• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - Helga is easy to lead in a plain halter and lead rope and can lead double with her friends to and from the field. She is calm and easy to work around.
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - Helga likes her spa time and is chill in the crossies. She is easy to tack up and is good for both grooming and baths.
• Horse Care - Level 1 - Helga is a simple girl- she is plump on our normal grain ration and wears basic front shoes.
• General Demeanor - Level 1 - What a sweet mare! Helga takes an afternoon nap and likes cuddling with her people. She is a mild cribber, but she has become a favorite for a lot of our staff with how pleasant she is to hang out with.
• Riding - Level 2 - Helga can start off a little forward but quickly settles into a quiet rhythm. She takes confidence from her rider and once she knows you are on her team, she is absolutely lovely. She is super hacking out, too!
• Physical Capability - Level 3 - Helga retired sound and was not successful as a broodmare. She has a lovely, calm way of going and we think would excel in just about any direction.

 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.