Bahati is not a horse that can be overlooked. She is a big, beautiful athlete who is sure to make an impression wherever she goes. Bahati has a kind eye, and she is a sweetheart, but she is not totally confident in herself. She carries tension in her body still, though as more time passes, she is beginning to loosen us and relax.

In turnout, Bahati has settled in nicely. She is currently acclimating to turnout with another mare in one of our day turnouts, and it’s been an easy transition. Bahati has shown that she is trustworthy to respect boundaries and isn’t too tough with her turnout buddy, even though she does like to stretch her legs and play a little!

Bahati has qualities of a “high octane” athlete: she has intense focus and endurance, with the build and mindset of a performer. She has been brave in new situations, but because she is still a little unsure of things, she does best with a handler/ rider who is very confident and able to handle any moments when she needs a little more guidance. Bahati is working on bilateral movement, and is picking up new things quickly, but things like ground poles of blue jump blocks on the side of the ring don't bother her at all. Even when a group of geldings in turnout were causing a ruckus and running around, her focus remained unchanged.

She has the brain and build that would suggest a great deal of versatility in what she would excel in for her new career! We could see her excelling in any number of disciplines, but Bahati will need to continue under the guidance of an advanced rider, who can confidently continue to progress with her.

COVID-19 Adoption Fee Update

You might notice some of our horses' adoption fees have been reduced in recent days.  This is solely due to the current COVID-19 situation and not because we've discovered new physical issues or behavioral issues.  We always aim to keep our adoption fees low so adopters can invest more in the future training and care for each horse. The adoption option is truly the most economical option!

In addition, please keep in mind the more horses we rehome, the more retiring racehorses we can welcome to our program. And, with the current uncertainty at many racetracks and training centers, we're hoping to eliminate barriers to help find perfect homes for our current residents so we can continue serving those in need of transitional training. Adopters must still be approved to bring a horse home.

Please feel free to contact any horse's trainer for additional information on his or her adoption fee.

ADOPTION FEE POLICY

New Vocations’ adoption fees are intentionally set lower than the cost of buying most Thoroughbreds or Standardbreds through a private seller. In today’s market, it’s not unusual for horses coming right off the track to be listed for sale at a price between $2,000 and $5,000. At New Vocations, we set a fee that will ultimately help each horse find a home quickly. The program’s facilities are always at full capacity, which means we cannot take in an additional horse until one is adopted. Adopters should be encouraged to know that by adopting a horse through New Vocations, they are actually helping two horses transition to careers outside of racing.

In general, our fees are set at $500, $1,000 or $1,000 with a $1,500 donation.

• $1,000 with a $1,500 donation: This range is for horses that we consider to be the cream of the crop or the unicorn horses. They are horses that have few or no limitations, have great conformation, movement and size.
• $1,000: This range is for horses that are suitable for a competitive career up to a certain level (for example cleared for 2’6” but not 3’). They may have been fully rehabbed from a race injury but have been cleared for most disciplines.
• $500: This range is for horses that are limited to a flat, trail or companion type home. These horses are healthy and have been fully rehabbed and evaluated by a vet.

Additionally, adopters get great value for their money: The majority of the horses have been in the program for a minimum of 60 days. During that time, horses are rehabilitated (if needed), socialized with other horses, fully evaluated, and in work with a professional trainer. New Vocations fully discloses each horse’s history and provides all available medical records, many of which include X-ray and ultrasounds.

While adoption fees are low, it should be noted that costs associated with ongoing care and additional training for each horse after adoption can be high. New Vocations hopes that by helping an adopter save money upfront, he or she will have more funds available to cover the continuing costs of properly caring for a horse.