Whether you’re a fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide or not, you can’t help but love Roll Tide. A grandson of “the people’s horse,” Smarty Jones, this playful youngster shows promise to be an athletic prospect and is ready to find his very own person.

On the ground, Bama has shown to be a good student in learning to settle into post-track life. He can be pushy on the ground on occasion when he gets impatient but is easily corrected by an experienced handler. He has that “small dog” syndrome in which he feels like he needs to puff out his chest and act out to prove himself but he just wants your attention/respect. Bama goes out in our large gelding group and tends to end up near the bottom of the pack (but don’t tell him that, he thinks he’s the boss). While he likes to think he’s a tough customer, Bama really enjoys attention and will totally fall for you if you scratch his head and give him cookies.

Under saddle, Bama displays an athletic versatility that is sure to land him success in any ring. He travels flat enough and has a more level topline for the hunters, has the bravery and boldness for foxhunting, enjoys the technical challenges of work enough to like riding the low jumper courses, and has adorned western tack (even some rope work!). He has three comfortable, balanced gaits, and already shows great flying changes both directions. Bama has also done a lot of work on the lunge line, including over small crossrails, and he is SUPER rhythmic– he finds distances very skillfully by himself. He prefers a lighter rider and has more go than whoa but isn’t strong or considered “hot”. Bama needs an experienced, patient rider to mold him into the great athlete he has the potential to be-- he is not suitable for a younger rider or someone looking for their first horse.

Roll Tide is suitable for an advanced intermediate rider working with a trainer or advanced rider and is eligible for the RRP’s 2020 Thoroughbred Makeover.

Roll Tide came to New Vocations via NYTHA’s Take The Lead Program.  We are very grateful for their support!

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.