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Ask to see the original certificate of registration of any stallion to which you are considering a breeding.

Make sure that the person with whom you are dealing for this breeding is shown as the recorded owner of that stallion. (On the PPHRNA Certificate, the Transfer of Ownership form is on the back of the Certificate. The last recorded owner is shown on the face of the Certificate, lower left hand corner where it states "Issued To." If a transfer form has been completed on the back of the Certificate you are shown, it has NOT been recorded with the PPHRNA.)

Be sure that the stallion is registered for breeding in the PPHRNA. When you check the certificate of registration, the sex should be listed as 'STALLION' - not 'Male'. If you are breeding via frozen or fresh shipped semen, be sure that the stallion has a Permit on file with the PPHRNA. You will need to file a Mare Owner Statement as well.

If you can't see the registration certificate - call the PPHRNA office to determine current, recorded ownership and registration status for breeding.

Ask for a written contract that should include the following:

Consideration (booking fee, breeding fee, board, refunds, etc.)

The terms and agreements regarding where, how and when the mare will be bred or not bred (e.g. Is the stallion being shown? Does breeding of mares take priority over showing? Will the mare be bred naturally or via A.I.?)

Board details - how the mare will be kept (in a stall, paddock, with other mares, any special instructions on feeding, trimming, etc.) Is the stallion owner required to maintain insurance on the mare (and her foal if there will be one at side?)

Guarantees? What will be done if the mare does not conceive? If the mare conceives but then re-absorbs or aborts? Does not produce a live foal? If the stallion is sold, dies or is unable to breed? If the mare is sold, dies or is unable to be bred?

Agreement that the stallion owner will meet all the requirements of a stallion owner necessary for the resulting foal to be registered with the PPHRNA. That includes registration of the stallion for breeding, properly filing a stallion report (or filing one late and paying the fines and required DNA typing), and signing a Service Certificate for the breeding.

What about exercise, training of the mare (and foal?) Payment of vet bills - who pays for what and how (will stallion owner pay bills and be reimbursed or will vet bill mare owner directly?)

Once the mare has been bred and all payments due the stallion owner paid, the mare owner should obtain a completed and signed service certificate which will be needed to register the resulting foal. Some stallion owners keep the service certificate until the foal is born. If you ask and receive one long before that - be sure that you place it with your registrations and do not lose it. Stallion owners do not like to have more than one service certificate out on a bred mare any more than a registry likes to have more than one registration certificate out on a horse.