New Vocations' Pasture Potatoes Program

Eligible for Shipping Credit up to $1,000!

If Centrist Road were a type of potato, he would be mashed potatoes - a true classic and crowd-pleaser that goes with everything! Appropriately nicknamed "Buddy", this gelding adores attention and has aspirations to be a best friend to all living things, great and small.

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - No halter? No problem. Buddy will follow virtually anyone who gives him a moment of attention. Ever wondered if you could fashion a halter out of a piece of hay string, or even a few blades of grass? Buddy will help you with product testing! Even if your product fails, he’ll be too busy soaking up the attention to notice, and will probably still follow you to the barn.
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - This potato LOVES attention and will stand happily to receive head scratches or a good groom. He ties very well in the crossties, wash rack, or the stall.
• Horse Care - Level 1 - Buddy is barefoot and easy to keep! Just add love.
• Riding - Level N/A - Buddy is well suited for a non-riding home and is eligible for our Pasture Potatoes program.
• General Demeanor - Level 1 - To give you an example of his lovable nature, we once watched Buddy follow a skunk around his pasture for 20 minutes while the rest of the herd left him behind. He thinks he is a friend to all things great and small!
• Physical Capability - Level 1 - Buddy is best suited for a non-riding career. He would love to be a companion to another horse or human who shares his same love for the great outdoors!

 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 PASTURE POTATOES

New Vocations’ Pasture Potatoes program provides those seeking companion horses peace of mind with the following benefits.

• Potential adopters will receive special approval and support as a home for companion horses through New Vocations’ application process.

• A shipping stipend of up to $1,000 for each horse to head to their new home.

• If the adopter can no longer care for their horse, an additional $1,000 shipping stipend will be provided to bring the horse back to New Vocations.

• Additional stipends may be available to the adopters if they need veterinary support as the horse transitions into their new home, or training guidance as they work with their horse in-hand.

• Adopters of Pasture Potatoes will be unable to sell their adopted horse and instead must sign a contract agreeing to return the horse to New Vocations if they cannot, or no longer wish to care for the horse.
  
  

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.