thoroughbred.

    • 4

      Visit the website maintained by your breed's registry to find the procedure for checking pedigrees and determining the parentage of your horse. For instance if you own a quarter horse you can visit AQHA.com to check the pedigree of your horse. Some registries do charge a small fee for pedigree checks and replacement papers, but if you are a member of the registry you may be entitled to a number of free pedigree checks. To find your horse's pedigree you will of course need your horse's registered name.

    • 5

      Visit allbreedpedigree.com and enter the registered name of your horse. This service is a good resource if you are unsure of your horse's breed but know his registered name, or if you do not have access to the breed registry. Although not all horses will be in this registry, it is a good place to look for information on your equine companion.

    • 6

      Google your horse's registered name. If your horse has an extensive show record or racing background he may be listed on a number of websites that list race and show results. Once you find the most relevant results you can visit those pages to try to find a detailed pedigree.