2020 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover Eligible

It’s time to stop asking and start adopting, and this is the horse you’ll want to take home! Stop Asking (yes that really is his registered name) is flashy, fancy, and ready to find his second career. This personable gelding, known as “Sam” around the barn, is not only your chrome covered dream, he’s also a cool RRP prospect that’s dripping potential.

On the ground, Sam is submissive and quiet, possessing more of a follower type mentality whether around people or other horses. He goes out at night with a group of other geldings, and is happy to let the others dictate while he just wants to be friends with everyone. Sam leads well, stands in the crossties, and for the vet and farrier quietly. He enjoys receiving attention and is quite the people pleaser!

Under saddle Sam has been a quick study from day one with us! He has a forward drive, but is very responsive and willing. He was used to going around with his head in the air like a giraffe, but he has started to stretch long and low, as well as to understand how to be more “on the bit.” Sam is a pleasure to ride and is fun to watch progress with every ride. Sam has even begun to work on some more advanced things like lateral balance and collecting/ extending. We think he will be a super, sporty mount, and could see him excelling in just about any discipline. It wouldn’t surprise us to see him go on to be an awesome eventer, jumper or dressage mount! Sam is suitable for at least an advanced intermediate rider working with a trainer.

PLEASE NOTE: Stop Asking would normally be listed in our ‘$1,000 plus $1,500 donation’ adoption fee bracket, but as a special opportunity to qualified adopters, he is available for adoption ahead of schedule, for a discounted adoption fee. Sam came to us with a metacarpus (shin) fracture in his left front and is currently in the end stages of his rehab here. Under vet orders, he is jogging under saddle, which helps to get the blood flowing to the bone, to continue his already good progress healing.

Ideal adopters will have experience with rehab and a good working relationship with a vet, so that rechecks can be performed as necessary. Interested approved adopters will have access to any veterinary records we have, including radiographs as well as our rehab riding schedule.

Sam came to New Vocations through NYTHA's Take the Lead program. We're grateful for their continued support!

COVID-19 Adoption Fee Update

You might notice some of our horses' adoption fees have been reduced in recent days.  This is solely due to the current COVID-19 situation and not because we've discovered new physical issues or behavioral issues.  We always aim to keep our adoption fees low so adopters can invest more in the future training and care for each horse. The adoption option is truly the most economical option!

In addition, please keep in mind the more horses we rehome, the more retiring racehorses we can welcome to our program. And, with the current uncertainty at many racetracks and training centers, we're hoping to eliminate barriers to help find perfect homes for our current residents so we can continue serving those in need of transitional training. Adopters must still be approved to bring a horse home.

Please feel free to contact any horse's trainer for additional information on his or her adoption fee.

ADOPTION FEE POLICY

New Vocations’ adoption fees are intentionally set lower than the cost of buying most Thoroughbreds or Standardbreds through a private seller. In today’s market, it’s not unusual for horses coming right off the track to be listed for sale at a price between $2,000 and $5,000. At New Vocations, we set a fee that will ultimately help each horse find a home quickly. The program’s facilities are always at full capacity, which means we cannot take in an additional horse until one is adopted. Adopters should be encouraged to know that by adopting a horse through New Vocations, they are actually helping two horses transition to careers outside of racing.

In general, our fees are set at $500, $1,000 or $1,000 with a $1,500 donation.

• $1,000 with a $1,500 donation: This range is for horses that we consider to be the cream of the crop or the unicorn horses. They are horses that have few or no limitations, have great conformation, movement and size.
• $1,000: This range is for horses that are suitable for a competitive career up to a certain level (for example cleared for 2’6” but not 3’). They may have been fully rehabbed from a race injury but have been cleared for most disciplines.
• $500: This range is for horses that are limited to a flat, trail or companion type home. These horses are healthy and have been fully rehabbed and evaluated by a vet.

Additionally, adopters get great value for their money: The majority of the horses have been in the program for a minimum of 60 days. During that time, horses are rehabilitated (if needed), socialized with other horses, fully evaluated, and in work with a professional trainer. New Vocations fully discloses each horse’s history and provides all available medical records, many of which include X-ray and ultrasounds.

While adoption fees are low, it should be noted that costs associated with ongoing care and additional training for each horse after adoption can be high. New Vocations hopes that by helping an adopter save money upfront, he or she will have more funds available to cover the continuing costs of properly caring for a horse.