2020 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover Eligible

Let no stumbling block get between you and this horse! Get Thee Behind Me, or "Theo," is a horse who has continuously gone beyond our expectations of him. He has been treated for and cleared of ulcers, gained weight, worked his way up to being turned out in the overnight group with several other geldings, and has blown us away with his progress under saddle.

In turnout, Theo likes to show off. He is playful and oftentimes on the move. He doesn't get worked up though-- he just lives to impress! As such, Theo is a natural leader. In the stall, Theo has no vices, but he very much enjoys toys when they're given to him! We hung a squeaky dog toy in his stall, and he was squeaking it within minutes, deeply enertained. Theo can be a little mouthy but he respects boundaries when they're set and is well-behaved in the crossties and for the farrier and vet.

Under saddle, Theo is a little bit of a jokester, but also a sporty prospect! He is very brave but he can get distracted (he's improved his focus a lot already though!). Theo has nice, fluid gaits and is comfy to ride, and he has great balance, but he is working on engaging through his hindend and not fussing so much with his mouth. He throws his head in an act of protest to test his rider, but he's just being a clown-- as you can tell in his video, he doesn't take a step out of place and he's not heavy in the rider's hand. You just need to push him up into your hand and he has learned to stretch right down. For an advanced/ confident rider with a sense of humor, Theo is a fun mount with tons of potential! 

We could see Theo doing well in any number of disciplines, but we think he could take the stage in dressage or low jumpers.

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 “unicorn” horses. They are horses that have few or no limitations and 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 necessarily 3’). They may have been fully rehabbed from an injury but have been cleared by our veterinarians 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.