Gorgeous young son of Dragon Again!

Gone Again is sired by the incomparable Dragon Again, and has his sire's stunning good looks, but not his on track speed. "Gonzo" last raced in February and was ready for a more laid back lifestyle. Like the other Dragon Again offspring we have had the pleasure of working with, Gonzo enjoys pacing (and sometimes racking) under saddle and is a straightforward ride.

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2 - Gonzo has been a bit pushy on the ground, not mean, but not always paying close attention to his handler.  We have done a lot of "red light-green light" to work on him waiting for his handler's cue to move forward.  He may benefit from a knotted rope halter on his pushy days.   Please be aware he is TERRIFIED of a chain shank, and will panic if you attempt to use one (he's had this phobia since he was young and it does not, in any way, reflect the handling he's received over the years ... he's always been treated exceptionally kindly by handlers on and off the track who've worked to help him address his fears!). 
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 - Gonzo crossties well and will stand quietly.  He occasionally will lift a hind foot in response to currying his flank area, or when tightening the girth. 
• Horse Care - Level 1 - Gonzo is barefoot and an easy keeper.  He did have a mild tendon injury during his racing career but it is well healed and should require no additional care.
• Riding - Level 2 - Gonzo stands quietly at the mounting block, and under tack he is a straightforward, almost lazy ride.  He does occasionally look at new objects or react with a bit of a scoot/sidestep if something startles him. 
• General Demeanor - Level 2-3 - Gonzo is not a mean or aggressive horse by any means, but he is a big guy who can sometimes get pushy and has a few "triggers" that will elicit a big response from him that could be overwhelming for a timid or new rider.  As mentioned above, he will panic at the feel or sound of the chain running through his halter ring and that sometimes involves rearing or running away.  He is also nervous about going through stall doors/narrow aisles and may run into a stall or get very quick through enclosed spaces. As we get the chance to work with him more, he is settling down, but be aware that in a new situation, his fear may return.  Additionally, he prefers to turn around to unload from the trailer, similar to the rest of his nervousness about enclosed spaces, backing off may come with time and patience. 
• Horse Physical Capability - Level 2-3 - While we have no knowledge of any physical limitations for Gonzo, his movement and build do not lend themselves to higher level jumping or speed events.

Gonzo enjoys his turnout time quite a bit and is accustomed to several hours each day on grass.  He goes out with a large group of geldings and has settled nicely to the middle of the pack. 

 click for horse level information 

ABOUT OUR ADOPTION FEES

We intentionally set New Vocations’ 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 a price between $2,000 and $5,000!). Our facilities are always at full capacity, which means we can't take in an additional horse until one is adopted; a lower adoption fee means horses are more likely to find appropriate homes quickly and we can welcome more horses into our barns. And just think: By adopting one horse through New Vocations, you're actually helping two horses (you new family member and the one who takes his place in our program) 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.

Another perk of adopting from us? We do our best to give you the best bang for your buck. 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, fully evaluated, and in work with a professional trainer. We're also happy to share the history and any medical records (often including X-ray and ultrasounds) we have on each horse with interested and approved adopters.

While our adoption fees are low, please remember that costs associated with ongoing care and additional training for a horse (adopted or otherwise!) can be high. We hope that by helping an adopter save money upfront, you'll have more funds available to cover the continuing costs of properly caring for and training a horse.