USEF Horse ID Requirement for Horses without a USEF Annual or Lifetime Recording
Effective December 1, 2023, all horses are required to have a USEF number which can be a Horse ID, Annual or Lifetime Recording.
A USEF Horse ID is free and can be applied for online using your USEF Member Dashboard.
GR1101 Horse Identification Number and Horse Identification Form
- All horses competing in Federation licensed competitions must be properly identified. For all such competitions, entries for each horse must include a Federation-issued Unique Horse Identification Number. Additionally, a Federation Recognized Discipline Affiliate may require horses to be registered with their organization, and if so, the entry must also include that registration number.
- The Federation will issue only one Unique Horse ID Number per horse. This Unique Horse ID number must subsequently remain with the horse in perpetuity, and shall not be changed for any reason, including upgrade from Unique Horse ID to a Recording, change of ownership, change of name, or death.
- Prior to submitting an application for a new Unique Horse ID number, it is the owner’s responsibility to verify the current ID status of a horse through a Horse Recording/ID search, (the assistance of Federation staff may be requested). Anyone who knowingly seeks to obtain an additional Unique Horse ID Number for a horse which has previously been issued one is subject to disciplinary action.
- The Federation must be notified of any change of ownership and/or competition name of the horse.
- Owners are requested to notify the Federation of corrections to previously submitted information, e.g., names, addresses, breed registration, pedigree, or markings.
- A Unique Horse ID number can be upgraded to Federation recording. The Unique Horse ID Number will remain the same.
- Applications for Unique Horse ID Numbers and/or recordings can be completed online at www.usef.org using the Horse application form which can also be downloaded. The ID application form is also available on request from the Federation office, and from competition management.
- Competition management is responsible for notifying exhibitors in their prize lists of the Unique Horse ID Number requirement, and availability of Horse ID Number application forms.
- There will be no charge for Unique Horse ID Numbers that are issued via the internet to members of USEF or its affiliates for: 1) horses that are life recorded, registered or otherwise identified or listed with a USEF discipline affiliate, or 2) horses registered with a USEF breed affiliate. Horses not meeting the above criteria must have a completed USEF Horse application indicating on the application the request for a Horse ID before a number will be issued. This form can be completed on the internet, free of charge, at usef.org.
- Effective December 1, 2025, all horses competing at Federation Licensed and Endorsed Competitions must provide a microchip number that verifies the animal. A microchip used to verify identity must be a fifteen-digit ISO compliant 11784/11785 chip and be implanted in the nuchal ligament of the animal.
BOD 6/20/23 Effective 12/1/23