His name might be McErin, but we think he's McDreamy! This stunning and seasoned gelding retired with 20 starts under his belt, including a Grade 2 stakes race in Ireland, so he is truly a been-there-done-that kind of guy who is ready to take on his next career!

Not only is McErin easy on the eyes with his dappled coat, but he is also bursting with personality. On the ground, he is fairly easy to handle. He can get a bit full of himself at times, but he respects his handler after a gentle reminder. He currently goes out during the day with one other buddy and they love to run around and play halter tag; eventually, he settles down and grazes next to his friend. He stands well in the crossties as well as for the vet and farrier. While he has no stall vices, he can sometimes get a bit upset and vocalize his feelings when he feels left out. After some time settling into a new situation, he is just fine! 

Under saddle, McErin has the same spunk as he does on the ground. He has a great mind for working and has taken to training like a champ. McErin has already shown great potential with proper head carriage and understanding what is being asked of him. He did retire with some soundness issues in both his front legs, but has not shown any issues with proper shoeing and taking training slowly. 

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2
• Horse Care - Level 3
• Riding - Level 3
• General Demeanor - Level  3
• Horse Physical Capability - Level 1 - 2

 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.