2020 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover Eligible

Perfect Joke is a solid build and handsome guy. He’s a Giant’s Causeway grandson! The girls around the barn call him “Perry.” He stands out with his tall stature and solid boned structure.

In the stall, he enjoys his snuggle time.  Perry has good manners on the ground, although he sometimes needs a subtle reminder about personal space when he actually tries to help himself to the treats in your pocket! He is quiet in the barn and has no vices. Perry is easy to handle on the ground and leads to and from the field well. He enjoys grooming and bath time. Perry stands well for the farrier and is currently wearing front steel shoes.

Perry gets along well with others but tends to be the dominant horse in turn out. He likes to play and really enjoys rolling in his personal mud spa. 

Under saddle, Perry is a comfortable, athletic and well-balanced and has natural way of going. He enjoys learning new things and enjoys when you give him new and different opportunities to learn.

Perry’s general attitude is laid-back and easy-going, but he has his goofball moments (don't they all!), so he be best suited for an experienced horseperson – at least an advanced intermediate rider with help from a trainer. We see him going in any direction in the arena, hunter paces, or fox hunting. 

He’s not perfect and he’s no joke, but they do call him Perfect Joke and we love him!

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.