• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2 - Massimo gets turned in and out in a plain halter and lead rope. He does sometimes decide to stop and stand still. Literally, that's it. He just stops and stands. After a brief staring contest, he'll happily walk on. He just wants to make sure you're sure of where you are going! We used him for a liberty and horsemanship clinic held on the farm and he was an absolute superstar. The clinician said Massimo was "super smart," that "this horse is special," and that Massimo was the favorite of the day!  
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - Massimo is a super boy in the crossties and is good to tack up, too. He is a looker and happy to have baths and be pampered. He really likes having his mane brushed! 
• Horse Care - Level 1 - Massimo eats our normal grain. He's gone well barefoot, but we elected to put basic front shoes on him when we increased his workload (the ground has been hard in Kentucky!). He currently goes outside all night with a gelding herd and is stalled during the day, but he does well living outside full time, too.
• Riding - Level 2 - Massimo is a fancy boy! He has a great way of going and super canter. He loves trail rides and is working on his balance and strength.
• General Demeanor - Level 2 - Massimo is big boned, big bodied, and has a big personality! He is looking for his partner in crime and is very much the class clown of our barn.
• Physical Capability - Level 2 - Massimo is ready for a medium-impact career with his adopter. As always, veterinary records are available to approved adopters.

 click for horse level information 

Interested in this horse? Approved adopters can reach out to this horse's trainer via the "Email Us About This Horse" button above for further information. Not yet approved? Learn about the process and start your questionnaire at newvocations.org/adopt! Approved applications are valid for two 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 capabilities. So, horses that are 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. New Vocations 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.