Take 50% off adoption fees when you adopt a horse by December 23rd with our Home for the Holidays Adoption Special! 

*See our social media for details!*

2025 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover Eligible

This strikingly handsome redhead can go in any direction for his second career!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2 - Lightning likes to be reassured when leading and take a slow approach to new experiences. 
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - Lighting enjoys a good neck scratch. When grooming he prefers soft brushes and a rub down with a towel. He stands free in his stall for tacking. Lightning stands well in the crossties for his warm bubble baths. 
• Horse Care - Level 1 - Lighting is currently wearing steel front shoes. He stands well for the farrier. Lightning does well on 12 lbs of our custom mix feeding ration split into two feedings daily. 
• Riding - Level 2 - Lightning is best suited for an advanced rider or confident intermediate rider with a trainer. He has 3 nice gaits. Lightning looks to his rider for confidence and reassurance in new situations.
• General Demeanor - Level 2 - Lightning is a sweet guy. He likes to study his surroundings. We love to cuddle and hug him. He is currently turned out with another 3-year-old gelding who likes to play. Lightning is mid-dominance in turnout.  
• Physical Capability - Level 3 - Lightning wasn't quite fast enough to be a racehorse. He has non-reactive, bilateral front splints that should not limit him in his next career. Lightning ️is ready to find his person! We can see him going in any direction. As always, veterinary records are available to interested and approved adopters.

Lightning Lad came to New Vocations via the Beyond the Wire program. We are grateful for their support!

 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.