The star of our recent naming contest is now available for adoption! “Raven,” as he was initially nicknamed by the pony kids who were there to greet him upon his arrival, has an incredible build, fantastic good looks and a calm and cool demeanor. Every day, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., Raven can be found napping in his stall. It’s a hard job being 2, growing like a weed and playing all night with his three gelding turnout buddies!

Raven was broke to drive and trained on the track, but he didn't show the aptitude for racing. His owners, who are downsizing their stable, sent him to us for a second career and we feel so lucky to have gotten him! There’s nothing we don’t love about this guy!

We have been taking it slow with this guy because he's still young, but he's been wonderful with everything asked of him. Under saddle he walks and typically trots. When he’s unsure or feels unbalanced he will pace, but he's learning every ride and getting better and better. Raven stands well for mounting and dismounting.

Without a rider this guy is an incredible mover with a giant beautiful stride! He is going to be a fancy show horse for someone for sure!

Raven has no known injuries. He is a blank canvas ready to be someone’s masterpiece!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - Raven walks to and from turnout without a chain, alone or with a friend. He turns out well with others and plays when appropriate.
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 - He can fidget a bit in crossties, but he's just a curious young man!
• Horse Care - Level 2 - He wears front shoes.
• Riding - Level 2 - 3 - Because Raven is only 2, he'll need a confident rider to continue his development.
• General Demeanor - Level 2 - We love to snuggle with Raven when he’s napping, but he's still a playful youngster! Sometimes his baby tendencies kick in and he will steal his fly mask to halter off his door and spend time swinging it around.
• Horse Physical Capability - Level 5 - The sky's the limit for this guy!

 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.