Stallion Registration Board
Active dates:1907-1953
Function: The duty of the Board shall be to verify and register pedigrees; to pass upon certificates of veterinary examination; to provide, when necessary, for veterinary inspection; to issue stallion license certificates; to make all necessary rules and regulations; and to perform such other duties as may be necessary to carry out and enforce the provisions of this act.
History:
The Stallion Registration Board, authorized by the legislature in 1907 (Laws 1907 c436), regulated the use of stallions for public service (mating of a stallion to the mare of another owner) by verifying their soundness and their breeding. The board registered draft horses exclusively, including Percherons, Belgians, Clydesdales, Shires, and various other breeds. The board met quarterly and was composed of the professor of animal husbandry from the agriculture department of the University of Minnesota, the veterinarian from the state experiment station, and the president of the Minnesota Horse Breeder's Association--all ex officio. An executive officer and other staff members were employed to carry out the work of the board, which included verifying and registering pedigrees; certifying veterinary examinations, or providing such examinations when necessary; and issuing stallion license certificates. The board also determined which licensed veterinarians were reputable and qualified to examine stallions for soundness. The board enforced the stallion registration law throughout the state, investigated cases of disputed pedigree, and fined violators of the provisions of the law.
Amendments to the law in 1921 and 1937 (Laws 1921 c293; 1937 c177) relating to payment for public service provided for the protection of stallion owners against any default in payment for stud services by mare owners. Requirements for registration consisted of proof that the stallion had been examined and declared fit for public service by a certified graduate veterinarian, and in some cases, verification of pedigree and proof that a stallion was registered in the studbook of a horse registry association recognized by the board. Owners were required to pay for the initial registration, veterinary examinations, and transferral of ownership. Part of the funds accrued from fees was used to pay for the publication of the reports and bulletins that contained current lists of registered stallions in the state.
A significant decrease in the number of registrations during the 1940s led to the repeal of the stallion registration law in 1953, and the board was dissolved (Laws 1953 c186 s1).
Membership:
The stallion registration board shall be composed exofficio of the professor of animal husbandry of the Minnesota college of agriculture, who shall be, ex offtcio, secretary and executive officer of this board; the veterinarian of the state experiment station, and the president of the Minnesota Horse Breeders association.
Agency heads:
Chairmen: H. W. Lightly, 1907-1910; C. B. Crandall, 1910-1918; Lou W. Orr, 1918-1936; Nels P. Grass, 1937-1947; Elmer R. Jones, 1947-1953; Secretaries/executive officers: Andrew Boss, 1907-1910; Joe S. Montgomery, 1910-191; J. F. Kuehn, 1918-1923; Alfred Leigh Harvey, 1923-1953.
Notes:
Library agency print record includes: "The Effect of the Stallion Law on the Horse Breeding Industry in Minnesota" by A.L. Harvey, 1931.
Documents/Articles:
News clippings and documents. Agencies Notebook Collection, 1931.
Record last updated:
10/23/2017
All information on this group from the Library’s collection of agency notebooks has been digitized. These
materials are incorporated into the “documents/articles” section of the record. Please contact a librarian with any questions. The Minnesota Agencies database is a work in progress.