202 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover Eligible

“Josie” is an elegant filly. She retired with a medium-sized avulsion fracture to the medial sesamoid in her left front leg and she's been with us for about five months. We have monitored her rehab closely and have slowly transitioned her to turn-out.

We recently started working with her on the ground, taking her out on walks around the arena and other areas of the farm. She has demonstrated a willingness to trust and listens well to her handler. She is easy to work with in the stall and on the ground. Josie enjoys grooming and bathing and is just a joy to be around! Josie has a sweet loving personality and generally a calm, laid back demeanor. She’s darling and loves attention.

She is currently on private turn-out in a small grass lot per rehab protocol. She has no stable vices.  Josie is good to lead in and out of the paddock. She is currently wearing front steel shoes and is up-to-date on her vaccines.

Josie will be ready to start riding within a month, so we are making her available for adoption ahead of our normal schedule. As such, we recommend that any interested adopter be cognizant of the experience necessary to bring along a young horse that has had time off and is “green” to a new career path. We believe Josie has the temperament and personality for an intermediate rider in the future. But currently, she’s looking for someone who has experience and can bring her along in her next career.

Josie has the looks and the brain to become a low-hunter prospect or pleasure horse. She’s sure going to catch the judge’s eye in the ring!  We can’t say enough about this special unicorn!

As always, Josie's vet files are available for interested, approved adopters!

Nosey Josy came to New Vocations via Maryland’s Beyond the Wire Program.  We are very grateful for their continued 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.