The American Brabant Association promotes the capturing of the DNA “fingerprint” of American Brabant horses and encourages owners to voluntarily test their horses. Once tested and recorded, horses’ genetic markers can be compared to their sires’ and dams’ genetic markers to verify parentage. Genetic parentage/identification testing needs to be done only once in a horse’s lifetime. The ABA has contracted with the University of Kentucky Genetic Testing at Gluck to handle DNA parentage/identification and PSSM1 testing. The ABA Registry will maintain a database of the results. The ABA encourages all American Brabant horses, but particularly stallions, to be tested for both parentage/identification and PSSM1(Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy). As the ABA Registry matures, DNA testing may become a requirement for all registrations. Ideally, over time, all American Brabant horses will be genetically tested and have their markers on file. At that point, the identity and lineage of any registered American Brabant horse can be assured. If you do not have DNA testing done now, consider collecting and storing mane hairs (for adult horses) or tail hairs (for foals) from your horse. Store 50-100 hairs. The hair follicles contain the DNA needed for future testing. If you chose to have DNA testing done:
Submit the ABA DNA Testing Request form and appropriate fees to the American Brabant Registry Office.
1) The Registry office will then mail back to you the DNA Analysis form that will be used to send the sample to
the University of Kentucky.
2) Tape the mane or tail hairs of the appropriate horse onto the DNA Analysis form. These hairs must be pulled
and not cut. If the horse is less than 1 year old it is recommended that you pull tail hairs and if older than 1
year old that you pull mane hairs from near the withers. 50-100 hairs are required for the test.
3) Send the form and hair sample to the lab. Their address is listed on the DNA Analysis form.
4) The ABA approved lab at the University of Kentucky will perform the DNA genetic marker tests.
5) The results will be returned to the ABA Registry Office.
6) Once recorded in the ABA database, a copy of the genetic results will be emailed to you.
7) You should print them out and keep them with your horse’s ABA Registration Certificate.
8) Please allow 4-5 weeks for the results to be returned to you.

Fee: Parentage testing $40 USD for members and non-members
Parentage & PSSM1 testing $100 USD for members and non-members

(PSSM1 testing cannot be requested by itself)