New Vocations is testing a new category system to help our trainers make even better horse and rider matches! Learn more about the horse levels and classifications our trainers will be using in descriptions at newvocations.org/horse_levels!

Charming Redhead with Trail Experience!

"Sonny" is a striking, and uncommon, chestnut pacing bred gelding who has come back to our program after several years of being a trail horse. He has even camped overnight in a state park on a picket line! Under saddle Sonny will both pace and trot, and he has given us a bit of canter as well. 

• Leading and Ground Manners – Level 1 – On the ground Sonny is easy to handle, and we have not needed a chain with him, though sometimes he does need reminded to slow down to keep pace with his handler.
• Grooming and Tacking – Level 1 – Sonny is a perfect gentleman in the crossties for all grooming and tacking, including clipping his face!
• Horse Care – Level 1 – Sonny is currently barefoot and and easy keeper!
• Riding – Mostly Level 2 – Generally Sonny is laid back and not a tough ride. He has shared some strong opinions about going in to work when his friends are still outside, but he's easily refocused with a firm command or a quick lunging session.
• General Demeanor – Level 2 – Sonny is definitely the boss in his group of turnout buddies! He will also occasionally play hard to get when it is time to come in.
• Horse Physical Capacity – Mostly Level 2 – Sonny fractured a coffin bone in his racing days, but this injury has been fully healed for a number of years. We would suggest mostly flat or trail-type riding, though he would certainly be up for the occasional jump on the trail or crossrail type jump in a show ring.

click for horse level information 

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 $2,500, $1,000, $500 or waived:

• $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.
• Waived: This is for horses that have significant limitations for a riding career or are otherwise difficult to place. These horses are otherwise healthy and have been evaluated by a veterinarian.

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.