Once upon a time, there was a flashy New York-bred gelding named Fairy Tale Hero who was looking for his perfect partner.  Lightly raced (with a mere 2 starts under his belt), his owners felt as though the magic "Hero" possesses was best served in a different career. He was retired from the track with no known injuries so he could be a clean slate for his next big adventure.  

Don't let his dashing good looks fool you, however.  This prince charming isn't looking for just any girl (or guy) to sweep off his or her feet. No, much like in the storybook quest for Cinderella, Hero is looking for a very specific match. His perfect partner is a confident rider who likes the training process.  Hero can be playful at times under saddle and is often forward, though he’s gaining consistency with more focused and purposeful rides.  He'll flourish with someone who wants to bond and build a relationship with him. 

Hero is athletic and enjoyed popping over a few crossrails!  Although a club foot might prohibit him from having a high-level career, we think he'd enjoy a home with someone who wants to do a bit of everything!  Hero turns out alone, with other geldings and also with mares.  He tends to be lower on the pecking order and does best when not with aggressive type horses.

Ultimately, if the shoe fits, we're certain Hero will be someone's happily ever after!

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 “unicorn” horses. They are horses that have few or no limitations and 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 necessarily 3’). They may have been fully rehabbed from an injury but have been cleared by our veterinarians 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.