Frequently Asked Questions

Registration and certification are two separate but related procedures. Registered horses have had DNA checked to make sure it matches with a registered Sire and/or Dam. To be certified a horse must first be registered and then be checked by a sanctioned RMHA examiner to assure the size, markings, temperament and gait required for certification by the RMHA. Detailed descriptions of Registration and Certification are included in the Rules of Registry located under the Association Tab by clicking on Bylaws & Rules.

Registration provides advantages for you, as an individual owner, and for the Rocky Mountain Horse breed as a whole. As an owner, you will find that registered Rockies have a greater value than unregistered Rockies , because future owners can breed and register offspring from a mare or stallion. In addition, sanctioned shows and competitive trail rides require registration for any gelding, mare, and stallion. Registration papers also provide a history of ownership and breeding, while providing important information on heritable traits if future owners consider breeding. Finally, registration information helps the RMHA track the number, gender and bloodlines of this rare and wonderful breed, helping to ensure quality in the future.

When considering the purchase of a Rocky Mountain Horse, you can be sure that the horse has already been registered by requesting to see the registration paper issued by the RMHA.

If you breed Rocky Mountain Horses and a foal is born, the first step for registration is to retrieve the yellow copy of the breeding certificate that is issued by the sire’s owner when the mare is bred. Then take four photos clearly showing the horse’s left, right, front and back sides. Next you need a DNA sample. This is done by pulling a minimum of 35 to 50 hairs from the tail making sure that the root is attached (this is where the DNA is). These hairs should be sealed in a white envelope that has been clearly identified with the sire and dam names & registration numbers, foal’s sex and date of birth, your name and contact information.

The next step is to complete the Application for Registry Form available on the Forms page, found under the Association tab of this website, along with the Fee Schedule.

Like registration, certification protects the value of your horse and helps maintain the quality of our precious breed. Offspring from parents that are not certified before conception can never be registered. Also, sanctioned shows and competitive trail rides require certification.

Your horse must be a minimum of 23 months old to be presented for certification. The process requires review of your horse by three RMHA Examiners. This can be done in person as a Live Certification. A list of Examiners by state can be found by clicking on Examiner Information found under the Association Tab. Rules for Live Certification can be found in the Rules of the Registry located under the Association Tab by clicking on Bylaws & Rules. Additional information regarding Live Certification can be found by selecting the Certification-Live Form on the Forms page, under the Association tab of this website.

If a Live Certification isn’t possible, you may make a video of your horse to be reviewed by RMHA Examiners for certification. Rules for Certification by Video an be found in the Rules of the Registry located under the Association Tab by clicking on Bylaws & Rules. Additional information regarding  Certification by Video can be found by selecting the Certification By Video Form on the Forms page, under the Association tab of this website.

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Fees for registration vary depending on the gender and the age of the horse at registration and /or certification. An additional fee is required if you are not a RMHA member.

The Fee Schedule is available on the Forms page, found under the Association tab of this website.

All forms for Registration and Certification can be found under the Association tab on the Forms page.

There is no form to be completed to transfer your horse into your name. Check the back of the Certificate of Registration to see if the horse has been transferred into the name of the person from whom you are purchasing the horse (no entries may mean that person is the original owner of the horse listed on the front of the Certificate of Registration). The current owner of the horse should sign and date the back of the Certificate of Registration for your horse to indicate the date you purchased the horse. Complete that section by adding your name and address and send the Certificate of Registration form to the RMH with the correct fee and it will be processed and returned to you as soon as possible. We recommend you make copies of all paperwork before sending it to the Registry.

The Fee Schedule is available on the Forms page, found under the Association tab of this website. If you become a member of the RMHA, the fee to transfer a horse into your name (and all other Registry Fees) will be discounted.”

Duplicate papers will only be issued when the original papers are lost or destroyed, but never as a “second set”. Should the original be found after a duplicate is issued, one copy must be returned to the RMHA. Requests for duplicate papers can only be submitted by the owner of record and must be accomplied by four current photos. All requests for duplicate papers are reviewed and approved by the RMHA board.

Duplicate Paper Request forms can be downloaded from the Forms Section of this web site.

Changes can be made for free at the time of Certification. Under no circumstances is anyone other than the RMHA permitted to make changes on the original papers. If a change is needed because of an error by the RMHA, there will be no charge for the correction. If you would like to make a change before or after Certification you can submit the Color Change Request Form found under the Forms tab and pay the associated fee.

A list of registered offspring is available through the RMHA online pedigree database found under the Breed tab of this website.

Send the original Certificate of Registration to the RMHA with the date of death. The RMHA will mark the certificate deceased, send it back to you and update the registry.

A foal cannot be registered unless both the sire and dam are certified to breed. If both parents become certified after the breeding has occurred, there will be an additional $150 fee to register the foal.