2026 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover Eligible

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2- Melody leads in a plain halter and lead and goes out in a herd of 5 mares overnight. She can get a little pushy and is learning to respect her peoples' space, but she doesn't have a mean bone in her body- she just wants to be extra close to her people!
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 - Just like her ground manners, Melody can be a little antsy in her crossties. She is not naughty, just wants to go do her job. She gets better every day, so we think she will learn to enjoy her pampering time. 
• Horse Care - Level 2 - Melody eats our normal grain ration and wears front glue on shoes.
• Riding - Level 2 - Melody likes working! She wants to go forward and do all the things, but is not so sure about the point of going slow or going on walks yet. Honestly, we love her worker-bee attitude. Once she learns her new job, it is going to make her really special.
• General Demeanor - Level 2- We have so many stellar mares in the barn right now! Melody is athletic and we think is going to prove to be extremely talented. Once she finds her person and gets into a program we see her really coming into her own. 
• Physical Capability - Level 3 - Melody should be unlimited in her career options. She was reported sound when she retired and can go in any direction.

RRP THOROUGHBRED MAKEOVER SPECIAL: Adopt your 2026 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 2026 ASPCA Right Horse Scholarship program. Learn more HERE.

 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.