Instructions
Find out as much as you can about your horse by talking to former owners, barn managers or anyone else who might know its history. The more information you can gather, the easier it'll be to replace the papers. If you can find the horse's registration number or registered name, you can contact the breed registry and start the process of replacing the papers. The exact procedure for replacing them varies from breed to breed, but having the registration number and/or registered name makes the process a lot easier.
Lift the horse's lip and look for a number tattooed there. The Jockey Club, the group that registers Thoroughbreds, keeps a detailed database of tattoo numbers. If your horse is a Thoroughbred and the tattoo number is visible, you can simply contact the Jockey Club through its website (see Resources) and request a replacement set of registration papers.
Ask your veterinarian to scan the horse for an implanted microchip. Many breed registries, including those for warmbloods and Friesians, implant microchips in their foals; these microchips include complete information on the horse, including its date of birth, name and registration number. If your horse has an implantable registration microchip, your vet can print out a report, which you can then submit to the appropriate breed registry to get your replacement papers.
Contact the breed registry for your horse and ask if it accepts DNA samples as evidence of pedigree and registration. Some breed registries keep a DNA database on all their horses, and if you can submit a blood sample drawn by your vet, you may be able to find a match and get replacement papers.
How to Get Papers on a Horse
When you have registration papers for your horse, you know a great deal about it. The papers provide a detailed pedigree, going back for many generations. With that information, you can research the family tree of your horse to determine which equine sports his sire and dam excelled in, making it easier to decide which direction to go with your own training. Sometimes, however, the papers get lost, and it can take some detective work to track them down.