Little Bits--at one time any horse that was 3 years old or older and 38" or under could be hardshipped into AMHR. That changed several years ago--the registry was closed to all but AMHA, ASPC or Falabella registered horses. Ideally a horse that has AMHA papers but outgrows them....should be hardshipped into AMHR before those AMHA papers expire. Right now an unregistered horse that is 34" & under can be hardshipped into AMHA and from there be AMHR registered, but any horse over 35" is simply out of luck. In 2013 when AMHA ends hardshipping then all will be out of luck if they don't already have papers of some sort.
If papers are important to people they will have to make sure they buy only registered horses--much the same as it already is and long has been with other breeds of horses and ponies.