Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Horse Identification
Horse ID has two purposes: one is to prove that a particular horse belongs to a particular
person and the other is to prove that a particular horse is a particular horse.
Registration papers for a purebred horse provide the physical description of the horse,
including color, markings, and photo or drawing identification as well as the breeder or
owner's name and address.
An ID certificate or brand card might be available or required in your state as a perman-
ent record of your horse's identifying characteristics such as age, breed, sex, color, mark-
ings, scars, brands, and possibly blemishes or hair whorls too. The horse is shown either by
photo or drawing from each side and from the front and back. The markings are not only
indicated visually but also described in writing. There may be a U.S. Animal Identification
Plan requirement for horses in the future.
Horse identification can prove a certain horse belongs to a certain person. On U.S.
ranches, hot branding has been used for hundreds of years.
Branding identifies a horse as the property of a person or a farm/ranch.
