There are lots of reasons to register your horse. First, it proves ownership. That alone is a good enough reason. For the thousands of people in the world who own horses that are not registered through a breed or color registry, the IHIR registry provides an opportunity to officially prove ownership of a horse.

To add to your breed registration. Lots of registries show detailed information on bloodlines, but tell you nothing about the horse for the most part. Even those with a color photo show only one side and often the photos are decades old. Bloodlines are good, but they are even better when paired with the detail of an IHIR registry.
We are also the only registry that allows a set of photos for both winter and summer coats for those horses whose appearance changes dramatically.

An IHIR registry allows you to track ownership. Information on past health and past experience obtained from previous owners is invaluable to a new horse owner.

It provides valuable information for any situation where you need to efficiently and accurately show someone else what your horse looks like. Whether the reason be theft, or even just loss, being able to hand the police or search & rescue groups an accurate photo increases your chances of being reunited with your horse. Situations that come to mind are barn fires, open pasture gates, horse fairs, horse theft, hurricanes (think of the displaced horses from Katrina!) and floods.

Status. Yes, this sounds silly but it is true. A registered horse is worth more than an unregistered horse. Registration proves horse identity, ownership, and value.

What You Get With Registration

Proof of ownership

Detailed, accurate description of the animal, including scars, swirls and other  info of your choosing

Previous owner information

Registration with an international database who will always have your photos  and information-even if you don’t