[turn-n-burn5477]

My vet was out a week ago, but I wasn't there. My OTTB has a lip tattoo that he looked at. We don't have his papers, but my mom said that by his lip tattoo he was able to figure out what month and year he was born. Anyone know what the certain letters and numbers mean?

[FallenAngel]

I think its just a way to keep track of them. The number would be registered with the jokey club thingy.

[MyBelgianAzzy]

The first letter is the year indicator, then the rest is their registration number... ex. Q04567 is 1987, horse 04567. Their registration (paper numbers) would read 8704567.

[turn-n-burn5477]

Oops, I guess I should've re-worded that lol. I meant like how do you 'decode' it to find out what the letters mean?

I think you have to be a member of the JC to research stuff like that though, and I'd rather not pay to become a member.

[turn-n-burn5477]

Is there any way I can find out what year each letter stands for?

[MyBelgianAzzy]

1990-T
'91- U
'92- V
'93-W
'94- X
'95- Y
'96- Z
'97- A
'98- B
'99- C
2000- D
'01- E
'02- F
'03- G
'04- H
'05- I
'06- J
'07- K
'08- L

****I think, not sure.****

I counted up from my P/86 mare.

[turn-n-burn5477]

Thanks MBA! So I guess the vet was right, my horse is 8. His tattoo starts with a D. I knew he was born in 2000, but thought it was neat to be able to tell that stuff by his tattoo. Are you able to figure out the month they're born too? My mom said she thought he told her what month my TB was born in, but it's my mom and she doesn't pay real good attention to what some people say, haha.

[MyBelgianAzzy]

Well... I don't think so, but I'm no expert. I'd prefer not to post M's tattoo--- I use a variation of it as a password fairly often. I don't remember her day of birth, but the month number is in there (3 for March)... but the rest wouldn't make sense. Even if the day followed, there would be an extra number. I think the whole list of numbers might be the number that they were registered that year (ie, D00123 would be the 123rd horse to be registered in the "D" year).

[turn-n-burn5477]

Well my mom said he got the month and the day out if his tattoo she thinks? Not the exact day in the month, just the month. Who knows though. Either way, I think it's cool lol.

[MyBelgianAzzy]

Magic's was the letter of her year, then 03, which would be March if it was the month (which would be right), then three numbers that didn't seem to have any sort of meaning. If you find out for sure, I'd love a PM!