Sandlot Star would fit right in in the gang of cult favorite movie, “The Sandlot.” This goofy, entertaining guy is certainly not lacking in personality! Sandlot Star, also called “Lupe” (someone mistook what his name was and the nickname stuck!) can generally be found napping or trying to get attention when in his stall. In turnout, he goes out with a group of geldings at night and is often an instigator of some goofy playtime before settling on grazing, but it should be noted that he does best in a group where an elder can keep his goofiness in check without too much conflict.

Lupe is no stranger to being tied, whether in his stall or on crossties, and will stand well for the farrier or vet.

Lupe did have a chip removed from his ankle, but he recovered well from that procedure, and has transitioned back into work after a good deal of time to heal. He is a straightforward ride in the saddle and has three nice gaits with reliable brakes. Sandlot’s biggest flaw has been his spunky attitude and some mouthiness, which is not uncommon of young geldings, but he has made great progress in maturing and not relying so much on his mouth to gain attention!

Sandlot Star would make a great mount for pursuits such as trail, pleasure, low-level hunters or western pleasure, among other disciplines.

Sandlot Star 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.