• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2 - Tap can sometimes be a little bit suspicious of his halter going over his ears so we usually take things slow and unbuckle the crown piece of his halter to catch him in the field. If caught by surprise he may trot away but if you reapproach and talk to him he will stand to be caught. He leads quietly next to his handler but usually marches on to his destination.  
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 -Tap will stand patiently in the crossties but much like with his halter can occasionally be a little suspicious, he has moved away when we’ve pulled a saddle pad off the wall or dropped a brush beside him but he doesn’t go far especially if in an enclosed space. To bridle him having a wall can be handy as he sometimes will back away.
• Horse Care - Level 1 -Tap is currently living out with another friendly gelding and is an easy keeper. We have been able to keep him barefoot while in the beginning stages of training.  
• Riding - Level 1-2 - Tap is forward thinking and eager to get to work. He is comfortable to ride, has three good gaits and isn’t silly or spooky. He does need some help to organize his rhythm and balance but as he gets back into a program this is something that will improve with consistent, intentional schooling. 
• General Demeanor - Level 2 - Tap has a little quirky streak (don’t we all?) that can perhaps be lovingly attributed to the top side of his pedigree. Any funny reactions are out of a place of quiet, he remains safe and is easy to reason with. A more experienced adopter might be a better fit as to spot and adapt to very slight changes in his body language.  
• Physical Capability - Level 3- Tap aged out of racing and retired with no known injuries.  

 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.