“Sal” is a gritty pacer with a heart of gold! He's a bit of a quiet and unassuming guy, but he happily welcomes attention (and cookies!) and willingly goes to work.  His good demeanor and work ethic show in his race record, where he hit the board in over half his starts. His laid back attitude lets him fit in with almost any group and makes him a delight to have in the barn.

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - Even while on stall rest and in rehab Sal had no issues and was always easy for anyone to handle. 
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - Sal stands quietly in the crossties for all grooming, saddling and bridling. 
• Horse Care - Level 4 - Sal fractured a hind sesamoid in his last race in February. He completed his four months stall rest before returning to turnout and work. He would greatly benefit from light work for the next six months and bisphosphonate injections bi-annually. 
• Riding - Level 2 - Sal might not be sure about new things like rough terrain or water, but his wonderful work ethic and trust in his rider quickly get him past things that might be a bit on the scary side. His dependability on the track is transferring well to a riding horse and he is becoming a lovely and steady ride. 
• General Demeanor - Level 1 - Sal is an extremely quiet, personable, and level-headed guy.  He has been turned out with a variety of geldings including rowdy babies and grouchy war horses.  He will happily adapt to his place in the group. His stall manners are delightful and he is a joy to have in the barn. 
• Horse Physical Capability - Level 2 - With proper rehab and maintenance, Sal should be a solid flat-riding horse.  Because of his injury we do not recommend him for any jumping events, speed events or other high-stress activities. Under saddle he will both pace and trot and has offered to canter as well. 

If you are looking for a low-key buddy to love and enjoy, Sal is ready to meet you!

 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.