“Bob” is tall, dark, handsome and filled with personality!

This trotter, who spent a lot of his time racing here in Saratoga, was claimed for the last time by a companionate past owner who knew it was Bob’s time to retire, having raced 106 times and winning over $263,000. After his last race in July, Bob shipped to an off-site training facility with a trainer who is very fond of him. We were excited to get the call about placing Bob and, since his arrival his fan base has been checking in on his progress. We can’t tell you how proud we are of this guy.

Bob is confident under saddle. He has a big springy trot and great movement. We think Bob would be a fantastic dressage or eventing partner.  A personable guy, Bob is often seen sticking his head over the stall door with his ears forward begging for attention, only then being followed by his shark face which he does to ensure you still think of him as being big and tough rather than the big softy he really is.

Bob turns out with another gelding well but can be playful. He loves to canter and buck when he first goes out. He also loves a good roll! We are confident this guy will make someone an excellent partner in anything they want to do!

Bob did sustain a condylar fracture in 2019. He successfully returned to racing without incident and this past injury should not impede Bob’s future as a riding horse.

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - Bob walks to and from turnout quietly without a chain.
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - This guy loves a grooming session and will stand on the crossties as long as you want.
• Horse Care - Level 2 - He wears front shoes.
• Riding - Level 2 - 3 - Bob only has a handful of rides. Although he’s been good every time he does need an experienced rider to continue to bring him along.
• General Demeanor - Level 2 - Bob is eager to please but likes to maintain his tough guy attitude.
• Horse Physical Capability - Level 3 - 4 - We don’t see Bob's past condylar fracture hindering his future as a riding horse since he raced after without incident.

 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.