Passport query

Paint Me Proud

Paint Me Proud

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Quick question...

what should I do if I think the passport that came with my new horse inst actually his?

Had dentist today who has put horses age at a year older than the passport DOB states. Dentist very confident he is right as young horses teeth give more accurate aging apparently.

Was suspicious of the passport anyway.

What do you suggest.
 
Having seen the photos of him I felt there was no way he looked like the 3 year old you said he was, I assumed he was a 2009 foal and was nearly 4, he looks mature even for a 4 year old so would expect a mistake was made by his breeder when putting the date on the passport form.

As long as the markings are all correct I wouldn't worry it really doesn't matter and in fact it means you can do more with him without worrying about him so much.
 
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be positive said:
Having seen the photos of him I felt there was no way he looked like the 3 year old you said he was, I assumed he was a 2009 foal and was nearly 4, he looks mature even for a 4 year old so would expect a mistake was made by his breeder when putting the date on the passport form.

As long as the markings are all correct I wouldn't worry it really doesn't matter and in fact it means you can do more with him without worrying about him so much.
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Yes passport said he was 3 last month!! Dentist said he is just gone 4.

There are no marking recorded in the passport. Colour just says 'dun' but his appaloosa markings would have been clearly present as a foal.
 
There should be whorls to match up, not sure about the colour as spots can change with the seasons, age etc, but he looks much more like a 4 year old, I think the dentist is probably correct, not sure what you can do, I wouldn't bother unless there was a way of tracking back to his breeders.
 
be positive said:
There should be whorls to match up, not sure about the colour as spots can change with the seasons, age etc, but he looks much more like a 4 year old, I think the dentist is probably correct, not sure what you can do, I wouldn't bother unless there was a way of tracking back to his breeders.
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It is his appaloosa traits (mottled skin, striped hooves, white sclera) more so than the actual spots.

The 'markings' section has nothing on it but the cross where his microchip is. No whorls, no star, no hind sock, nothing.

Problem is I want to go to local competitions with him but passport says he is 3, when he is actually 4 and thus able to compete.
 
Get the vet out and get another passport - technically not allowed but probably the only way to get what you want simply.

Alternatively get the microchip read and checked and if that's different to his passport you might be able to take that route somewhere - if it matches you'd need to get hold of the breeder etc to try and get a replacement.
 
Polos Mum said:
Alternatively get the microchip read and checked and if that's different to his passport you might be able to take that route somewhere - if it matches you'd need to get hold of the breeder etc to try and get a replacement.
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Ditto this. In order to passport horses as foals from 4yrs (maybe even 5) ago they had to be microchipped before 6mths of age so hopefully whatever the microchip reads should be correct.

If you based the age of one of mine on her teeth though you would be out & I know her definite age as I have owned her since 10mths. She has very immature teeth & held onto some of her caps for over a year longer than she should have. Its just the way she is & clearly she didn't read the book & maybe your lovely boy didn't either :D :D :D
 
Yup I would get the chip checked ASAP.
Having bred a horse that the teeth of a four yo at three I would not be at all suprised if it's ok.
 
Goldenstar said:
Yup I would get the chip checked ASAP.
Having bred a horse that the teeth of a four yo at three I would not be at all suprised if it's ok.
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it's not just his teeth we are basing it on. This horse does NOT look like a just gone 3 year old, in fact he looks more like a 5 or 6 year old in his development and build etc.
 
Doesn't matter what you are basing it on. The chip is the reliable marker. I assume his breeding is recorded and he's DNA tested?
 
Paint Me Proud said:
it's not just his teeth we are basing it on. This horse does NOT look like a just gone 3 year old, in fact he looks more like a 5 or 6 year old in his development and build etc.
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Well there's no way I would have parted with money for a horse which I thought had the wrong passport with out getting the chip scanned before I parted with any money.
If the chip says he's four he's four that the great thing about the fact they are chipped as foals now a days.
 
glenruby said:
Doesn't matter what you are basing it on. The chip is the reliable marker. I assume his breeding is recorded and he's DNA tested?
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no recorded breeding and no DNA record.

Goldenstar - i only looked at his passport briefly at the viewing and he was 5 stage vetted but vet didnt comment on anything untoward but dont know if he checked passport or not. Only started to have suspicions once I got him home and realised what the listed birth year was (maths was never my strong point!)
 
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The vet should have checked the chip and made a note on his own paperwork along with the whorl locations
 
Chipis checked as part of 5 stage. At what age was his passport issued? I have had a horse (now actually 5yo) whose passport said she was 1 year older than she actually was. Breeding not recorded and passport issued just prior to purchase. If thats the case, the age isnt official, not unless issued at 6mths or less( for horsesof his age - before December of the year nwhich they are born).
 
Then they can't have the age wrong. No one would mistake an 8 month old for a 20mth old! And checking a microchip agaonst the passport is definitely part if a five stage vetting so his teeth and maturity do not reflect his true age. Not unusual at all.
 
I have had vets and dentists tell me that some of my ponies were a different age to that shown on the paperwork. I had bred these ponies myself so I knew exactly what date they had been born. They are not always right.
 
If there is a microchip then the markings do not have to be drawn in the passport as the microchip is seen as far more reliable than a drawing thus making the drawing redundant. Not very helpful if no chip readers are available but I can understand the logic

My pony without a microchip has every mark noted in his passport, the one with the microchip just has an X on the drawing
 
For the record I thought your horse looks older and was surprised to discover he was three but it does seem pretty conclusive if he was passported at 8 months and I would have thought he would have been worth more sooner if he was a year older so dont really see why it would be wrong

Looking at the 1-3 year old's shown in hand at shows they look nothing like my leggy 2 year old as they have been produced younger to look more mature. Even if that could not be the case with your horse I guess it shows that looks can be deceptive

In your shoes if you can match the microchip then I think it would be better to err on the side of caution and treat him as a three year old
 
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