If you own horses in Indiana and plan to brand them, state law has clear rules you need to follow before the iron ever touches hide. No person within Indiana may use any brand for identifying livestock unless that brand has been recorded in the Office of the State Veterinarian — and that rule covers horses just as firmly as cattle. Getting it right from the start means your brand is legally yours, your animals are protected, and your paperwork will hold up in any ownership dispute.
This guide walks you through every step of the Indiana horse brand registration process, from deciding whether you need to register at all, to choosing your design, applying, renewing, and using your brand certificate as proof of ownership. Whether you keep a single trail horse or manage a breeding operation, the information here applies to you.
Is Brand Registration Required for Horses in Indiana?
A person owning livestock within Indiana may adopt a brand for his or her exclusive use in Indiana. That right, however, comes with a firm obligation: if you choose to brand, the mark must be officially recorded. The Livestock Brand law (IC 15-2.1-14) and the livestock brand rule (345 IAC 7-8) govern ownership, transfer, and use of a brand.
Under Indiana law, “livestock” means all horses, mules, burros, and asses or animals of the equine species — so horses are fully covered by the same brand statutes that apply to cattle and other farm animals. Branding itself is not compulsory; you can own horses in Indiana without ever putting a brand on them. But the moment you decide to brand, registration with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) is not optional…