Meet Wattastory—because owning him truly will be… what a story. This dark bay 2020 pacing bred gelding comes with just the right amount of “main character energy.” He’s got a bit of a tough edge, the kind that keeps life interesting and ensures you’ll never have a boring day at the barn. He’s not here to be everyone’s horse—but he is here to be someone’s horse, and when he picks his person, that’s where the real story begins. Wattastory is the type who might test the waters, flip a page or two of his own plotline, and keep you on your toes—but behind that edge is a smart, willing mind that wants to learn and connect. He’s not about instant perfection; he’s about progress, partnership, and those little wins that turn into big moments. The kind you’ll retell over and over—“remember when he used to…?” With consistency and a sense of humor, you’ll find yourself building a bond that feels earned, not given. And that’s what makes him special. Anyone can ride a push-button horse—but Wattastory? He’s the one you’ll write chapters with. So if you’re looking for a horse that will challenge you, teach you, and ultimately become a partner worth bragging about… just imagine the story you’ll get to tell. Story raced at 9 different tracks during his racing career with 91 starts. In his final race last October he took a bad step and injured his sesamoid. With a very caring team and conscientious trainer, he was successfully rehabbed and cleared for work in January. He has been in training and picked right up to transitioning to riding! He loves having a job and is fancy! His happy story is ready to continue! He trots under saddle. 

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - Most times but does sometimes need a reminder that we walk together.  
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - Story enjoys attention. He stands to be groomed and tacked.
• Horse Care - Level 1 - Story has regular front steel shoes. 
• Riding - Level 1 - Story is well behaved under saddle. He is learning and eager to work. He tries hard to do what's asked of him. 
• General Demeanor - Level 2 - Story can be a bit pushy and impatient. He needs to be reminded of boundaries. He has no vices and turns out well with others. He's playful in turnout. 
• Physical Capability - Level 2 - Story sustained a sesamoid fracture training and therefore is best suited for a mid level career. He was successfully rehabbed prior to coming to NV. . 

 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.