Breed Registry - Papers

Breed registries usually issue certificates for each recorded animal, called a Pedigree, Pedigreed animal documentation, or most commonly, an animal's "papers". Registration papers may consist of a simple certificate or a listing of ancestors in the animal's background, sometimes with a chart showing the lineage. Usually, there is space for the listing of successive owners, who must sign and date the document if the animal is gifted, leased or sold. Papers transferred upon sale of an animal may be submitted to the registry in order to update the ownership information, and in most cases, the registry will then issue a new set of papers listing the new owner as the proper owner of the horse. Genuine papers are often identifiable as containing the registered name and number of the individual animal and its date of birth, the name of the attesting organization, with the logo if there is one, the name and signature of the registrar or other authorized person, and a corporate stamp or seal.

Documentation usually included on registration certificates or papers includes:

• name of sire (father) and dam (mother)
• names of other ancestors, to the number of generations required by the issuing organization
• In dogs, details of the litter this animal came from
• its colour and markings
• name, address and registered number of the breeder (often defined as the owner of the female at the time of the animal's conception or birth)
• name and address of the original owner who registered the foal.