How can I record a transfer of ownership?

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The original certificate was lost. How can I get a new copy?

The easiest way to request a duplicate certificate is by fax. We will need a signed statement from all the owners on the horse confirming the certificate has been lost and that a duplicate is needed. There is a $22 fee for a duplicate, payable by credit card, check, or money order. A request for a duplicate certificate can also be mailed with payment.

I have lost the certificate and I need to transfer the ownership. Can both be done at the same time?

Yes! Please submit a statement of loss along with a signed transfer. The seller(s) must sign both the statement of loss and transfer. This request can be faxed in with a credit card or it can be mailed in with a check or money order.

Can a name change be submitted with a transfer request?

Yes! Please include a note that identifies your new name choices along with your transfer information. The fees to change the name of a horse are as follows:

Under the age of 2:  $16.50

The U.S. Trotting Association is happy to offer a service called “paperless registration.” This means that the owner of a horse can request that the registration certificate be held electronically at the U.S. Trotting Association.

When the USTA is informed that a horse will be “paperless” it will no longer be necessary to have the registration papers in hand when buying or selling that horse; the fact that the horse is registered as “paperless” will be noted in the official records of the Association, and only a transfer slip will be needed to complete a sale. 

If you are purchasing a horse and want to confirm that it is paperless, you can go online  to the USTA’s  free “Horse/Name Tattoo Search,” on the USTA’s Internet home page to see if there is a paper registration certificate for a particular horse -- or if it is paperless.  If a horse is paperless the “Horse/Name Tattoo Search” will display as:

In this case you would only need a transfer slip signed by all of the current owners, but if a horse is not paperless the “Horse/Name Tattoo Search” will display as:

In the latter case the actual registration certificate, signed by the owners, would be needed to proceed with a transfer.

If you have questions about paperless registration certificates, please refer to the frequently asked questions section below or contact USTA Customer Service at (877) 800-8782, ext. 3.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will all horses have to have paperless registrations?
No.  Every new foal registration will have a printed certificate.  After that, a horse may be made paperless at any time.  The USTA will always print a certificate for a transfer unless told on the transfer paperwork to make the horse paperless.

Who can make a horse’s registration paperless?
Anyone can make a horse paperless by returning the registration to the USTA with the paperless certificate box checked or a note requesting that the papers be held electronically.

Who can request that a paperless horse have a registration printed?
Anyone can request that a paper copy be printed, either by letter or by phone.  If you wish to have the papers mailed to anyone other than a listed owner or a track, the USTA will require the request in writing via mail or fax.

How much does it cost to make a horse paperless?
There is no fee to make a horse paperless or to request a paper copy for a horse that is already paperless.

How can I get a transfer slip to transfer my paperless horse?
If a horse is paperless a transfer slip may be obtained online by clicking “here.” This new transfer slip has a section to check if you would like a horse to become paperless.

I don’t have a computer.  How can I tell if a horse is paperless?
The USTA’s customer service department is happy to help you determine whether or not a horse is paperless.  Please call us toll-free at 1-877-800-8782, ext 3.

Will sales companies accept my horse if it is paperless?
Most sales companies will accept a transfer slip for a horse that is paperless.  It is always  a good idea to confirm with the sales company that they will accept a transfer slip for a paperless horse.

If I don’t have papers, how will I prove that a horse is mine?
Ownership is available 24 hours a day through the USTA’s on-line PATHWAY database.  Ownership may also be confirmed by calling our customer service department.