“Taps” has it all: impeccable breeding, stunning good loooks, and the most personality in the barn! He constantly has to be involved in whatever you’re doing!

A stocky guy with a giant barrel, Taps is built like a tank. Though he's not the tallest horse in the barn, his big body takes up leg well.

On the ground, playful Taps likes to lead himself. Anytime the lead rope is attached to him, he will grab it with you and walk right next to you. He plays with the crossties and anyone who walks by. He’s not stubborn or pushy, he's just 3, through and through! And, you guessed it, he's extremely playful outside and likes to play “buckle” (his blanket version of halter tag) with his blanket! 

Under saddle, however, Taps is not as animated ... in fact, he's cool as a cucumber! Now that he's had some time under tack and his work ethic is developing, he is finding the bit and walking forward. He's been doing well in his slow return to work following rehab for a left hind tendon injury. As always interested, approved adopters have access to all the veterinary records we have on Taps.

Taps will need an advanced rider to show him the ropes, but this guy is full of potential! He thinks he’s hilarious and his perfect person should too.

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.