2026 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover Eligible

Right now, he isn’t ready to be ridden as he patiently rehabs a tendon injury, but you would never know it by the way he carries himself every day out in the field. He spends his days on turnout, soaking up the sunshine and quietly becoming everyone’s best friend. No matter who he is paired with, he becomes their steady companion almost immediately. He has been the trusted turnout buddy to horse after horse — the calm one, the welcoming one, the one who makes every new friend feel safe. Over time, he has watched many of those pasture friends leave for their own homes and futures while he stayed behind waiting for his own turn. And yet somehow, his heart never hardens Each time a new horse arrives in the field, he walks over with the same soft curiosity and gentle kindness, introducing himself as though his heart hadn’t just been broken saying goodbye to the last one. There is something incredibly special about a horse who continues to love so openly despite always being the one left waiting. Because of this, we are offering Brown Eyed Cat for an early adoption opportunity. He has recently been cleared to begin tack walking, and we believe his calm, welcoming demeanor will shine just as brightly under saddle as it does in the pasture. He will require one more follow-up ultrasound in approximately three months before beginning full work, but his prognosis is very encouraging. We expect Brown Eyed Cat to be able to have, at minimum, a flatwork career in the future. For someone willing to give him a little patience now, there is a very special horse waiting on the other side of his recovery — one with a kind soul, a gentle heart, and a lifetime of friendship still left to give. 

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 -Cat is led with a cotton lead.  
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 -Cat stands on the crossties well to be groomed and loves it
• Horse Care - Level 1 - TBD 
• Riding - Level  - TBD  
• General Demeanor - Level 1 - Cat is such a great guy and we love having him around. Easy in the barn and just a pleasent guy.  
• Physical Capability - Level 1 - Will be able to do light work.  

RRP THOROUGHBRED MAKEOVER SPECIAL: Adopt your 2026 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover prospect from New Vocations, compete in the Makeover, and you'll be reimbursed the $350 trainer application fee! This horse is also eligible to receive a $405+ scholarship for the 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover through the 2026 ASPCA Right Horse Scholarship program. Learn more HERE.

 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.