New Rule Brings Color Clarity to AQHA Registration

**A recent rule change regarding colour genotype results has been accepted by the American Quarter Horse Association.**

For decades, the colour listed on an American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) registration certificate has been based solely on what the eye can see. But a recent rule change spearheaded by AQHA Director Ryan A. Fleetwood of Champion, Alberta, is ushering in a new era of accuracy, transparency, and genetic proof.

At the AQHA Convention in March, 2025, Fleetwood announced the successful passage of a proposal that will allow AQHA members to optionally include UC Davis colour genotype test results on the master report for any registered horse. While these results won’t appear directly on the certificate, they will be stored in the official AQHA database, where anyone can verify them.

A Long-Awaited Solution

“This new option won’t solve all the problems,” Fleetwood admits. “But it will allow those of us who wish to have indisputable evidence in the form of genotype on our horses to have it on official AQHA paperwork.”

The rule passed through AQHA’s Stud Book & Registration Committee – a body that oversees all rule changes related to registration, including signatures, cloning, and embryo transfers. Fleetwood, who became a Director in 2022 and joined this key committee in 2024, authored the proposal himself.

“I originally asked for genotype results to be printed on the back of the certificate,” he explains. “But real estate on the form made that unworkable. The compromise was to include it on each horse’s master report in the AQHA database.”

Fleetwood is already looking ahead: “Next, I’d like to see it integrated into the new Quarter Horse Resource pedigree database along with any health panel test results or genetic testing that may also have been done.”

Genotype vs. Phenotype: Why It Matters

Traditionally, the colour printed on AQHA papers is based on phenotype – what you can see. But a horse’s genotype (its actual genetic makeup) can tell a very different story.

“You can have two horses that both look like bays,” Fleetwood explains, “but one may carry two copies of the black gene, while the other only carries one. That’s important information for breeders trying to predict colour outcomes in foals.”

Understanding genes like extension (E/e) and agouti (A/a) makes a big difference. Agouti, for example, controls where black pigment shows up on the body, and without it, a bay horse would be black. But you’d never know agouti status just by looking.

“This eliminates the need for speculation,” says Fleetwood. “There’s no arguing with genotype. Phenotype is subjective; genotype is fact.”

A bay horse must carry one copy of extension in order to have black pigment. But a horse that carries one copy and a horse that carries two copies can look exactly the same.

A Tool for Breeders, Buyers, and Beyond

Fleetwood emphasizes that this new feature is completely voluntary, but for breeders and buyers who care about colour genetics, it’s a game-changer.

“Up to now, if you wanted to prove a horse’s colour genetics, you’d often use an external lab report – basically just a PDF,” he says. “Now, we’re bringing that information inside the AQHA. If a buyer wants to verify what a seller or breeder is saying about a horse’s colour genetics, they can look it up in the official record.”

UC Davis is AQHA’s designated lab for this testing. Their results can be matched with the horse’s DNA already on file, offering an extra layer of protection. And while the current AQHA registration certificate will still list phenotype on the front, this new master report addition means that genetic test results can now travel with the horse in a verifiable way.

Silver Lincoln, a silver bay stallion owned by Fleetwood Farms.

The Governance Behind the Change

Fleetwood is a self-proclaimed “horse lover and politics fan,” and AQHA’s democratic structure is part of what fuels his passion.

“It’s a member-driven association. Any member can submit a rule change, addition, or deletion. Those proposals go to their respective committees and are debated at the annual convention. Any AQHA member in attendance can participate in those discussions. It’s grassroots and in-person. If you care enough to show up, you can shape the future of the breed.”

That process is exactly how this rule passed: through committee, general membership, directors’ meeting, and finally, executive review. But crucially, proposals from the Stud Book & Registration Committee cannot be vetoed by AQHA’s Executive Committee – acknowledging the deep technical expertise required in this area.

“It may take a decade to see the results of these rule changes,” Fleetwood says. “They’re not just administrative. They change the direction of the registry.”

What Comes Next

Fleetwood hopes this is just the beginning. He’s already thinking about future rule proposals and invites Canadian and international members to reach out with their ideas.

“There are only two things we test for now: genetic disease and colour,” he says. “But who knows about the future? Some say we will be able test for things like disposition. And when we can, that data will be housed and displayed by AQHA.”

For Fleetwood and many others, this new rule isn’t just about paperwork – it’s about preserving the integrity of the breed and empowering breeders with the best information science can offer.