Take 50% off adoption fees when you adopt a horse by December 23rd with our Home for the Holidays Adoption Special! 

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Witty Girl is a mare bursting with youthful energy despite her age. Her years of life experience, racing and being the mother to 9 foals (who have together earned more than $2 million in their racing careers so far), makes her a thoughtful and well-mannered partner. Witty enjoys in-hand work, under saddle adventures, and grooming time with anyone willing to give her attention.

Witty is big-bodied and thick-boned. She is a great example of the Standardbred's forever youthful physique, appearing as if she is 10 years younger than her birth date. She has the energy to go out for long trail rides, enjoys working over poles, and appreciates a challenge. She has toted our trainer's oldest kid around obstacles, through the ring, and on on-property trails.

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1+ - Witty is very easy to handle. She enjoys a quiet and reassuring hand and tries her hardest to please everyone. Witty has a big, purposeful stride, so sometimes needs a little reminding that her human's legs aren't quite as quick as hers.
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - Witty is a simple girl, good for grooming and saddling.
• Horse Care - Level 1 - Witty is barefoot and is on a regular maintenance grain diet.
• Riding - Level 1 - Witty has settled into her riding life very well. Once we found a saddle wide enough to allow her big shoulders to move (this girl is THICK with a 20" wide chest), she was happy as a clam!
• General Demeanor - Level 1+ - Witty is endearing with an engaging personality. She adores attention and partnership with a human. In the field, she wants her herd of girls within sight and calling distance. She doesn't necessarily want to be in charge of the herd, but her personality is big! When challenged she is happy to step aside for a different leader to take over.
• Physical Capability - Level 3 - Witty has a beautiful walk and a flowing, lengthy trot. She has walked over small cross-country fences, walked through water, and played in the arena through trail obstacles. She has done so with several different riders varying in experience levels and ages. Witty would be happiest with a job that will keep her occupied and adored, but not stressed.

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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.