“Cara” is a lovely girl with a great mind for working! Her pedigree is loaded with horses known for throwing good sport prospects and she's shown us that she's no exception! She might be on the smaller side, but her talent and potential are nothing short of mighty!

On the ground, Cara has a “places to be” mindset. While she tends to walk with a purpose, she is attentive of her handler and respectful. Cara can get a little antsy on crossties, but she is a very kind girl and tries her very best to be patient; she's just eager to get going! She is also a typical redhead in that she likes to be brushed gently. But, she has the most ridiculously soft coat and likes to stay clean, so she doesn't usually require aggressive grooming anyway.

Cara behaves perfectly while standing for the farrier and she wears plain steel shoes on her front feet only. We haven't had any issues with her feet thus far!

She is easily led in and out of the barn, sometimes with another friend in tow! She goes out at night with five other mares and fits right into the middle of the order. She is not bossy to the other horses generally, she just likes to run alongside, hangout and graze with the group. She likes to be with her friends, but she is not super herd-bound and will go off on her own, too. 

Under saddle, Cara is quite a sporty ride. We’ve found she does best in a consistent routine and she loves working on the lunge line! She has even popped over a few cross rails and really impressed us! She works well with and without other horses. Cara will do best with both a confident, experienced rider who can sit lightly, with quiet hands.

Cara has a ton of potential and we see her excelling in many different directions. Her adopter will need to pay special attention to fitness/conditioning level and saddle fit as she does have an area of kissing spines in her back. However, she has been extensively examined by two of our veterinarians, both of whom cleared her for a riding career.

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1- 2
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2
• Horse Care - Level 2
• Riding - Level 2- 3
• General Demeanor - Level 2
• Horse Physical Capability - Level 4

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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.