Horses who do not meet the criteria as a Gypsian may still be able to be registered as a Friesian Heritage horses. Many of the rules that are posted here are the same as the Friesian Heritage Horse rules.

Gypsian Registration: 

Gypsians are the product of crossbreeding Friesians to Gypsies.  Horses who have a documented mixture of Friesian and Gypsy blood are eligible to be registered as Gypsian.  The influence of any other breeds is not permitted. 

For offspring to be eligible for Gypsian registration, the sires and dams of Friesian, Gypsy and Gypsian breeding must be registered and DNA tested with a credible registry, as deemed by the GHH council.

So long as the above criteria is maintained, registered Gypsians may produce registered offspring by being bred to Gypsian, Friesian and Gypsy lines, providing those lines can be documented, DNA tested and are registered by an established registry that is recognized by the GHH council.

Horses who do not qualify for Gypsian registration may still qualify for Friesian Heritage Horse registration, if they have 25%, or more, documented Friesian blood.

All horses applying for registration must be DNA tested at the time application OR you may supply us with a copy of existing DNA markers from a previous test  OR  it is sometimes possible to obtain existing DNA markers from other registries. We can help you with this – please call or email.

All registered horses must be microchipped and inspected with a qualifying score, at age 3 or older, in order to move off of basic red papers and onto an upgraded paper of silver, gold or blue.

Dwarfism-Hydrocephalus-Distichiasis Testing (df hy ds): df hy ds testing is not required, however, we strongly recommend it. As of 2018 known results or suspected carriers are printed on our pedigrees. Please visit our Health Issues page to learn more.

Breeding Goals 

To develop a healthy, performing and pleasure horse that is well balanced and conformed and has a willing and kind temperament.

Ideal Characteristics

Head: a noble head with little or no “dishing” that is in balance with the body.

Eyes: large and bright.

Ears: well set and proportionate to head

Neck: set well into the body, slightly arched and somewhat high-set (upheaded).  A medium length neck is ideal, but a slightly shorter neck can be allowed, if all else is correct.

Shoulder: somewhat sloping shoulder and set far enough apart to form a good chest.

Chest: neither too wide or too narrow

Back: medium length, well-muscled and blends into broad loins with a well-muscled croup.

Legs: neither too wide or too narrow, straight, correctly aligned, substantial boned, with strong hocks and knees. No toeing in (front or hind) and  no turning out (in front). Length and substance must be in proper proportion to the rest of the body.

Feet: uniform in size, with appropriate mass to the body.

Movement: natural engagement (should use hocks well) with free moving shoulders and haunches at the walk, trot and canter.

Color: all colors and patterns are acceptable.

Hair: abundant mane and tail with medium to abundant bottom leg feathering.

Height: 14 hands or taller at maturity.

Temperament: kind and willing

Membership:  Currently, there is no fee for membership. Upon complete payment of all fees due for registration, HH will assign each owner and/or breeder a permanent identification number.  Fundraiser items will be offered for purchase and these are far more fun than a membership fee!

Registration Fee: Includes DNA testing & parent verification (whenever possible)

The current prices are on the forms.

Note:  In order to conduct parent verification tests, a DNA conversion fee may be required for any horses DNA tested at any lab other than UC Davis. In some cases, a conversion fee(s) may also be required on the sire and/or dam of horse being registered.

The Refund policy for horses found ineligible for registration: 

Registrant (person registering the horse) may be issued a full, partial or no refund at all, based on time spent investigating the eligibility of the horse being registered. This refund is at sole discretion of the GHH council.

Typos/errors made by the HH: 

Return the original certificate back to HH, within 90 days of receiving it, with the requested corrections in writing, and corrections will be made free of charge.

The HH is not responsible for errors made due to illegible applications or information submitted incorrectly on applications.  These errors can be corrected by sending a change of certificate form and fee (Box #10 on forms page). 

Transfer of Ownership: See the link at the top of this page.

Change of Certificate Fee: Forms (printable) Box #10

Applications & Forms

The link to the Application for registration can be found at the top of this page, or by contacting HH and requesting that one be sent by mail. 

All applications for registration must be fully completed, correctly and legibly and must be submitted with payment in full and all of the proper supporting documents and signatures, as instructed on the registration application. 

If one or more signatures are not available, or required information is missing, you may contact the HH for a case review of your particular situation.

For all horses being registered, bloodlines must be documented by attesting signatures of the breeder(s) and verified by parent DNA testing.

Transfer of Ownership

 An HH transfer form must be fully completed, correctly and legibly and must be submitted with payment in full and all of the proper supporting documents and signatures, as instructed on the transfer of ownership form. 

The original Certificate of Registration for the horse being transferred must be returned to HH with the transfer of Ownership form at the top of this page.

Any person applying for transfer of a horse may be required to provide, upon request, other documents or evidence that may be deemed necessary by the HH .

Whenever legal title of a registered horse passes to another person by reason of death of the recorded owner, foreclosure of any lien, by any order or decree of court, or otherwise by operation of law, the Registry may transfer the registration of the subject horse to the new owner:

• Upon court order of competent jurisdiction or other satisfactory proof of authority for the transfer.
• Upon payment of the transfer fee.
• Upon satisfaction of such other requirements as may be required by HH

GHH Registration Books & Designations

Basic Registration: Certificate has a red, foil-border.  This level of registration is based strictly on blood requirements.  Horses of documented, qualifying heritage will be registered as “Gypsian”, after application and DNA testing has been completed.

Advanced Registration:  Certificate has a silver, gold or blue, foil-border, depending on inspection score and accomplishments. This level of registration requires that the horse, at or after the age of 3 years, be micro-chipped and inspected with a minimum qualifying score.

A horse that receives 7.700 or higher at a FEIT inspection (achieving a High Merit score) or an equivalent, approved inspection, will be eligible for GOLD papers.

A horse that receives 7.000 to 7.699 at a FEIT inspection or an equivalent, approved inspection, will be eligible for SILVER papers.

A horse that scores below 7.000 will remain on the red bordered certificate with the scores added to the papers.

**Elite Status** (blue border certificate): 

Certificate has a blue, foil-border.   In order to qualify for “Elite” status, a horse must prove itself through inspection scores and/or Open show scores and/or the quality of his or her offspring.  When awarding Elite status to a mare or stallion, inspection scores and/or the inspection scores of his or her offspring, Open competition scores and/or the Open competition scores of his or her offspring will all be taken into account and balanced and graded with an A, B or C designation.  Stallions and mares without a show record may still earn Elite status with extensive proof of their offspring’s quality and ability.  Geldings and mares may earn, without meeting the offspring requirements, Elite status through their inspection scores and extensive Open show record at a medium-high to high level.  For mares and stallions, a posthumous award of the Elite designation is possible, if the offspring’s achievements are earned after the sire or dam’s death. The designation of Elite will be added to whatever designation a horse has or has not already earned, for example, a horse may be “Elite Heritage Horse” under basic registration without any further designation or “Elite Sporthorse Designated” or “Elite Park Performance Designated”.

This program places heavy emphasis on “quality of offspring” and will award horses that can produce high quality offspring consistently.

Naming Rules

One-word names are typically not allowed.  If a one word name is used an initial/s will be added to the horses name. You may use a farm name like Peter Pan of Neverland or Peter P or Peter NLR.  Please provide at least two name options. Avoid using punctuation marks or numbers in the name choices, except for apostrophes. Names may not exceed 20 characters (spaces included).

You may have the option to change your horses name.

Sires or dams who already have existing registered offspring may NOT change their name. Please call the HH registry for additional rules concerning name changes.

The HH reserves the right to disallow the use of names already commonly established by another farm as their “trade-name”(s). Well-known sire names may not be used in the name, unless the horse is directly related to the sire and/or written permission is given by sire owner. Sire names may not be used at the beginning of a name, unless the horse is a direct son or daughter of that sire, or written permission is given by sire owner.

Duplicate Certificates

A Duplicate Certificate of Registration will be issued providing:

• Satisfactory proof of loss, destruction or other reason for the unavailability of original certificate is provided.

• An application for a duplicate Certificate of Registration has been correctly completed and submitted to HH with a statement describing the loss, destruction, or other reason for the unavailability of the original certificate, and the appropriate fee.

    By the issuance of a duplicate registration certificate all prior certificates of the horse are declared null and void. If the original certificate is found it must be returned to HH.

Certificate Changes & Corrections

The recorded owner may request a change, to any part of the issued Certificate.  The original Certificate of Registration must be returned to HH with a completed Change of Certificate Form.  Upon approval of the HH, an amended Certificate of Registration will be issued to the recorded owner. Any clerical errors made by HH will be made free of charge for 60 days after the permanent registration date posted on the certificate.

Liability

The burden of proof for the registration or transfer of a horse is the responsibility of the applicant. Neither the GHH, HH or any of its Directors, employees or members of its committees shall be liable in any event for any action or failure to act in connection with the operation of the HH. Any registry record found to be inaccurate will be expunged or altered and reissued as deemed appropriate by HH.

Titles and Standings for all horses

Horses being registered with HH, who may have already received titles and standings in another registry, may not automatically transfer to HH books or designations. Please contact the HH directly for titles and standings that are recognized by HH.

However, all Purebred Friesians registered with FPS or FPZV shall retain the titles as they currently stand with those registries.  Titles and standings from registries other than FPS or FPZV may or may not apply.

A stallion or mare that is known to be passing on a confirmed congenital defect may have its title and standings removed or changed at the discretion of the HH.