Save 50% on Adoption Fees with our Saddle Up for Summer Adoption Special June 16 - July 14!

Hornswoggle is forward-thinking and athletic! He is a good mover with a big step. Hornswoggle formerly won TIP Championships in the 2'6" Show Jumpers! Check out his video where we took him off property for some cross-country and jump schooling!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2 - "Dobby" enjoys being out with friends, so can be a little pushy when being led on the ground. He hasn't necessarily needed the assistance of a chain, but extra groundwork has been helpful to insist he walks with his handler.
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - Dobby stands quietly for grooming, tacking, and bathing. He is used to being on crossties.
• Horse Care - Level 3 - Dobby has been enjoying 24/7 turnout. He requires specialty shoeing and maintenance.
• Riding - Level 3 - Dobby is less green than the vast majority of horses coming through our program. He works nicely into the bridle and is a good mover with a big step. He can get a little defensive and inverted in his canter work but with some tactful schooling, we find that he relaxes and starts working over his back more willingly. Over fences, he has a big, powerful jump and would be best suited to a more experienced rider who can stay with him in a soft and empathetic manner. Dobby also enjoys hitting the trails with his rider.
• General Demeanor - Level 2 - Dobby is a lovely horse and is a powerhouse in a smaller package. He is very interactive and in-your-pocket. He enjoys coming in to spend time with us each day and loves cookies and post-ride carrots!
• Physical Capability - Level 2 - Dobby is best-suited for a lower-level (2'6" and under) career and will require regular maintenance due to some radiographic findings. As always, veterinary records are available to interested and approved adopters.

 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 Thoroughbred or Standardbred from a private seller (in today’s market, horses coming right off the track are often listed at $5,000 to $10,000!).

Our fees range from $0 (waived) to $3,500.

• Fees typically correspond with a horse’s Anticipated Physical Capability. So, horses that are found to be best suited for non-riding careers (our Pasture Potatoes) have waived fees, while the fees for horses assessed to be suitable for high-impact careers will be up to $3,500.

While our adoption fees are low, it’s important to remember that costs associated with ongoing care and additional training for a horse 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.

When you adopt a horse through New Vocations, you’re helping two horses; your new family member and the one who takes their place in our program. 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, enabling us to help even more horses transition off the track as stalls open up in our barns!

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've rehabilitated (if needed), socialized with other horses, been evaluated by trainers and veterinarians, and have been in regular training with a professional. On average, the monetary value of these services exceeds $5,000. Any medical records (often including X-rays and ultrasounds) and pertinent history we have on each horse are also available to interested and approved adopters.