All hail the king! King Henrik may have a regal look and royal lineage, but when you get to know him, it is clear, quickly, that he is in many ways like a big dog! “Henrik” loves attention and has a playful, fun attitude. He is still physically and mentally immature, but he's willing to please and has a natural talent that suggests he'll be a fantastic athletic prospect with time!

Henrik came to us with no known injuries, but we observed a lameness not long after he arrived; a veterinary exam revealed a proximal suspensory tear in his left front leg. He spent some time rehabbing and has now been cleared to start rehab riding to help those healing suspensory fibers align in an organized and strong manner.

Henrik had been turned out with three other horses in a 24/7 field before coming back into our training barn and he thrived in that environment. Now that he’s back in a routine and rehab riding, he goes out during the day with one other horse in a small- to medium-sized paddock. He is a mid- to low-ranked member of the herd and, while he likes to play some with a buddy, he generally stays to himself and out of conflict.

Under saddle Henrik has lovely self-carriage and great learning ability. He is responsive to pressure and tries his hardest, even when he’s not certain what’s being asked. He also takes up a good amount of leg and is a very comfy ride! Because he needs to get back into the swing of things and is young and inexperienced, he would do best with an experienced rider who can guide him through new situations with confidence. Henrik is pretty brave, but can be a little spooky/reactive at times (which may just be a phase as he gets back to work).

One thing we know from working with lots of different rehab horses is that with proper rehab, time and reconditioning, many horses can move beyond injuries and leave them in the past. We think Henrik is no exception! With the right situation and care moving forward, we think he'll be a really lovely prospect with the most endearing personality. While he could be successful in many different disciplines, we could certainly see him gliding around a show hunter ring!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2 - 3
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 - 3
• Horse Care - Level 2 - He wears simple front shoes.
• Riding - Level 3
• General Demeanor - Level 2 
• Horse Physical Capability - Level 3+ (TBD)

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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.