IGEA Gypsy Equine Registration

Welcome to the central hub for IGEA Registration information. The IGEA offers official registration pathways across a diverse array of categories, including our Gypsy Cob Stud Book, Mini Gypsy Cob Stud Book, Miniature Gypsy Horse Stud Books, and specialized Gypsy Cross / Part-Bred Stud Books.

Before starting your application, please review the information below to find your correct pathway, save money on fees, prepare your digital files and Documents for the application process.

Step 1 : Choose Your Registration Track 

• Track A: Standard Registration (New Entries): For Gypsy equines not registered with another registry. Requires as much parentage data as possible. If you own or lease the Dam at the time of mating, you are officially recorded as the Breeder and are responsible for the registration. If you do not own the Sire a signed IGEA Breeder's Certificate Form must be provided. If you do not own the Sire or Dam, a signed IGEA Breeder's Certificate Form must be provided.

• Track B: Recognized Registry Listing (RRL): If your Gypsy equine is already registered with another recognized Gypsy registry, you qualify for a significantly reduced registration fee. You must provide clean copies of the front and back of your existing registry certificate to qualify.

• Track C: Hardship Registration: For Gypsy equines of unknown or unverified ancestry, based on phenotype. These cases are handled individually and require mandatory approval from the IGEA Registration Committee.

• Note: Effective January 1, 2024, all approved intact Stallions and Mares entering via approved Hardship must submit a hair sample and pay for mandatory Health and DNA Testing before a certificate is issued. Approved Geldings are completely exempt from this testing requirement.

Step 1.5: Non-Gypsy Breeding Stock & "Matter of Record" (MOR) Status 

The IGEA honors official Registration Certificates from breed-appropriate registries for any non-Gypsy stock utilized in our crossbred, blend, and part-bred breeding stud books. Examples of these breeds include, but are not limited to: Miniature Horses, Welsh Ponies, Half-Welsh Ponies, Shetlands, Haflingers, American Draft Ponies, Paint Horses, Quarter Horses, Belgians, Clydesdales, Icelandics, Friesians, Tennessee Walking Horses, Missouri Fox Trotters, and Peruvian Pasos.

• What is an MOR Pedigree? "Matter of Record" (MOR) profiles record the critical genetic contribution and lineage of a non-Gypsy parent directly onto the official IGEA Registration Certificate and pedigree chart of their gypsy crossbred offspring.

• The Financial Advantage: This service is provided at no extra charge, allowing breeders to utilize outside equine genetics in their programs without the financial burden of paying to register them with IGEA as breeding stock. To qualify for the free MOR service, a clear copy of the non-Gypsy parent's official registration certificate must be provided at the exact same time the offspring's application is submitted.

• Maximizing Your Pedigree Data: The IGEA strongly encourages breeders to make full use of this service by providing any and all certified data available for the non-Gypsy parent. All documented details provided—including the outside registry name, registration number, coat color, verified height, and genetic health panel testing results—will be permanently recorded in our database and the MOR ancestry will be included on your foal’s IGEA certificate.

• Strict Performance Restriction: MOR Breeding Stock and non-Gypsy outcross parents are recorded strictly for genetic and lineage tracking purposes. Therefore, these non-Gypsy individuals are not eligible to participate in or earn points toward IGEA Event Awards, Show Points, or official IGEA Awards Programs.

Step 2: Maximize Value (Membership Options) 

• No Membership Required: You do not have to be an official IGEA Member to register an eligible gypsy equine or execute a Transfer of Ownership. Non-members are welcome to apply using standard public pricing tiers.

• Immediate Member Discounts: Joining the IGEA as an official member provides you with immediate access to reduced service fees. To save money today, simply complete an IGEA Membership Application and submit it directly alongside your registration paperwork.

• Awards & Performance Eligibility: If you wish to participate in any IGEA Show and Event Awards Programs, or Lifetime Titles Programs, the gypsy equine must be registered with the IGEA, and the current Owner(s) and Exhibitor(s) must be IGEA Members in good standing.

• Cross-Registry Offspring: A Gypsy Cob or Gypsy Cross registered with another registry does not need to be registered with the IGEA to register its offspring, provided it is reviewed and approved by the IGEA based on front-and-back copies of their existing certificates and Ownership is verified.

Step 2.5: Ordering DNA, Color, & Lab Health Panel Testing 

The IGEA utilizes the University Of Kentucky's Lab for state-of-the-art laboratory testing to confirm parentage, verify coat color genetics, and screen for advanced hereditary health conditions. Review these strict preparation mandates before executing your test requests: 

• Locating the Order Forms: All laboratory order documents are located directly on the Resource Library Page of our official website along with pricing for these services. You must print out the appropriate form, fill out all horse identification fields completely, and sign it before mailing.

• The Hair Sample Collection Rule: To process a DNA profile or genetic health panel, you must collect a clean hair sample from your equine. The sample must consist of 30 to 50 hairs pulled directly from the mane or tail, making sure the hair root bulbs remain fully intact on the strands. YOu may carefully cut off the excess length ( from the end that does NOT contain the root bulbs for a total convenient length left of approximately 4 inches).

• 🚫 Strict Packaging Mandate (No Plastic Bags): You must tape the pulled hair sample to the completed form document. Do not, under any circumstances, use plastic bags, zip-style sandwich bags, or plastic wrap to store or ship your samples. Plastic traps air and humidity, causing moisture to rapidly break down the hair root follicles. This can ruin the sample and render the DNA completely unreadable by the laboratory.

• Mailing Protocol: Place your completed test order form, the attached hair sample in a mailing envelope with appropriate postage and mail to the IGEA Office.

Step 3: Gather Your Submission Checklist 

Before starting any application, ensure you are prepared with the following documents:

• Fee Schedule Reference: Review the official IGEA Fees and Service Request Form to verify current rates for your selected track and any additional requested testing.

• Four Inspection Photos: High-quality profile photos taken from the exact Right Side, Left Side, Front (with the forelock swept completely to the side), and Rear angles.

• Ground Surface Rule: Photos must show the horse standing on level, hard ground (concrete slab, paved drive, smooth stone, or short-mowed grass) with zero visual obstruction of the horse, including the hooves. Pictures featuring hooves buried in arena dirt, tall grass, or deep bedding are not acceptable.

• DNA Tracking Baseline: DNA profiling is highly encouraged across all stud books. It is strictly mandatory for entries into all Purebred Stud Books, Premier Stud Books and all intact Hardship applications that are approved.

Step 4: Choose Your Submission Method 

The IGEA provides three convenient ways to deliver your application package to the registry office:

1. Online Form (Preferred): Complete your text fields directly on our website and utilize our responsive upload slots to attach your digital photos and documents instantly.

2. Scan & Email: Print the registration form. Complete your paper forms manually, scan them into a clean digital format, and email them to the IGEA Office along with your photos and documents. 

3. Regular Postal Mail: Mail your printed forms, photo prints, and documentation copies directly to the physical IGEA Registry Office.  Note: Even if you mail your paperwork, the IGEA prefers that high-quality digital photos be emailed directly to our email address. Include your first name choice for horse in the email with photos.

Registry Transparency, Correction, & Inspection Rights 

The decision to accept, defer, or decline any application for entry rests solely with the IGEA. The IGEA reserves the right to request live video footage or an official inspection of any equine at any time if deemed necessary to aid committee decision-making.

Due to the critical nature of pedigree integrity, the IGEA reserves the right to request or require a hair sample for DNA testing for any applicant or currently registered equine at any time. Any error, omission, or misrepresentation discovered in registration data gives the IGEA the absolute right to recall, modify, or completely cancel the registration certificate at any time.

IGEA reserves the right and final decision to approve or decline any registration application.

How to Transfer Ownership of your IGEA Registered Equine 

Congratulations on your new purchase! When you buy an IGEA-registered Gypsy Equine, the seller should provide you with the original IGEA Registration Certificate alongside a completed and signed IGEA Transfer of Ownership Form.

Please follow the steps below to record your ownership in the official herd books, update the horse's file, and ensure your documentation is processed accurately.

Step 1: Review Membership & Pricing 

• No Membership Required: You do not need to be an active IGEA Member to transfer ownership. Non-members are fully welcome to utilize our registry services using standard public pricing.

• Unlock Immediate Discounts: Joining the IGEA instantly unlocks reduced member fees on transfers and all future registry services. To save money today, simply submit a completed IGEA Membership Application directly alongside your transfer paperwork.

• Review the Fees: Please reference the official IGEA Fees and Service Request Form to calculate your exact fees based on your membership status.

• Quick Navigation Links:

• Click Here to View IGEA Membership Benefits 

• Click Here to Access Online Submission Forms

• Click Here to Access Printable Forms for Email or Mail

Step 2: Verify Your Paperwork & Choose File Updates 

Because the original certificate will be permanently voided at the office and a new, pristine certificate will be custom-printed with your name listed as the official owner, this is the single best time to update your horse's permanent historical record.

• Check the Basics: Review the IGEA Transfer Form received from the seller. Ensure your name, address, and contact information are spelled perfectly and legible.

• Available File Updates: You may submit updated data to be permanently anchored to your horse's file and printed on the new certificate. Contact the office if you would like to add or update:

  • Official Microchip Numbers, Brands, or permanent Scars.

  • Updated photos for horse's file and for identification printed of the registration certificate.

  • Verified Color Genetics or advanced Health Panel Testing results.

  • Status updates (e.g., transitioning a Stallion to a Gelding, or a Mare to a Spayed Mare).

  • Certified Height records, DNA Profiles, or official Parent DNA Profiles.

  • Eligibility evaluation for upgarde into our elite Premier Stud Books.

Step 3: Select Your Payment Method 

Payment rules are strictly organized by geographic location. Please review your region's payment mandates carefully:

• United States Applicants: Payment may be made via Check, or PayPal. All checks and money orders must be made explicitly payable to: IGEA REGISTRY. PayPal payment email is admin@igearegistry.com

• Canadian Applicants: Online fee payments are accepted quickly and securely via PayPal only.

• International Applicants (Outside U.S. & Canada): Due to complex international currency exchange fees, and mailing costs, you must contact the IGEA Office via email (admin@igearegistry.com) prior to sending paperwork to receive an exact fee quote. All international payments must be executed via PayPal Only.

• Official PayPal Send Address: admin@igearegistry.com

DNA Parent Verification: Essential Facts & Science

To provide absolute clarity for our members and the global equine community, the IGEA Registry maintains a strict, scientifically accurate standard regarding genetic record keeping. Because there is significant confusion and misinformation surrounding equine DNA profiles versus true parentage verification, the IGEA has established this educational baseline for Owners and Breeders.

Core Genetic Realities Every Owner and Breeder Must Know 

• No "Purebred" Breed Test Exists: It is critical to understand that current laboratory science does not offer a test that can identify an equine as "100% purebred" for any specific breed based solely on a isolated hair sample.

• A DNA Profile is NOT Parent Verification: An individual DNA Profile is simply a genetic bar code created by a laboratory recording specific genetic markers for one individual animal. Having a DNA profile on file proves an animal's unique genetic identity, but it does not automatically prove who its parents are.

• What Parent Verification Actually Does: Equine DNA testing utilized by major breed registries is designed to confirm or exclude specific individual parents. A laboratory verifies parentage by direct side-by-side comparison of the offspring's DNA profile against the known DNA profiles of the alleged Sire and Dam.

• The Registry Standard: The primary function of registry DNA testing is to build a verifiable, tamper-proof family tree, confirming parentage marker by marker rather than guessing breed origins.

Practical Example: How DNA Parent Verification Works 

To request official IGEA DNA Parent Verification for a foal, the laboratory follows a precise comparison protocol:

1. The Alleged Sire: Must have an official individual DNA Profile Report provided to the office or already on active file with the testing laboratory.

2. The Alleged Dam: Must have an official individual DNA Profile Report provided to the office or already on active file with the testing laboratory.

3. The Offspring: An individual DNA Profile is generated by the lab from the foal’s submitted hair sample.

4. The Comparison Analysis: The lab cross-references the foal’s unique genetic markers directly against the Sire’s profile and the Dam’s profile.

5. The Final Result: The laboratory issues an official verdict explicitly verifying or excluding the Sire and Dam as the true biological parents of the foal.

Important Reminder for Testing Requests

When ordering DNA Parent Verification, please ensure that both the Sire and Dam already have official DNA profiles logged in the system. If one parent's DNA profile is missing or unavailable, the laboratory can only verify or exclude the single parent whose profile is on file.

The IGEA Service Commitment 

These specialized IGEA registry services are provided with the absolute intention of better serving our valued members, while maintaining meticulously accurate genetic records in the best interest of all Gypsy equines.

The IGEA actively chooses to support its members—and protect the integrity of all reputable Gypsy equine registries and recognized outside breed associations—by honoring their official registration certificates and established records.

Through these collaborative services, breeders are spared the heavy financial burden of double- or triple-registering their breeding stock across multiple registries. Furthermore, this policy ensures that any and all outcross genetics utilized in our approved select breeding programs are fully documented, preserved, and accurately reflected on the official pedigrees of their IGEA-registered offspring for generations to come.

IGEA reserves the right and final decision to approve or decline any registration or transfer application.