2026 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover Eligible

Backstretch King is a handsome young Thoroughbred with his whole future ahead of him. Although he was bred for the racetrack, he never made a start, making him a true blank slate with no racing miles.

This good-looking gelding has all the makings of a sport horse. From the moment you see him, he gives off jumper and eventing vibes with his athletic build and natural presence. He’s still putting together the pieces under saddle, so he’s a bit green and lacks some life experience, but he approaches new things with a willing attitude and continues to improve with every ride.

On the ground, Backstretch King is an old soul. He’s kind, easy to handle, and enjoys spending time with his people. His quiet, sensible personality makes him a barn favorite and balances his youthful under-saddle experience.

If you’re looking for a young Thoroughbred to bring along and make your own, Backstretch King offers his adopter the opportunity to start with a horse whose story is just beginning. With continued education, he has all the potential to develop into a competitive partner in the sport horse world.

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - King is led with a cotton lead. 
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - King is a love! He loves any and all attention!
• Horse Care - Level 1 - King wears basic front shoes. 
• Riding - Level 2 - Although King is not naughty under saddle, he lacks some miles and needs an educated rider. One that will send him forward when he looks at new things. 
• General Demeanor - Level 1 - King is easygoing and quiet on the ground. He turns out with any one of the boys we put him with. We cannot say enough good things about this gentleman's good attitude! 
• Physical Capability - Level 3- King retired sound and is ready to go in any direction. We think that with continued education, he has all the potential to be a competitive sport horse! P As always, veterinary records are available to approved adopters. 

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.