Take 50% off adoption fees with our Home for the Holidays Adoption Special when you bring a horse home by Dec. 31!

2024 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover Eligible

*Video coming soon*

Described as "the BEST boy", Nerve is going to make a lucky adopter one sweet riding partner.

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - Nerve is a gentleman who quietly leads around the farm in a plain halter and lead rope.
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - Nerve stands quietly on the crossties and enjoys a good brushing and one-on-one attention.
• Horse Care - Level 3 - 4 - Nerve is currently living outside and enjoys having a buddy. He will require regular maintenance and has been the most comfortable in front shoes.
• Riding - Level TBD - 
• General Demeanor - Level 1 - Nerve is such a good boy and has settled right into his new program with ease! He is kind, extremely sensible, and has a very endearing, in-your-pocket personality. He has been enjoying some turnout since retiring and hasn't been restarted under saddle, but with his temperament, we know he will be as genuine and straightforward under saddle as he is on the ground.
• Physical Capability - Level 2 - 3 - Nerve has an arthritic knee that will require maintenance in his new career. He will be a great fit as a low-level partner for a very lucky adopter!

 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.