If ever a horse was stuffed with sweetness, this Cajun Pinata is busting at the seams! A genuinely happy horse with a kind eye and huge heart, “Pumpkin” is a New Vocations trainer favorite. Consistently a joy to be around and work with, Pumpkin brings a smile to everyone’s face everyday.

Pumpkin is currently turned out with a group of other geldings and sits comfortably in the middle of the pack; he gets along with most everyone. He is always happy to see his people and happily trots over to the gate to come in for a ride or the afternoon. 

A total glutton for attention, Pumpkin loves his time in the crossties and stands fabulously for grooming and bathing. He loves face brushing and has a few itchy spots that make him curl his lip in sheer bliss! He is easy to handle for the farrier and vet. Super easy on the ground and super affectionate, he is a favorite of the barn girls.

Pumpkin works well at the walk, trot and canter and trail rides on the buckle. He has three easy gaits and is a very comfortable fellow to ride. Pumpkin came to New Vocations with some old, healed wear and tear from his time on the track; as such, we believe he would be best suited to a low-key job as a trail horse, pleasure mount or obstacle competitor. 

Pumpkin's ideal partner is a confident rider looking for a fun, brave mount with whom to explore, relax and enjoy life!

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

 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.