tracking horses/transfer of ownership

[shawneeAcres]

I see time and time again on this board where people get tired of the fact that many registered horses are "lost" in terms of competition records. Some of this is obviously due to name changes, which having shown in breed shows for many years hat absolutely is not allowed once the horse has a show record PLUS the horse must be entered with registration number (so if number were used, I suppose name changes wouldn't be a problem). However, another "issue" is "lost" papers. Obviosuly breeders want horses to keep their papers and ownership to be transferred. Having not done a lot of WB breeding, I haven't had the issue of WB registry transfers, until now. I recently acquired a registered hanoverian gelding and his papers. I was FLOORED by the cost of transferring him into my name, $80! Now if I joined AHS then it would be $40, but for what reason would I join AHS, I don't breed hanovarians, no real reason to join. $80 is exhorbiant for simply transferring ownership! AQHA transfers for members is $15 and for nonmembers is $55 (which automatically gives you a year's membership). I find the AHS fees to be quite ridiculous and I understand why so many geldings are not transferred and papers simply end up lost or discarded. Does anyone else find this to be a bit too much money for recording a new owner?

[Iron Horse Farm]

I have to admit to having papers that I have never transferred into my name. Get out the flog! y GOV mares are all in my name, but that is precisely why my Hano mare is not. I think that GOV only charges about $35.

All of that asisde, at my GOV inspection this year, there was a beautiful mare who was found at a rescue. She was in poor condition and had no papers but someone had the thought to scan for a microchip. Turns out she was registered GOV and by the stallion Tantris. Her new owners were given replacement papers based on her microchip identification. :)