If you like to laugh, we have the horse for you! “Jo” is the comedian of the barn ... he thinks he’s hilarious and loves to share his antics with whoever will let him!

Small but mighty, Jo loves his time outside with his buddies. He loves tag and plays a bit rough from time to time, but his bark is tougher than his bite and he means it all in good fun.

Jo bowed a tendon almost a year ago and has enjoyed some down time since coming into our program. He has been on small paddock turnout and could easily live outside as much as possible. The more turnout the better for this guy!

As a special opportunity for qualified individuals, we're offering Jo as a rehab before he returns to consistent training. He'll need a confident and patient handler/rider to bring him along as he can be a bit too silly and comical at times! He would love a job where he can use his brain and play with and learn new things. We think he'll do best with a quiet training setting for now. 

Rockin Jo came to New Vocations via the NYTHA Take the Lead Program. We're so grateful for their continued support!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 3
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 - He stands well for bathing and the farrier.
• Horse Care - Level 2 - Jo is tender-footed and will require at least front shoes for now.
• Riding - Level 3-4
• General Demeanor - Level 3 
• Horse Physical Capability - Level 2-3

 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.