2025 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover Eligible

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2 - Flier leads quietly day to day. If he gets a little worried he can become pushy but is respectful of reminders to refocus his attention on his handler. He can be quite difficult to catch and wears a halter 24/7 which has helped. 
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 3 - Flier can get a little anxious during the grooming and tacking process so we are slowly working towards graduating to crossties. We wanted to make sure that he has good experiences when coming up to the barn, so he typically is held in hand in case he needs to walk a circle to decompress. He isn’t fond of having his ears handled so can be a little tricky to bridle and may pick up a hind foot if you’re grooming a ticklish spot. We have been taking things slow and he improves with each session. A calm, present adopter will help Flier continue to learn to relax and eventually enjoy this time. 
• Horse Care - Level 1 - Flier is currently living out with a small group of geldings and tends to be the more dominant horse in the group. He is ok in a stall but seems to prefer being out as much as possible. He has been able to stay barefoot during the beginning stages of his training but may eventually need front shoes when his work increases. 
• Riding - Level 3 - Flier is a fancy, big moving boy. He tries hard to do what his rider asks of him but can get a little worried. An encouraging, confident rider will be the best fit to help him stay focused. He stays nicely in front of his rider’s leg, has a great uphill way of going, and seems to prefer to be ridden into some contact as if he finds comfort knowing that his rider is there. We started Flier slowly on the ground in the round pen, and with each session asked a little more. In a new partnership we recommend starting the same way to build trust and encourage a relaxed horse before progressing to each new step in his training.
• General Demeanor - Level 3 - Flier has been a little hard to read and seems to hold onto experiences, good or bad. He comes across a little dysregulated and anxious, but working with him in a calm, non reactive way he seems to build confidence. He is beginning to feel more secure within his work and environment. He is very genuine and wants to do the right thing. There is not a mean bone in his body. The right adopter who is quiet, tactful, and committed to taking their time to build a relationship with this big guy will have a very special partner.
• Physical Capability - Level 3 - Flier has no known physical limitations for his new, second career. 

RRP THOROUGHBRED MAKEOVER SPECIAL: Adopt your 2025 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover prospect from New Vocations, compete in the Makeover, and you'll be reimbursed the $350 trainer application fee! This horse is also eligible to receive a $405+ scholarship for the 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover through the 2025 ASPCA Right Horse Scholarship program. Learn more HERE.

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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.