• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - 2 - Rufus is a huge puppy dog, but sometimes forgets how big he is. A gentle reminder is all it takes to bring him back to his manners!
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - 2 - Rufus LOVES a good grooming session. He’ll hang out for a nice curry all day long and can’t get enough scratches from anyone who passes by!
• Horse Care - Level 2 - Rufus wears front shoes with a wedge to support a correct hoof angle. He has lived both outside 24/7 and in a stall, and does well in either routine!
• Riding - Level 1 - Rufus is a joy under-saddle; easy-going, lazy, and comfortable. Whether you want to get to work in the arena or plop around bareback, Rufus is just happy to be there!
• General Demeanor - Level 1 - This 4-year-old is sure to keep a smile on your face with his goofy personality! Rufus is a very playful guy in turnout and does best with horses that will match his energy.
• Physical Capability - Level 1 - 2 - Rufus is looking forward to a second career as a low to mid-level mount!

 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.