Qualifies for the Bays for Days Adoption Special: $500 off all bay horses through the month of September!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2 - Fleur's favorite part of the day is heading outside to meet her friends, and she is known to call out or take a few jog steps when walking to turnout! Despite this, she minds her handlers' space well, and we have no issues leading her in a regular lead rope and halter.
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 - Fleur is kind but a bit antsy in the crossties, and is likely to paw if she feels that her grooming routine is taking too long.
• Horse Care -  Level 2 - The easiest of easy keepers, the butteriest of butterballs; Fleur holds her weight extremely well on half of our daily ration and grass! She does sport front shoes, but requires no special supplements or maintenance.
• Riding - Level 2  - Fleur blew us away with her soft and comfortable gaits, and was a joy for her first ride in the program. She gave a few head tosses to shoo away buzzing flies, but was overall happy to plop about - and even happier to stand and get scratches. She will be quite happy in a relaxed program where her personality and adventurous spirit can shine!
• General Demeanor - Level 2 - 3 - She prefers to maintain a higher ranking within the herd, and has been known to pick on her shyer pasture mates when in competition for attention or snacks.
• Physical Capability* - Level 3 - Fleur has some arthritic changes and would be a fabulous candidate for pleasure or lower-level competitive riding!  

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*Assessments are based on information provided by the donors, physical/ mental assessments done by our professional team, as well as any veterinary examinations done at the farm (as needed). Approved, prospective adopters are welcome to arrange and coordinate a PPE if they choose, after speaking with the trainer at the respective facility of the horse. Adopters may also elect to use the 60-day trial period to thoroughly vet and assess the fit of the horse at their barn to ensure a great match!

ABOUT OUR ADOPTION FEES

New Vocations intentionally sets our horses’ adoption fees lower than the average cost of buying a Thoroughbreds or Standardbreds from a private seller (in today’s market, horses coming right off the track are often listed at $5,000 to $10,000!).

Our facilities are nearly always at max capacity, which means we can’t take in a new horse until one is adopted. Keeping our adoption fees low helps us find appropriate homes for horses quickly, thereby enabling us to assist even more horses transition off the track as stalls open up in our barns! In that way, when you adopt a horse through New Vocations, you’re actually helping two horses: your new family member and the one who takes his place in our program!

While our adoption fees are low, it’s important to remember that costs associated with the ongoing care and additional training for a horse (adopted or otherwise!) can be high. We hope that by helping adopters save money upfront, you’ll have more funds available to cover the costs of properly caring for and training a retired racehorse.

In general, our fees range around $3,500, $2,500, $1,000, and Under $1,000:

• $3,500: This range is for horses considered unlimited in their physical ability or those with exceptional qualities that would make them an upper- or high-level equine athlete.
  
  

• $2,000 - $2,500: This range is for horses we consider physically capable of a mid- to high-level second career. They have few or relatively minor limitations.
  
  

• $1,000 - $1,500: This range is for horses best-suited for a low- to mid-level career. They may have sustained an injury but have been fully treated and rehabbed. These horses have been examined by and cleared by our veterinarians for most disciplines, possibly up to a certain level (for example, suitable for a career jumping 2’0” but not suitable for a 3’6” career).
  
  

• Under $1,000: This range is for horses that could be harder to place in a perfect situation or those with more limited athletic potential (for example, possibly suitable for flat-work only) but are still capable of a successful second career. They have been evaluated by our veterinarians and are otherwise healthy.

Another perk of adopting from us? We do all we can to give you the most value for your adoption fee. Most adoptable horses have been in the program for a minimum of 60 days, during which they're rehabilitated (if needed), socialized with other horses, evaluated by trainers and veterinarians, and in regular training with a professional; on average, the monetary value of these services exceeds $5,000. Any medical records (often including X-ray and ultrasounds) and pertinent history we have on each horse is also available to interested and approved adopters.