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

Trotting Gelding with Trail Miles Seeks New Partner!

Strike Force, known around the barn as Striker, is a big, engaging trotting gelding with a lot of ride time under his belt.  He originally came through the New Vocations program several years ago, but life changes for his adopter forced his return.  Striker is looking for a new partner who enjoys one-on-one time and doesn't mind a big personality.

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - Striker is led with a regular halter and cotton lead rope. He may sometimes out-walk you on his way to turnout (his favorite time of day!) but a gentle reminder with put him right back where he needs to be. 
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - Striker is patient and quiet in the cross-ties.  He loves curried in his itchy spots but can be a little ticklish in the flank area.  He is a gentleman to saddle and bridle. 
• Horse Care - Level 1 - Striker is an easy keeper and is currently barefoot. 
• Riding - Level 2 - Striker is generally a gentleman and quiet under saddle.  He has trail ridden through water, hills, woods, etc., and will go out in any weather.  He is a big, forward-moving guy and travels with a purpose. He has done a fair bit of arena work as well and has done poles and small cross rails.  He sometimes can be reluctant to get started (playing with his friends is so much more fun) and needs a rider who won't be a pushover and will ignore his foot planting or head twirling and send him to work.  He thinks he is fairly clever and appreciates a rider who will call his bluff. 
• General Demeanor - Level 2 - Striker is easy to have in the barn, and gets along well with his turnout buddies.  He does best with a small group as he can get overly attached if he only has one friend, and can be possessive of mares, so he would do best in a geldings-only turnout. 
• Horse Physical Capability - Level 3 - Strikers has no known injuries or limitations, though we do think he would appreciate a mid to lower-level job.  He is happily going over small jumps and will offer to canter occasionally. 

 click for horse level information 

Interested in this horse? Already approved adopters may reach out to this horse's trainer at the "Email About This Horse" button above for further information. Still need to become approved? Learn about the process and start your questionnaire at newvocations.org/adopt. Approved applications are valid for 2 years.

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.