diff --git a/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/MineLP.java b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/MineLP.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3af15158
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/MineLP.java
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+package com.minelittlepony.unicopia;
+
+import com.minelittlepony.MineLittlePony;
+
+public final class MineLP {
+    private static boolean checkComplete;
+    private static boolean modIsActive;
+
+    /**
+     * Returns true if mine little pony is present. That's all we need.
+     */
+    public static boolean modIsActive() {
+        if (!checkComplete) {
+            try {
+                MineLittlePony.getConfig();
+                modIsActive = true;
+            } catch (Exception e) {
+                modIsActive = false;
+            }
+        }
+        return modIsActive;
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/Race.java b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/Race.java
index df8c30b3..947edae7 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/Race.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/Race.java
@@ -4,8 +4,11 @@ import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.Map;
 
 import com.google.common.base.Strings;
+import com.minelittlepony.pony.data.PonyRace;
 
 import net.minecraft.client.resources.I18n;
+import net.minecraftforge.fml.relauncher.Side;
+import net.minecraftforge.fml.relauncher.SideOnly;
 
 public enum Race {
     HUMAN(false, false, false),
@@ -80,6 +83,31 @@ public enum Race {
         return def;
     }
 
+    @SideOnly(Side.CLIENT)
+    public static Race fromPonyRace(PonyRace ponyRace) {
+        switch (ponyRace) {
+            case ALICORN:
+                return ALICORN;
+            case CHANGELING:
+            case REFORMED_CHANGELING:
+                return CHANGELING;
+            case ZEBRA:
+            case EARTH:
+                return EARTH;
+            case GRIFFIN:
+            case HIPPOGRIFF:
+            case PEGASUS:
+            case BATPONY:
+                return PEGASUS;
+            case SEAPONY:
+            case UNICORN:
+                return UNICORN;
+            default:
+                return HUMAN;
+
+        }
+    }
+
     public static Race fromId(int id) {
         return raceIdMap.getOrDefault(id, HUMAN);
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/Unicopia.java b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/Unicopia.java
index fb60d2b0..d5399520 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/Unicopia.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/Unicopia.java
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.network.MsgPlayerCapabilities;
 import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.network.MsgRequestCapabilities;
 import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.player.PlayerSpeciesList;
 import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.power.PowersRegistry;
+import com.minelittlepony.pony.data.IPony;
 
 import come.minelittlepony.unicopia.forgebullshit.FBS;
 
@@ -57,6 +58,16 @@ public class Unicopia {
     public static int MAGIC_PARTICLE;
     public static int RAIN_PARTICLE;
 
+    /**
+     * The race preferred by the client - as determined by mine little pony.
+     * Human if minelp was not installed.
+     *
+     * This is not neccessarily the _actual_ race used for the player,
+     * as the server may not allow certain race types, or the player may override
+     * this option in-game themselves.
+     */
+    private static Race clientPlayerRace = getclientPlayerRace();
+
     @EventHandler
     public void preInit(FMLPreInitializationEvent event) {
         if (UClient.isClientSide()) {
@@ -64,10 +75,19 @@ public class Unicopia {
         }
     }
 
+    @SideOnly(Side.CLIENT)
+    private static Race getclientPlayerRace() {
+        if (Minecraft.getMinecraft().player != null && MineLP.modIsActive()) {
+            return Race.fromPonyRace(IPony.forPlayer(Minecraft.getMinecraft().player).getRace(false));
+        }
+
+        return Race.HUMAN;
+    }
+
     @EventHandler
     public void init(FMLInitializationEvent event) {
         channel = JumpingCastle.subscribeTo(MODID, () -> {
-            channel.send(new MsgRequestCapabilities(Minecraft.getMinecraft().player), Target.SERVER);
+            channel.send(new MsgRequestCapabilities(Minecraft.getMinecraft().player, clientPlayerRace), Target.SERVER);
         })
             .listenFor(MsgRequestCapabilities.class)
             .listenFor(MsgPlayerCapabilities.class)
@@ -111,6 +131,14 @@ public class Unicopia {
     @SideOnly(Side.CLIENT)
     @SubscribeEvent
     public static void onGameTick(TickEvent.ClientTickEvent event) {
+        Race newRace = getclientPlayerRace();
+
+        if (newRace != clientPlayerRace) {
+            clientPlayerRace = newRace;
+
+            channel.send(new MsgRequestCapabilities(Minecraft.getMinecraft().player, clientPlayerRace), Target.SERVER);
+        }
+
         if (event.phase == Phase.END) {
             Keyboard.getKeyHandler().onKeyInput();
         }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/network/MsgRequestCapabilities.java b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/network/MsgRequestCapabilities.java
index 3ce8e574..56732e28 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/network/MsgRequestCapabilities.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/network/MsgRequestCapabilities.java
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import com.google.gson.annotations.Expose;
 import com.minelittlepony.jumpingcastle.api.IChannel;
 import com.minelittlepony.jumpingcastle.api.IMessage;
 import com.minelittlepony.jumpingcastle.api.IMessageHandler;
+import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.Race;
 import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.player.IPlayer;
 import com.minelittlepony.unicopia.player.PlayerSpeciesList;
 
@@ -16,8 +17,12 @@ public class MsgRequestCapabilities implements IMessage, IMessageHandler<MsgRequ
     @Expose
     public UUID senderId;
 
-    public MsgRequestCapabilities(EntityPlayer player) {
+    @Expose
+    public Race race;
+
+    public MsgRequestCapabilities(EntityPlayer player, Race preferredRace) {
         senderId = player.getGameProfile().getId();
+        race = preferredRace;
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -25,6 +30,8 @@ public class MsgRequestCapabilities implements IMessage, IMessageHandler<MsgRequ
         System.out.println("[SERVER] Sending capabilities to player id " + senderId);
         IPlayer player = PlayerSpeciesList.instance().getPlayer(senderId);
 
+        player.setPlayerSpecies(message.race);
+
         channel.respond(new MsgPlayerCapabilities(player), senderId);
     }
 }