“Three” is a fun, sporty and level-headed dude! This gem in a plain bay wrapper is the most lovable gelding and deserves a perfect home as not all of his history is bright and sunny. Three is the sole survivor of a lightning strike to his pasture and, like Harry Potter, the other boy who lived. His name (I Run For Three) honors his pasturemates who fell victim to the strike. Three still bears a scar on his face from the ordeal.

Three also came to New Vocations after being out on pasture for eight months. He had severe rain rot, which we treated thoroughly, and we started him on a steady feeding program. He's still on the light side when it comes to his weight, but he's come so far and will need an adopter to continue helping him pack on some pounds.

Very shy and reserved when he first arrived, it took Three about two months to come out of his shell. At that point, his personality just blossomed. He absolutely loves attention, being groomed and his people, and you can see the spark of happiness in his eyes. He is utterly heartwarming and there are not enough adjectives to describe what joy he brings his handlers daily.

Three was imprinted at birth and it shows; he is very easy to handle and can be touched anywhere. Quiet, respectful and thoughtful, anyone can work around and with him. He stands quietly in crossties, the wash stall, for the farrier and vet. He leads quietly to and from his paddock and can be led by anyone. 

We brought him back into work slowly with long walks to help build up his muscle and continue to focus on building muscle through his back and topline slowly and properly. He is currently walking, trotting and cantering under saddle and trotting over poles. He steers very well, listens to his rider and moves straight and forward off the leg. He's balanced and moves well at the walk and trot; he's still a bit unbalanced and on the forehand in the canter due to lack of muscling, that will get better as he gets stronger. We've even used Three in a lesson setting and took to it like an old pro! Three enjoys hacking out around the farm and exploring places he has never been. 

Three’s best match is an advanced beginner rider in a lesson program who can give him a life showered in love and adoration. He will make an incredible partner and deserves nothing but the best!

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 “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.