Service Certificate books are kept by the owners of stallions who complete the forms in triplicate. The top copy goes to the Society, the duplicate copy is for the mare owner and the final copy is retained by the stallion owner. This form is only used in the case of live cover or AI on farm. An AI Certificate should be completed for any foal conceived through transported semen.

On the lower section of this form is provision for noting the details of the foal. This should be completed by the foal's owner and forwarded to the Society within one month of the foal's birth, together with the appropriate fee (see "Application Forms" for more details"). Application for DNA should also be made at this time (see section on DNA). An imported semen levy will apply if the foal was conceived by this method.

The Society, upon receipt of this information, prepares a Foal Branding Form and advises where the foal can be sighted and branded. The owner may make application for the foal to be sighted by other than a Society representative, such as a veterinary surgeon, and for the branding of the foal to be undertaken at a later date. Requests from owners living remote distances from where branding and sighting are undertaken and the owners of sick foals will be considered. No pedigree paper will be issued until all facets of registration such as sighting, DNA typing and branding are completed.

If the mare does not give birth to a foal, has a stillborn foal or the foal dies shortly after birth, then the foal registration form should still be completed with full reasons given and forwarded to the Society. Mares are considered active and will be charged appropriate fees even if the foal is slipped or dies. Foals should be sighted on their dams. If the dam has died, the owner wishes to wean the foal or the foal is conceived through embryo transplant, DNA typing will be necessary to prove identity before the foal can be registered.

If the dam of the foal to be registered is to be classified and has her foal at foot, she is inspected first. If the mare does not pass classification, her foal will not be accepted and no refunds of any fees are applicable except the foal registration, DNA typing and semen levy.

The foal's sex, colour, markings, whorls and other identifying marks are carefully noted by a Society representative. The Hanoverian brand is then applied to the nearside rump. The pedigree papers are issued immediately when all conditions for registration are fulfilled. The breeder of the foal is the person who owned the mare at the time of the conception of the foal. If the mare is sold in foal, the new owner becomes the owner of the foal and it is their responsibility to register the foal and pay any fees. If the mare is sold with foal at foot, it is up to both parties to decide who is the owner of the foal and it becomes their responsibility to register the foal and pay any appropriate fees.

Foals bred overseas and imported in-utero will receive the AU Hanoverian brand and similarly, foals conceived here and exported in-utero should receive the Hanoverian brand of the Society in the area which they were foaled. The Australian Society should be advised of the registration of any horses bred here but exported overseas.

‘Please check with the Registrar before purchasing semen or signing breeding contracts that your resultant foal will be eligible for registration’