I have heard that the Jockey Club has a DNA test for race horses? I have an OTTB whos tatoo is not totally legible and would like to find out who bred her. I bought her out of a bad backyard situation where she was a skeleton and have had her two years. She is lame, a pasture ornament, but wondered if her breeders would take her back. I know, but worth a try? She is a lovely mare, very sweet, but not sure where ro go with this. Irony is, she is the prettiest horse I own. Gorgeous black mare.
If her tattoo is partially legible and she has some markings, it may be possible (and easier and faster) to identify her through the partial tattoo search. If you post pictures of her tattoo and markings, many here can help.
Unless the Jockey Club is holding out with some seriously advanced technology, you can’t “search” for a completely unknown individual via DNA. The wealth of information to sort through to make a match prevent it from being a feasibility.
The way DNA testing works is that you compare genetic markers to the parents’ DNA. Since offspring get 50% of their DNA from each parent, every marker should match either the sire or the dam. If they don’t, there’s a problem with the reported parentage.
You can do a partial tattoo search as furlong47 said, so if you can make anything out at all on the tattoo, you may be able to narrow your horse’s identity down to a few possible candidates. Some people think reading the tattoo in a dark area with a flashlight helps, or using a blacklight.
If you can come up with a strong candidate for her identity, the Jockey Club may be willing to confirm her DNA with what they have on file. I say “may” because they tend to stay out of matters that don’t directly involve registration. However, with it being a mare, they will probably be more inclined to help since it affects any future offspring she might have.
Good luck!
If you call UC Davis you CAN identify your horse via DNA testing. I think it is $80
JC will test a horse against their known database. Call them for the kit, and it’s $80 or $85, IIRC. You’ll only get a hit if the horse is registered and is young enough to have been DNA tested when it was registered.
Great to know they are now offering this! Thanks for the correction!
Yes, I had heard this from a few people but wasn’t quite sure they knew what they were saying - lots of people don’t really understand how DNA tests work and get their ideas from TV crime shows. I’ve never seen anyone post actual results from this type of test. Previously DNA was only used for verifying parentage, so you could test if you had a reasonable idea who the horse was or who the parents might be. But not pick out one horse from the entire JC database. I’d love to see verified cases of this being done.
I’m also not sure how UC Davis could offer such a thing unless they had access to the DNA results from every breed database. They can test for color, genetic diseases, parentage, and even gaiting but I don’t think they can identify individual horses.
Furlong, I do actually know someone who has done this to identify her horse.
The jc also has a webpage on the service, although it’s hard to find. I’ll try to dig it up when I’m in front of a computer next.
UC Davis is where you send the hair to DNA your foals for the JC. They keep the databank from what I understand.
I was contacted a year ago by a lady that had purchased a non tattooed suspected TB at an auction. She submitted hair to UC Davis and found out he was a full brother to one of my mares. So my info is slightly secondhand, but I have no reason to think she made it up.
[QUOTE=Simkie;8664926]
Furlong, I do actually know someone who has done this to identify her horse.
The jc also has a webpage on the service, although it’s hard to find. I’ll try to dig it up when I’m in front of a computer next.[/QUOTE]
Yes, I’d like to see that page. I’ve searched and searched and never found anything. I’d love it if I could recommend such a service to people, but aside from friend-of-a-friend type stuff I’ve never heard of anyone actually being able to do it.
On a side note, I’m really happy to see the Jockey Club has taken a proactive stance on horse identification. $80 for a DNA search is a bargain compared to what you pay for human DNA services. And no cost research if you hit a dead end? Kudos to them.
It’s been quite a few years since I’ve asked their help in identifying an unknown animal. It used to be like pulling teeth to try to get them to even confirm markings or whorls if the foal papers had been misplaced.
Thank you for all the info, very helpful.
