Take 50% off adoption fees when you bring a horse home by July 15 with our Saddle Up for Summer Adoption Special!

2024 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover Eligible

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - Herbie is a gentle giant who walks quietly to and from turnout. He might get quick here and there, or occasionally forget to look for a tiny human in front of him, but he is classy and takes correction very well!
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - Herbie loves to be doted on and stands very well for any and all grooming and snuggling activities!
• Horse Care - Level 1 - Herbie is barefoot and a very easy keeper!
• Riding - Level 2 - A few clumsy, silly moments are to be expected as Herbie develops, but with that being said, his size (paired with his willing nature) allows for far more adjustability than would be typically expected of a 3-year-old. Herbie has become a favorite among our riders for his versatility! We think that he will make a wonderful match for a professional or amateur with goals in the show ring.
• General Demeanor - Level 1 - 2 - Our “Droopy Lip King” is known for his daily nap in the stall in the morning and playfulness in turnout in the afternoons. He gets along with most geldings, but will roughhouse in the field. 
• Physical Capability - Level 2 - Herbie is looking forward to a bright future in a moderate-impact second career! He had a previous soft tissue injury which has healed very well. 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 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.