• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2 - 3 - Fierce can be led alone or with a buddy to and from turnout. The only little quirk about him is that we have concluded he does not like going through small spaces (gates, stall doors, etc.). He rushes through the gate if he is not asked to walk in patiently, but with a confident handler he is always respectful and willing to please when asked to work on those nerves!

• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - He stands well for both the vet and farrier and has no stall vices. He stands quietly while in the crossties as he is getting tacked up as well!

• Horse Care - Level 2 - 3 - Be Fierce has steel front shoes with a wedge pad to help with his foot conformation. He has maintained a healthy weight on our feeding program. 

• Riding - Level 2 - 3  - Be Fierce has some experience under his belt but is still green. He is a brave horse with a stride as big as his heart! He will need some assistance in building his topline and carrying himself properly. He would do best in a regular riding (or even groundwork) program, to keep his brain engaged. 

• General Demeanor - Level 2 - He is as sweet as they come and has the goofy, Into Mischief personality. He finds himself on the lower end of the pecking order in turnout and will often let the younger geldings lead him around the field by his halter. 

• Physical Capability - Level 3 - 4 - Be Fierce has gone through his fair-share of remedial and reconditioning efforts to get where he is today– a willing, capable athlete! He would be a fantastic low - mid-level prospect. We see Be Fierce lighting up the Hunter or Dressage ring, but he will also be an easy buddy for both horse and human alike! 

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ABOUT OUR ADOPTION FEES

New Vocations intentionally sets our horses’ adoption fees lower than the average cost of buying a Thoroughbreds or Standardbreds from a private seller (in today’s market, horses coming right off the track are often listed at $5,000 to $10,000!).

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, thereby enabling us to assist even more horses transition off the track as stalls open up in our barns! In that way, when you adopt a horse through New Vocations, you’re actually helping two horses: your new family member and the one who takes his place in our program!

While our adoption fees are low, it’s important to remember that costs associated with the ongoing care and additional training for a horse (adopted or otherwise!) can be high. We 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.

In general, our fees range around $3,500, $2,500, $1,000, and Under $1,000:

• $3,500: This range is for horses considered unlimited in their physical ability or those with exceptional qualities that would make them an upper- or high-level equine athlete.
  
  
• $2,000 - $2,500: This range is for horses we consider physically capable of a mid- to high-level second career. They have few or relatively minor limitations.
  
  
• $1,000 - $1,500: This range is for horses best-suited for a low- to mid-level career. They may have sustained an injury but have been fully treated and rehabbed. These horses have been examined by and cleared by our veterinarians for most disciplines, possibly up to a certain level (for example, suitable for a career jumping 2’0” but not suitable for a 3’6” career).
  
  
• Under $1,000: This range is for horses that could be harder to place in a perfect situation or those with more limited athletic potential (for example, possibly suitable for flat-work only) but are still capable of a successful second career. They have been evaluated by our veterinarians and are otherwise healthy.

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're rehabilitated (if needed), socialized with other horses, evaluated by trainers and veterinarians, and in regular training with a professional; on average, the monetary value of these services exceeds $5,000. Any medical records (often including X-ray and ultrasounds) and pertinent history we have on each horse is also available to interested and approved adopters.