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Frequently Asked Questions - AMHA

️Tue Jan 01 2092

About the Morgan

Registration and Registry Related

Transfer of Ownership

Why should I transfer ownership of my Morgan?
What are the fees of transfer and registration?
How do I transfer ownership of a horse I just purchased into my name?
What are the transfer requirements/fees for selling a Morgan horse to a person in Canada?
What are the transfer requirements/costs for purchasing a Morgan horse registered in Canada?
If I am an AMHA member when I purchase a Morgan, but the seller of the horse is not, is the transfer fee considered a member fee or a non-member fee.
Can I sign up for a membership and send a transfer application at the same time and still pay member rates?

DNA and Parentage Verification

Stallion Service Reports

Membership

The Morgan Horse Magazine

General Questions

About the Morgan

What is a Morgan?
A registered Morgan is the result of breeding two registered Morgan horses. All Morgans today trace to the stallion Justin Morgan, foaled in 1789, who was originally known by the name "Figure." The registry for Morgans was founded in 1909. Prior to that time, Morgans identified by Colonel Joseph Battell as descendants of Justin Morgan were considered Morgan horses.

The breed was formed from European horses brought in with colonists, and the Morgans set themselves apart with unique characteristics from their ancestors. Justin Morgan was, in fact, a genetic "sport" in that he did not resemble his sire or dam in obvious ways. He passed these characteristics on to his offspring, forming a distinct type or breed of horse unique to America. Justin Morgan sired many foals, but the most important ones are his three sons: Sherman, Bulrush, and Woodbury. Every Morgan today traces back to him through one of these stallions.

Is the Morgan America's first breed?
No, the Narragansett Pacer, a breed now extinct, preceded Morgans as a type of horse unique to America. The Morgan was the second "breed" unique and native to America. A "breed" is defined as: n. A group of organisms having common ancestors and certain distinguishable characteristics, especially a group within a species developed by artificial selection and maintained by controlled propagation.

To be an "American Breed" means the horses are something unique to this country, or bear unique characteristics and are not related to breeds with the same characteristics in another country. No other American breed can trace its pedigrees back as far as the Morgan horse can to the same foundation horse. The Morgan IS, indeed, the first true American breed based on bloodlines. Other breeds may have had that type of horse (pacer, harness racer, quarter racer) in colonial days but cannot claim those horses as ancestors today. Indeed, many were in fact offspring of Justin Morgan!

Who was Justin Morgan the man?
In her book on Justin Morgan, "Sing the Lord's Song in a Strange Land" Betty Bandel noted that the story of Morgan's life and the breeding of his famed stallion Figure, progenitor of all the Morgan horses, are of interest to lovers of horses and of music.

Morgan was a multi-faceted man who supported his family as a yeoman, musician, stallioneer, and tavern keeper in West Springfield,Massachusetts. Born in 1747, he descended from the first Springfield settlers (he was third generation). As a stallioneer he leased and stood the finest stallions obtainable–-Diamond, the sire of Figure's dam, and True Briton (also known as Beautiful Bay), considered the sire of Figure.

In the post-Revolutionary year of 1788, Morgan and several of his brothers moved their families to the independent Republic of Vermont. He settled in Randolph becoming Town Clerk, Lister and Grand Juryman in addition to teaching choral singing and music composition and farming. His anthems and hymns were first published in 1790 and 1791--a great achievement at that time period. His wife died in 1791 following the birth of their fifth child, and Morgan succumbed to consumption in 1798.

Ironically, it was Figure, the "Justin Morgan Horse" that overshadowed the well-known and respected musician-farmer.

For more details on the life and times of Justin Morgan, the man, and Justin Morgan, the horse, please select the link to The National Museum of the Morgan Horse: www.morganmuseum.org.

Who was Figure?
Figure was the founder of the Morgan breed, and later in life became known as "Justin Morgan's horse" and then "the Justin Morgan horse." Foaled in 1789, his exact parentage is unknown but is widely believed to have been by the thoroughbred stallion True Briton out of a mare said to be of Wildair breeding, who traced back to the Arabian and Barb roots of the Thoroughbred breed. Standing just over 14 hands tall, Justin Morgan (Figure) was a powerful, very sound stallion who had the unique ability to pass his characteristics on to his offspring no matter what type of mare he was bred to. His genes were so dominant that they still determine the appearance of Morgans today. Despite a hard life spent working fields and pulling stagecoaches through the steep hills and mountains of Vermont, Justin Morgan lived to the age 32. He died following a kick he received in the pasture that was untreated and led to infection.

Morgan Families
There are four widely recognized families in the Morgan breed that are briefly described below. A family is a group of horses from the same breeding program that have ancestors in common. The largest families are the Brunk, Government, Lippitt, and Western Working. There are also smaller "sub-families," which are horses descended from one horse or a particular breeding program.

Brunk Family
Morgans that trace to the breeding program of Joseph Brunk in Illinois are generally known for their soundness and athletic ability. Brunk's program revolved around breeding key mares, primarily of old Vermont breeding, to the best stallions available. Most Brunk Morgans have the mare Daisy numerous times in their pedigree. She was crossed with the stallions Ben Franklin, Senator, Jubilee De Jarnette, and Chetco, and the offspring crossed back to each other, creating a family linebred to Daisy.

Lippitt Family
Morgans tracing to several of the horses originating from the breeding program of Robert Lippitt Knight in Vermont are known today as "Lippitts." Morgans bred by Knight bear the prefix "Lippitt" at the beginning of their name and trace to the stallion Ethan Allen 2nd. Today two Morgan clubs cater to breeders who specialize in the Lippitt family lines. Their contact information can be found in the list of Related Links to Morgan clubs under "National Service Organizations."

Government Family
Morgans bred by the U.S. Government Farm between 1905-1951 are called Government Morgans. The Government farm used the stallion General Gates as their foundation sire. It is the largest of the Morgan families. The U.S. Government dispersed the herd in 1950, with the University of Vermont purchasing many of the breeding stock to carry on the Government program.

Working Western Family (sometimes referred to as 2WF)
These horses do not have one breeder or ancestor in common, but have a common purpose: to work the western ranges of the United States. Working Western Morgans drew from the Government stallions shipped out west to improve the quality of offspring from local mares, as well as Morgans from breeding programs in Kansas, California, Nevada, and Texas. Breeders who specialize in working western lines can be found in the list of Morgan Clubs under the list of National Service Organizations.

Are Morgans Gaited?
Overall, the Morgan is not a gaited breed, although there are some gaited Morgans found within the breed. In the 1800s, Morgans were valued for their speed in harness, and both trotting and pacing Morgans came at a high price. Today, a few Morgans can be found that are capable of performing a rack, pace, fox-trot, or other lateral gaits in which the horse's movement is from side-to-side instead of up and down as found in diagonal gaits, such as the trot and canter. No specific families or bloodlines are predominant in producing Morgans that can gait today. Information on breeders producing gaited Morgans can be found in the list of National Service Organizations.

How Long do Morgans Live?
Most horse will live for 20-30 years. Morgans are very long lived; many will live past 30 years if they are well cared for.

Do Morgans Have Any Genetic Diseases?
Morgans have remarkably few medical conditions present in the breed. There are rare occurrences of equine conditions that are common to most or all other breeds of horses, such as Cushing's disease, a hormonal abnormality commonly encountered in many breeds of horses in advanced age. Fortunately, simple tests by your veterinarian can diagnose many such conditions, and the disorder can often be controlled with medication. Any conformational or health problems that can be passed on should be taken into consideration before choosing to breed your Morgan to ensure the best possible offspring.

Are Morgans Easy Keepers?
Morgans are a long-lived, very healthy breed and suffer remarkably few problems with their legs and feet. They are well known for being easy keepers. They need a minimum of grain and grass compared with most other breeds, and they should be monitored to be sure they are not eating too much, especially sweetened feeds. Obesity can lead to health and soundness problems. Weight and condition of a Morgan is considered adequate to be when you can run your fingers along the horse's barrel and feel the ribs without having to push through a layer of fat, butcannot visibly see them. Horses that are well fed, but appear to be thin or gaunt, should be checked for worms, teeth problems, or other health problems by a veterinarian.

How do you feed and care for a Morgan?
Each Morgan is an individual and may have different requirements for care and nutrition depending on age, condition, and use. You will receive the best advice from your local veterinarian, who can evaluate your horse's needs based on his or her individual characteristics. The AMHA also offers the Youth and Adult Horsemastership programs that cover basic aspects of feeding and care for equines.

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What size saddle will fit a Morgan?
Morgans can present challenges in finding saddles that fit properly. Poorly fit saddles can result in bad behavior just as shoes that don't fit you are uncomfortable! Both the width and length of the back should be inspected carefully for fitting. A broad, short back will not work well with a narrow, long saddle. Work with your local saddle shop or a catalog that provides saddle-fitting services to find the saddle most suited for your Morgan's conformation.

What color are Morgans?
Morgans come in many colors, and horses of all colors that meet other registration requirements are eligible to be registered. Descriptions of various coat colors, coat patterns and modifiers, and leg and face markings are provided on a downloadable form found on our Forms/Publications page.

What size are Morgans?
The height of a Morgan generally ranges from 14.1 to 15.2 hands, with some individuals under or over.

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How many Morgans are there?
As of August 20, 2007, there were approximately 107,950 living registered Morgans.

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What are Morgans used for?
Morgans excel in virtually all disciplines. They are one of the premier carriage horses in the world, and are used for combined driving, competitive trail, and endurance riding, eventing, working western events, Dressage, all show ring disciplines, and as an excellent friend and companion whether in the backyard or on the trail.

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Registration and Registry Related

Why should I Register my Morgan?
The value of a registered horse is much greater than if it is unregistered. It makes it possible for future owners to breed and register offspring from it. It also allows the horse to be shown in Morgan classes and to compete for Morgan breed awards in open competition such as Dressage and competitive trail rides. A horse's registration papers provide a history of the horse's ownership and breeder. The recorded pedigree also helps to understand the horse's heritable traits if breeding the animal is a consideration.

What are the fees of transfers and registrations?
The registration fee is based on the age of the foal at the time the application is submitted. The transfer fee is based on the amount of time that has passed since you purchased the Morgan as well as the AMHA membership status of the buyer or seller. A complete list of registration fees can be seen here.

Can I register a half Morgan?
AMHA registers only horses that have two parents that are registered Morgans. At this time, AMHA does not have a half-Morgan registry. If you would like to obtain papers for a half-Morgan, a number of sources are available, including the following

American Part-Blooded Horse Registry
Michele Rine
20565 S. Polehn Dr.
Oregon City, OR 97045
503/631-3677; www.americanpartbloodedhorseregistry.com

Purebred Morab Horse Association
PO Box 280
Sherwood, WI54169
920/687-0188; www.morabnet.com or www.puremorab.com

International Morab Breeders Association and Registry
732 S. Miller Ct.
Decatur, IL62521-3245
217/428-5245; www.morab.com

I just bought an unregistered foal and I am paying his registration fees. Can I pick out his name?
While you may be paying to register the foal, only the owner of the dam at the time of foaling can sign the registration application. A registration application requires the person submitting the application to certify certain details about the foal. These details are items that only the owner of the mare at the time she foaled will be able to certify. For this reason, the Rules require the person who owned the mare at the time of foaling to complete the registration application regardless of who is paying for the registration, and naming the foal is part of the registration process. As the new owner of the foal, you can ask the person who is signing the registration application to use a name that you choose; however, they are not required to use it.

Can you check the availability of a horse name?
The Registry staff can check the availability of name choices. Staff is available by calling (802) 985-4944, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday or by emailing registry@morganhorse.com. A name cannot be reserved until the registration process has been completed and a registration number assigned.

I just purchased a Morgan, but the person I bought the horse from is not the same as the person listed on the Registration Certificate as the recorded owner. What should we do?
The Registry rules require a transfer of ownership for EVERY change of ownership.

For example, if you purchased a horse from Mr. & Mrs. Smith but the Registration Certificate shows that the recorded owner is Mary Blue, you must submit a Transfer Application signed by Mary Blue as seller. The buyer's section of the application must be completed to provide all information regarding the sale of the horse by Mary to the Smiths. Mr.& Mrs. Smith would then have to complete another Transfer Application as seller, listing the next owner (in this case, you) as the new owner. If other owners had preceded Mary Blue's ownership, the process would have had to continue back until the person signing the Transfer Application as seller is the person shown as recorded owner on the Registration Certificate. The properly completed Transfer Applications would then be submitted to AMHA with appropriate signatures, the Registration Certificate, and fees.

I just bought a Morgan foal that has never been registered. Why does he have to be registered in someone else's name and then transferred to me if I am his first registered owner?
There are several reasons why. 1. The Rules require the owner of the dam at the time of foaling to be listed as the original owner of the foal; 2. The horse was owned by someone else before you purchased him, even if he wasn't registered, and the rules require all ownership to be recorded; 3. The registration application requires the applicant to certify certain facts about the foal that you can't certify; only the person who owned the mare when she foaled will be able to certify.

Will the AMHA registered a cloned Morgan?
In May of 2003, the AMHA Board of Directors adopted the following statement regarding cloning:

"Until the membership of the American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) and the Board of Directors have gained a comfortable level of knowledge and assurance that specific technical, legal, and moral aspects of cloning, gene splicing, and other artificial attempts to enhance or manipulate the equine genome are resolved, AMHA will not allow registration of any horses produced by cloning, gene splicing or such other artificial attempt. If and/or when the AMHA Board of Directors determines that sufficient assurance has been gained on any or all of the technical, moral and legal aspects of the issue, AMHA may but is not compelled to alter this policy. Due to the extreme seriousness and potential repercussions of determinations on this issue, this policy may be changed only by separate votes of both the membership and theAMHA Board of Directors. This policy and any modifications thereof shall conform with all applicable local, state and federal laws within the United States, as well as international laws with which the United States has agreed to abide."

The Registration Certificate for my Morgan has been lost; how do I get another one?
If a Registration Certificate has been lost or destroyed, an application for a duplicate certificate needs to be completed by the recorded owner. This form requires submission of four color photos of the horse (one from the front, rear, and each side, showing all markings on the legs, face, and body). The form needs to be signed in front of a Notary Public and submitted to AMHA with the appropriate fee.

If the Registration Certificate was lost by the previous owner (who is the recorded owner) when you purchase a horse, that owner must complete the application for a duplicate certificate, according to the procedure described above.

If two people own a horse and one of them dies, does the horse automatically become the property of the surviving owner?
Unless otherwise requested, ownership of horses with multiple owners will be Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship. Therefore, if you owned a horse with someone else and that person passed away, AMHA would transfer the horse into the surviving person's name after we received a copy of the deceased person's death certificate, the original registration certificate, and the appropriate fee. We would complete a transfer from the joint account to a single account in the living owner's name. (We cannot add or subtract names from existing accounts.)

Who are the recorded owners of a particular [named] registered horse?
The Registry staff can give you this information. Staff is available by calling (802) 985-4944, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday or by emailing registry@morganhorse.com.

Is a certain prefix available?
A list of registered prefixes can be found in the Registry section under "Prefix Lookup". The list may or may not be up to date, and the Registry staff can provide more current information regarding the availability of aprefix. Staff is available by calling (802) 985-4944, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday or by emailing registry@morganhorse.com. A prefix cannot be reserved until the application and fee is received and processed.

How do I change the coat color or markings of my horse?
If your horse's coat color or markings have changed or were incorrectly stated on the Registration Application, you will need to complete a Clarification Application. This form requires submission of four color photos (one from the front, rear and one from each side, showing all markings on the legs, face, and body) of the horse. Submit the Clarification Application, the original Registration Certificate, and photos to the AMHA office. We will make the changes and issue a new certificate. There is no fee for this service.

My horse died. What do I do?
Send a note, signed by the record owner of the horse, to the Registry with the horse's name, registration number, and date of death. There is no need to send in the horse's Registration Certificate.

How can I obtain a list of offspring from a specific horse?
We have a report that you can request called a Progeny report. This report provides the following information:

Horse's registration information
All offspring and their registration information
All full siblings of the horse and their registration information
All current owners and their complete address and phone
Breeding histories for mares
Ownership histories

Progeny totals by sex and color The fee for a progeny report is $15. You can fax your request to (802) 985-8897 with a credit card or you can call and place the order over the phone - (802) 985-4944 - or by US mail - 122 Bostwick Rd., Shelburne, VT 05482.

What is an eight-generation pedigree and how do I order one?
We offer a service called an Eight-Generation Pedigree Report for a horse. This report gives you all pertinent information on the individual such as name, number, color, sex, birth year, markings, owners, past owners, lessee, blood-typing/DNA status, etc. Also, it is an eight-generation pedigree for the animal including name, number, and year of birth of all ancestors. It also lists all animals appearing more than once in eight generations and the number of times that they appear.

The fee for an eight-generation report is $15. You can fax your request to (802) 985-8897 with a credit card or you can call and place the order over the phone - (802) 985-4944 - or by US mail - 122 Bostwick Rd., Shelburne, VT 05482.

Can I access the AMHA registry from the member's only site?
Yes. This subscription service is available to members only for $9.95/day*, $24.95/month or $94.95/year. No more ordering progeny reports or show records, because now you will be able to look up registered Morgans by name or number and see their progeny, ownership/lease history, show records, its pedigree, and other demographic information, such as its sire, dam, foaling date, color, markings and whether it has DNA or blood type on file. It's real time and easy to use; just log into the Member Extranet section of the website and follow the instructions to access the service.

*A day is defined as the 24-hour period from midnight to midnight EST no matter when a user signs up for the service.

How can I find more information about my Morgan's pedigree?
Many resources are available from AMHA to find out more about your Morgan's heritage. Pedigrees and ownership histories of registered Morgans have been published on a CD, and another CD, known as the Calvin Hanson CD, provides additional information about historical ancestors behind modern Morgans. In addition, hardcover registry volumes and archive cards of famous Morgans, 8-generation reports, and progeny reports can be purchased from AMHA.

What do the abbreviations on my Morgan's registration certificate mean?
The first set of letters under a horse name indicates the coat color of that horse.

CHNT = Chestnut
BLK = Black
BAY = Bay
BRWN = Brown
PALO = Palomino
BUCK = Buckskin
SMBL = Smoky Black
DUN = Dun
CRLO = Cremello
PERL = Perlino
SMCR = Smoky Cream
GRAY = Gray

Following the coat color is information about the DNA and/or Blood Type status of the horse. Some horses will have both blood and DNA information, others will only have information about one and still others won't have any blood or DNA information. The horses without any information will be older horses that appear further back in the pedigree. Any horse born after 1991, must have at least a blood type. The following abbreviations can appear….

BT = The horse has a blood type on file but has not been blood tested to either parent

QBT = The horse's parentage has been qualified by blood testing. The horse has a blood type on file and was tested against both its sire and its dam

SBT = The horse has a blood type on file and was tested to its sire only

DBT = The horse has a blood type on file and was tested to its dam only

DNA = The horse has a DNA type on file but has not been DNA tested to either parent

QDNA = The horse's parentage has been qualified by DNA testing. The horse has a DNA type on file and was tested to both its sire and its dam

SDNA = The horse has a DNA type on file and was tested to its sire only

DDNA = The horse has a DNA type on file and was tested to its dam only

How do I change the coat color or markings of my horse?
If your horse's coat color or markings have changed, were incorrectly stated on the Registration Application or Coat Color Testing proves that the recorded coat color is not correct, you need to complete a Clarification Application. This form requires submission of four color photos (one from the front, rear and one from each side, showing all markings on the legs, face, and body) of the horse. Submit the Clarification Application, the original Registration Certificate, and photos to the AMHA office. We will make the changes and issue a new certificate. If you are changing the recorded coat color because your horse was recently coat color tested and its identity was confirmed at the same time using DNA testing, the photographs are not needed. The change will be done based on the Coat Color Test. Either way, with or without photos, there is no fee for this service.

Transfer of Ownership

Why should I transfer ownership of my Morgan?
Transferring ownership of your new Morgan into your name as soon as you purchase it guarantees that you will be able to maintain the value of the horse as a registered animal. To transfer a horse, the AMHA must have the signature of the seller and the buyer on the Transfer Application. If you delay in filing this application with AMHA, the odds of this signed form becoming lost increase, and locating the seller years after you buy the Morgan also becomes increasingly difficult. Paying the transfer fee now will save you hours of frustration and expense further down the road. It will also make it easier for people who may be interested in your Morgan to locate you later on.

How do I transfer ownership of a horse I just purchased into my name?
To transfer the ownership of the horse into your name(s), the person(s) listed as owner on the Registration Certificate must sign the seller's portion of a transfer application and you must fill out the buyer's section the way that you wish ownership of the horse to be designated. (Please read the article called What's in A Name) Send the transfer application to us with the ORIGINAL Registration Certificate and the appropriate fee.

What are the transfer requirements/fees for selling a Morgan horse to a person in Canada?
When you sell a horse to a Canadian owner, you would submit the transfer to our office as you normally do for selling a horse within the United States. AMHA will forward the AMHR registration certificate to the Canadian National Livestock Records, who will contact the new Canadian owner for the information/fees that they will need.

What are the transfer requirements/costs for purchasing a Morgan horse registered in Canada?
When a US owner buys a horse from a Canadian owner, the transfer must be submitted to the Canadian National Livestock Records (CNLR) first. They will forward the Canadian registration certificate to the AMHA with all of the appropriate horse and ownership information. At that time, AMHA will contact you and let you know what form(s) and fee(s) you will need to submit to the office. Once we receive the requested information and fee(s), we will issue an AMHR certificate that will be mailed to you.

If I am an AMHA member when I purchase a Morgan, but the seller of the horse is not, is the transfer fee considered a member fee or a non-member fee.
When a horse is transferred, if either the buyer or seller is a current member with AMHA, the transfer will be processed at the member rate.

Can I sign up for a membership and send a transfer application at the same time and still pay member rates?

Yes, but be sure to include a note asking for $70 of the total check or credit card amount to be applied to a membership in your name or name(s) of the new owners.

DNA and Parentage Verification

Why does AMHA do DNA testing?
The purpose of the AMHA Registry is to protect the integrity of the Morgan breed. This is done by ensuring that the information on every Morgan's certificate is accurate and correct. DNA typing is the only way to prove conclusively the parentage of any Morgan. DNA typing became mandatory on January 1, 2001, replacing blood-typing to verify parentage. In cases where the foal's DNA does not match one or either of the parents, the DNA tests can help identify who the parent is, allowing the foal to be registered.

How do I establish a DNA record for my registered stallion or mare?
As of January 01, 2001, all foals being registered must have parentage verified by DNA, which means that the sire and dam have to have DNA established. Therefore, if you plan to use this horse as a breeding animal, a DNA record must be established for the horse.

The lab has been saving frozen serum from blood samples collected for blood typing since late 1988. If your horse was blood typed and has frozen serum on file (and it is viable for testing), it will cost $100 per horse for the conversion from blood typing to DNA.

If your horse was not previously blood typed when it was registered or was blood typed before the lab started saving samples, then the horse must be blood typed and DNA typed (Combo Kit), which is $250.

If both the sire and dam of your horse have a DNA type on file, you can request a DNA kit for $50.

You can call the office to find out the status of your horse and to order appropriate forms and materials for completing the DNA record for your horse by calling the office. Registry staff is available by calling (802) 985-4944, 8 a.m.-5 P.M. EST Monday through Friday.

How is the parentage of Morgans verified?
For parentage verification, DNA is used. For most Morgan foals born today, it is a simple procedure that requires pulling a few hairs (with roots) from the mane or tail and placing the hairs in a kit that is sent to the owner after a Registration Application has been submitted to the Registry. The hairs are sent to a laboratory for processing to match up the DNA with that on file for the recorded dam and sire.

Can DNA be used to determine what breed a horse is?
No. DNA cannot determine a breed. DNA can be used to determine a species (e.g. horse, cow, dog) but it cannot tell a breed within a species.

Does every registered Morgan have a DNA type or blood type on file?
No, horses born before the parentage verification program was initiated would not necessarily be blood or DNA tested unless they produced a foal that had to be parentage verified.

When did the parentage verification program start?
Beginning in 1974, any mare that was exposed to two or more stallions during a heat cycle had to be blood typed as well as the foal.

A random sample blood-typing program was adopted in 1977, which caused 1 percent of the foals being registered to be parentage verified.

Blood typing of all breeding stallions became a requirement in 1981.

Beginning in 1985, every foal that was conceived using transported semen had to be blood typed as well as the dam.

Beginning in 1986, all horses two years old and over at the time of application for registration were required to be typed as well as both of their parents.

Beginning in 1987, all mares foaling for the first time had to be blood typed before their foal could be registered. (mares that had produced foals were exempt)

Beginning in 1992, all foals born after 1/1/92 had to be typed before being registered.

Beginning in 1994, and all mares producing foals were required to be typed including the mares that had previously been exempt.

Effective with January 1, 2001, all foals were required to have a DNA type on file before being registered. .

What does DNA on file mean?
Having a DNA record on file means that the specific markers for the horse have been placed on file, much like recording a fingerprint that can be used for future comparisons. DNA on file also indicates that the horse's parentage has not been verified. If the horse's parentage has been verified using DNA, the notation on the horse's file or certificate will say "Parentage Verified." Because of the progression of the parentage verification program, it is possible for a horse to have had its parentage verified using blood, and that same horse will only have DNA on file. The DNA on file will be used to test any future foals if the horse is used for breeding.

What does qualified to sire or qualified to dam mean?
This designation indicates that the blood type (or DNA) for that horse has been tested against the blood type or DNA of its sire or dam (but not both) and qualifies as its offspring.

What does qualified by blood testing mean?
That designation indicates the blood type for that horse has been tested against the blood type for both its sire and dam and the horse qualifies as an offspring of both the sire and dam.

What does qualified by DNA mean?
That designation indicates the DNA for that horse has been tested against the DNA of its sire and dam and the horse qualifies as an offspring of that sire and dam.

Can blood types and DNA types be used interchangeably?
While is it possible to get DNA from blood, blood types and DNA types are very different and cannot be used interchangeably.

Stallion Service Reports

What is a Stallion Service Report?
Stallion Service Reports must be filed with the AMHA at the end of each breeding season. Due date for submission of Stallion Service Reports is January 15th of the year following the end of the previous breeding season. The reports list the mares each stallion has bred for the year, and the dates they were bred to him. The reports allow AMHA to send notices to the mare owners reminding them of important registration deadlines. They also provide a reference of mares exposed to more than one stallion when needed as an additional source of information for parentage verification of Morgan foals. These reports must be filed and any fees paid before offspring of the stallion can be registered.

I have misplaced my copy of my Stallion Service Report. Can I find out what the breeding dates were that were listed on the report?
The Registry staff can give you this information. Staff is available by calling (802) 985-4944, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday or by emailing registry@morganhorse.com.

Membership

Why should I be an AMHA member?
Membership with AMHA provides immediate benefits, including access to Morgan news in a published newsletter and reduced fees. It also guarantees that you will be notified of important deadlines and have access to the members only section of this website. AMHA members may participate in a variety of programs such as the Open Competition and Pathways Programs. For more information on these member programs, please click here.

What do we get with a membership?
The following items are provided with AMHA membership:
Free news journal (The Network) - "News for the AMHA membership"
Access to the Members Only Section of the website
Free enrollment in the Farm Finder Program
Free placement of online classified ads
Participation in AMHA Programs and Awards
Discount on Registry Transactions
Discount on Morgan gifts
Your support of the promotion of OUR beautiful breed

Is membership a one-time fee?
AMHA general membership runs on a calendar-year basis. All general and youth memberships expire December 31, although life memberships are also offered. Each year the membership fee must be submitted to retain membership benefits. Membership applications are mailed out from the office each year for renewal before December 31.

I lost or misplaced my membership card, how can I get a new one?

Call or email your request to: info@morganhorse.com, 802/985-4944.

Can I add a name to my existing account?
Owner names in existing accounts are permanent. Adding a name to an account would change the ownership history of a Morgan. AMHA does not allow a name to be added to an account. A new account must be established, and the Morgans in that account transferred to this new account, if that is what is desired. Please read "What's In a Name."

What's In A Name
Your membership name is very important information. It is the name in which your Morgans will be registered as well as the name used to list you in the AMHA Sales List and Directories. Knowing what's in a name will help you avoid problems with your membership and registry work. When AMHA is notified of a Morgan's transfer of ownership, the horse is registered into the name of the new owner exactly as it is written on the Transfer Application. If this person is a first-time Morgan owner, he or she is assigned an Owner Number, which should be identical to the Member Number. A membership in this name and number entitles you to special rates and benefits in that name and number only. Membership benefits cannot be carried over from one Owner Number to another. If you register your second Morgan in a slightly different name, a brand new Owner Number will be assigned. For this reason, it is extremely important to pay attention to the name you give when you do business with AMHA. Ideally, all of your horses will be owned in the same Owner Name and Number. Since the Owner Name is permanent, AMHA cannot alter it. A name may be updated, but the identity cannot. For instance, if a woman marries and takes her husband's name, she can change her maiden name on her membership. However, she cannot add her husband's name to her account. If both the husband and wife want to be named as owners, they must transfer her horse into a new account with both names. Likewise, in cases of death or divorce, AMHA cannot remove a name. A transfer of ownership must be made to change the owner name. To check your Owner Name, refer to your Registration Certificates. In the lower left-hand corner, your Owner Name and Number are listed. This should be identical on every Registration Certificate, unless you have purposely registered horses under separate, unique names. If there are variations, please contact the AMHA Registry Department to adjust your accounts. Your Owner Name and Number are your AMHA identification, but if we receive spelling variations of your name, you will have a variety of identities! Please check your Registration Certificates to verify that you only have one Owner Number. It is very easy to correct any duplications or variations, but you must notify us to have these corrections made.

The Morgan Horse magazine

What are the ad rates for TheMorgan Horse magazine?
The Morgan Horse magazine offers color and black and white pages and sizes range from a full page to 1/12 of a page. Ad rates for the magazine can be found here.

How much does it cost to subscribe to the magazine?
Subscriptions to The Morgan Horse magazine are $31.50 for one year or $55 for two years for delivery within the United States.

Is there a cost associated with a "Greener Pastures" submission to The Morgan Horse magazine?
No, this is a free service. The article should be limited to 750 words plus a photograph and will run in the next available issue.

Do you have to be a member to get The Morgan Horse magazine?
No, the magazine is offered to all Morgan enthusiasts who subscribe!

Did you ever do an article on a specific Morgan?
Give a call to (802) 985-4944 ext. 37 and we can research whether an article has been written on that special Morgan horse.

Can I get a reprint of an article from The Morgan Horse magazine?
AMHA members are allowed three free article reprints from The Morgan Horse magazine each year. Non-members are charged $2.50 per reprint article.

How do you email a photograph to AMHA for publication in the magazine or calendar?
E-mailed photographs should be scanned at least 5 inches wide and 300 dpi.

I purchased a membership a couple of months ago, but still haven't received my magazine.
The magazine subscription does not come with AMHA membership; however, the Network is included. Cost for The Morgan Horse magazine is $31.50 for one year, $55 for two years.

General Questions

AMHA Origins
Originally called the Morgan Horse Club, the name was changed to the American Morgan Horse Association in 1971. The Morgan Horse Club was started at the fair in White River Junction, Vermont in 1909. It now has some 12,000 members and keeps records for more than 100,000 Morgans that are alive today in the U.S. and other countries such as England, Sweden, Germany, Italy, and Australia.

I am planning to show my Morgan this year; do I need an AMHA membership?
If you will be showing at the Morgan Grand National or any of the 10 regional Morgan shows, the owner, rider, and trainer of the horse will need an AMHA membership. You will also want to contact the United States Equestrian Federation at: 859/258-2472 or www.usef.org as you will be asked to hold a membership with them as well.

I need an official rulebook for showing. Where can I get one?
AMHA can furnish you with the Morgan Horse Judging Standards. This book will guide you through each of the disciplines Morgans are commonly shown, describing important characteristics, attire, position, and equipment for each. However, this book is devoid of the rules and regulations governed by the United States Equestrian Federation that may apply to the divisions described within the book. For an official USEF rulebook please contact the USEF directly at: 859/258-2472 or www.usef.org. To view the Morgan Horse Judging Standards online please click here.

Where can I find information about Morgan shows in my region?
Dates, locations, contacts, and other pertinent information on various Morgan shows, including Regional Shows and the Grand National, are available by clicking on their links here.

Where do horse show rules come from?
Ever been to a horse show or looked through a rulebook and wondered, "Why isn't this a rule?", or, "What were they thinking when they passed that rule?" It is important to remember that the AMHA is not the governing body for horse show rules in any division, including the Morgan division. It's true, United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is the organization that recognizes and rates horse shows and competitions, licenses judges, stewards and other officials, and approves, publishes, and enforces the rules of competition, among many other things.

Rule change proposals are made by USEF members just like you, who have taken an interest and followed a few simple steps. After a proposal is submitted (as outlined below), it is reviewed by the appropriate USEF committees. In the case of rules for the Morgan show division, the USEF Morgan Committee will review the proposal. Although this committee is established through AMHA, and logically comprises AMHA members (including AMHA Board members), this committee actually is accountable to the USEF.

Something that is unique to AMHA is the Rules Forum. Rules Forums were begun in 1983 as a way to educate, inform, and advise members of the Morgan community on the rules change process. They are informal forums held around the country, generally in conjunction with a horse show. Morgan Committee members can be found hosting forums at each of the ten AMHA Regional Horse Shows, the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show, and at other venues throughout the year. Forums give members a chance to learn about the current rule proposals and provide feedback that the committee will later take into consideration when making final recommendations to the USEF Board of Directors.

So, do you have a proposal for a rule that will affect the Morgan Division, and you are wondering how to get it submitted? Follow these easy steps and you will be on your way to taking an active role in the development and implementation of USEF rules!

Visit the USEF website at www.usef.org and visit the "Rules Changes" section to view the "Rule Change Brochure" or contact USEF at 859/258-2472 to obtain a hard copy. This brochure will take you through the process step by step, including ideas on how to formulate your proposal to increase its chances of approval, and important deadlines.

Using the correct form that is available online or by calling the above number, you can submit your idea for a new rule or a revision directly to the USEF; however, USEF acknowledges that proposals submitted through the rules committees stand a better chance of approval. Be sure to review the most current rulebook to find the best section placement for your proposal. It is important that you type or print neatly on the form. Difficulty in reading your proposal may have negative effects on the intent of your submission.

Be sure to select the appropriate type of proposal you are making: choose "add" if this is a new rule or sub article number; choose "delete" if existing text is being deleted; choose "change to read" if a content change is being proposed for an existing rule, which could include either or both deletion or addition of text.

If you are proposing changes to existing language, strike through the words you propose to delete. Underline and type in bold the words you propose to be added.

Provide pertinent information on the form: member's name, USEF number, address, phone number, and e-mail address. Sign and date form. Submit the rule change proposal form to the AMHA office or to the Chair of the USEF Morgan Committee by January 15 of any given year. The Committee will review the proposal, present it at Rules Forums throughout the show season, and submit it to the USEF. If you have questions about this process, contact USEF.

When attending horse shows throughout the show season, be sure to find out if there is an USEF Rules Forum being offered and make it a point to attend. Every owner, trainer, breeder, and exhibitor has the responsibility to educate themselves about the rules that govern the sport in which they participate. Become familiar with the USEF Rule Book and become an active part of the rules change process.

Where can I get a list of Morgan farms or trainers near me?

Just follow this link to the Morgan Farm Finder, where you can search our database for trainers, boarding farms, and much more.

Where can I find information about Morgan clubs in my region?

Names of clubs, contact information, and web site links to clubs (when available) in each region are provided here.

Where can I buy a Morgan?
There are several Morgan farms listed by state in the "Farm Finder" section at the following link: You can also view our classified ad listings. Some farms and clubs listed by state in the "Related Links" section.

Where can I find more information about breeding a mare and raising a foal?
AMHA has a comprehensive brochure that is available in hard copy from the office, or it can be downloaded from the web site by locating the link to "How to Breed Your Mare" from the list of publications.

I want to donate my Morgan; whom should I contact?
Many colleges, equine programs, and mounted police units take horse donations. AMHA members can use the online classified ad program. There is a section "Morgans for Adoption"

Which AMHA director should I contact with a question or comment?
Your regional director(s) should always be your first line of contact. They represent you and your Morgans in all matters brought before them from the membership. Contact information for each regional director is here. If you still need help locating contact information, either call the AMHA office during regular work hours Mon – Fri at 802-985-4944 or email info@morganhorse.com for assistance.

I am interested in serving on an AMHA committee. Whom should I contact?
Names and email contact links for committee chairpersons are available from the drop-down menu under "Inside AMHA" on the Members Only home page. Contact the chairperson of the particular committee that interests you to express your interest.

Does the AMHA carry equine insurance; if not who would you recommend?
AMHA does not offer equine insurance; however, there are several equine insurance carriers throughout the country. AMHA doesn't endorse any equine insurance carriers.

USEF/AMHA Rules Timeline
The Morgan breed is one of only two breeds that solicit input from members for rule changes through member's forums. The USEF Morgan committee has put together a process for rule changes to help the committee ensure that all the rules forums get the same rules and the same information to consider. Following is a time line.

1. The USEF Morgan committee must receive any rule change proposals that originate outside the committee by January 15. The committee goes over them individually and on conference calls and at a committee meeting at the annual Morgan convention. We need to be as certain as we can that they are written clearly and actually address the perceived problems.

2. The list of rule change proposals for the forums is set by April 1. Each committee member gets a list of the same information and proposals and every forum goes over the same proposals. Forum moderators hold forums at all regional championship shows, the Grand National and any class A Morgan shows that request a forum. Forums can be held at other venues if we can arrange for a moderator; this is generally a member of the USEF rules committee. As the forums progress, moderators and the entire committee track questions, suggestions, problems, etc. that are raised during the year. It is amazing to see how helpful it is to hear from people all over the country as they often see problems that the committee missed in the original vetting process.

3. The list of rule change proposals is posted on the www.morganhorse.com website on the Latest News page so that all members of AMHA have a chance to see what the list of rule change proposals is. This gives members an opportunity to go to a forum during the year to comment or to contact their regional board representative, their directors at large and the rules committee to express thoughts.

4. Shortly before September 1, the USEF Morgan committee has a conference call to make sure that there are no significant problems with the rule change proposals that have arisen during the forums thus far. From time to time, it becomes apparent to the committee that a rule is not ready to move on to the next step and we will withdraw it to make changes and/or clarifications. An example of this would be the Trail Rule Proposal that was discussed in 2007. A list of good questions about a number of parts of the rule were raised across the country during forums and it became apparent to the committee that we needed to work with the proponent and other exhibitors involved in showing Morgan horses in trail to ensure that we had a better rule to discuss during the next year's (2008) cycle. It was withdrawn and a new proposal was submitted for 2008. Following the September call, USEF posts all rule change proposals for every breed and discipline on its website at www.usef.org. These are proposed rule changes and have not been adopted.

4. The USEF Morgan committee meets at the Morgan Grand National after the forum there and puts together its final information.

5. The AMHA board of directors, at its November Board meeting, goes over the rule change proposals that have gone through the forums and has an opportunity to discuss, question and vote on them.

6. The USEF Morgan committee does a final vote on the rule change proposals after the November board meeting and well before the January USEF board meeting. The committee takes into consideration input from forums, the AMHA board, and membership. This is the final draft of rules to be submitted to the USEF Board of Directors for consideration.

7. The USEF Morgan committee meets during the USEF board meeting to review all rule change proposals submitted through the USEF process that affect Morgans and votes to accept them or not. Because our Morgan horses compete in so many disciplines, we need to review a large number of non-Morgan rules from carriage to dressage to hunter/jumper to all the general USEF rules.

8. The USEF Board of Directors votes to adopt or reject all rule change proposals submitted to it. Generally, the effective date for these will be 4/01/09 for the 2008 rule submissions.

The Morgan world has developed its own way of making, discussing and deciding on the USEF rules that govern our competitions but the USEF is the National Governing Body for Equestrian Sport in the United States as designated by the Ted Stevens Amateur Sports Act passed by the United States Congress. As such, it has its own responsibilities and process. The USEF process permits all USEF members to submit rule change proposals directly to USEF and these can deal with any member breed or discipline. It is very important to keep the rule making process open to everyone to be completely fair to all USEF members. The USEF Morgan committee is bound by this USEF rule and respects it. We try to achieve a balance by using the following process.

1. USEF allows rules to be submitted directly to USEF until June 1. This date means that rules for the Morgans, which come in directly thru USEF after the January 15 date, do not have the opportunity to go through all of our forums. The Morgan world places a very high value on giving everyone the chance to comment and the conflict of dates makes this impossible for us.

2. The USEF Morgan Committee has a policy of disapproving any rule change proposal that does not go through the forums.

3. The USEF Board does not approve Morgan rules that the USEF Morgan Committee disapproves.

4. The proponent is welcome to submit that same rule to the USEF Morgan committee prior to January 15 of the next year, in this case January 15 of 2009, so that it can go through the 2010 forums.

This sounds very long and complicated and it is. The intention is to be as open and transparent as possible in discussing and adopting or rejecting rules as we can be. There are USEF mandated exceptions to this process that are quite restricted. Clarifications in language or grammar to make a rule clearer are permitted during the year and are posted immediately after adoption by the USEF Executive Committee on the USEF website. Inadvertent omissions can be corrected also. Changes to rules that qualify under the USEF standard for Extraordinary Rules changes can also be made during the year; these pertain to horse/exhibitor safety and welfare. 4/8/08