Unnamed 17’ Stand on Top or “Stanley” is a big 16.1hh goofball. He knows exactly when to turn on the charm when someone is watching so he can get all the attention he can! 

Stanley has one of the bigger personalities in the barn and has been making us laugh since the day he got here. One of his favorite things to do is help fill up his own water buckets so he’s really earning his keep! Because Stanley is only three, we’re working on keeping him focused and using all of his great energy for something productive. He stands well in the cross ties, but needs a reminder to stand patiently. He doesn’t do anything naughty, he just likes to toss his head and see what he can get away with. 

Under saddle, he has the same energy as he does on the ground. The first few minutes of his ride are spent getting him to channel his energy into focusing. Again, not showing any naughty behavior, he just tosses his head and tries to test his rider! Because of this, he would need an advanced rider who is confident and capable of continuing to bring him along. Once Stanley is in the working mindset, he’s a beautiful mover with three lovely gaits. His canter is so rhythmic and he loves to go over poles; he’s even started over some small cross rails! He did sustain a left front tendon injury while in training on the track last year, but has not shown any soundness issues since being with us. We’re really excited to see this guy continue growing and maturing and could see him doing great in any career path.

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 $2,500.

• $2,500: 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.