2024 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover Eligible

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2 - Joe is a total love bug! He has a great brain and has been easy to handle for everything. Joe is well-behaved for leading and turning in and out.
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 - Joe stands like a statue in the crossties. He easily lifts his feet for cleaning and is a joy to work around (and love on).
• Horse Care - Level 2 - Joe currently wears front shoes.
• Riding - Level 3 - Joe is kind and willing under saddle. He has been a joy to bring along. He happily hacks around the farm and is enjoying beginning his new, slower-paced career. Joe has a soft mouth and listens well. He is clever and happy to work and have a job. He is an excellent prospect for an adopter with some experience who is looking for a horse happy to learn and go on adventures. Joe is still green, but learns very quickly and bonds well with his people.
• General Demeanor - Level 2 - Joe is a fun, intelligent, athletic gelding. He is playful and happy and enjoys people. Joe is currently turned out with a group of geldings and is Top Dog in the field.
• Physical Capability - Level 3 - Joe is athletically built and is a nice mover. He has a great swing behind and is going to make a lovely partner. His natural balance and strength will only get better as he develops proper muscling for his new career! He would be well-suited to, and likely very competitive in, a low to mid-level sporthorse career. Joe has a large osselet on his ankle, but the joint is not affected. Our vet does not feel that it will limit him for a future lower-level career. Joe is an extremely nice, well-mannered, athletic boy and is going to make an excellent partner! 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 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.