Take 50% off adoption fees with our Home for the Holidays Adoption Special when you bring a horse home by Dec. 31!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2  - While receptive to correction, Baron can be immature at times when being led, and might nip at his lead rope or march ahead when he’s excited to reach his destination. We believe this will improve with time and maturity. 
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - 2 - Baron stands perfectly to be tied and absolutely adores playing in the hose... Interested adopters should invest in a waterproof poncho, or find joy in leaving the wash stall feeling like they’ve just gotten a bath themselves. 
• Horse Care - Level 2 - Baron wears standard front shoes and holds his weight very well on a basic feeding ration!
• Riding - Level 2 - Baron has been quite the workman for his training rides, and aims to please with every step! He is generally a very soft ride, but will require plenty of conditioning before he is able to properly engage himself. A few silly moments are to be expected, given his age, but he is overall an agreeable and easy-going guy!
• General Demeanor - Level 2 - Baron is a playful and fun-loving turnout buddy that has found himself in the upper tier of the pasture hierarchy. When interacting with humans, he often needs a reminder that teeth are not an acceptable display of affection - but he is never malicious in his intent. He just loves to explore the world! 
• Physical Capability* - Level 3 - Baron sports some arthritic changes in his neck and would be a fabulous pleasure or low-level competition mount in an English or western discipline!

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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.