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DNA and Parentage Verification

A DNA test will derive the genetic markers of an individual horse. Think of it like a finger print. Each horse has its own unique genetic marker. Parentage verification still obtains that genetic marker, but it also compares it to the sire and dam recorded for that horse. Basically, parentage verification makes sure the dam is the horse’s mother and the sire is the horse’s father. AQHA has made genetic testing a requirement in some instances. Check out the list below to see if your horse needs to be DNA typed or parentage verified.

DNA typing is required if:

  • Your horse is a stallion that is breeding mares.
  • Your horse is a mare that is being bred and was born in 1989 or later.

Parentage verification is required if:

  • Your horse’s sire or dam was under the age of 2 at the time a foal was conceived.
  • Your horse was the result of embryo/oocyte transfer.
  • Your horse was conceived by the use of frozen semen or cooled semen that was transported.
  • Your horse is more than 48 months of age at the time the application for registration is received by AQHA.
  • Your horse’s dam was exposed to more than one stallion within a 30-day time period.
  • Your horse has excessive white markings, as specified in Rule 205(d).
  • Your horse is foaled after January 1, 2007, and is a decendant of the stallion Impressive 0767246 (see Rule 205(c)).
  • Your horse is going to be raced.
  • Your weanling is going to be entered into an AQHA World Show.
  • The AQHA Executive Committe deems parentage verification is necessary.

If your horse qualifies under one of the stipulations listed above, or if you just plain want to have the DNA test done, click here for an order form or contact AQHA Customer Service to order a kit by phone with a debit or credit card. Current fees for genetic testing are $50 for a registered horse and $40 for a test that is ordered on a registration application for a foal.

Genetic testing only needs to be performed once in a horse’s lifetime. Another genetic testing fact is that a horse cannot be parentage verified if his sire and dam are not both DNA typed. AQHA automatically parentage verifies horses that are eligible and reprints the certificate of registration once parentage verification is complete.