A horse with many names and some lovely, luscious locks, “Patrick” has stolen our hearts! This adorable guy loves to get all the attention and cuddles he can. Patrick draws you in with his extremely kind eye and keeps you hooked with his gentle demeanor. 

On the ground, Patrick is curious but doesn’t push boundaries. He likes to be in the know of what's happening throughout the day! Patrick is easily led in and out of turnout with his buddy and they make for quite the pair! They enjoy stretching their legs, however  it doesn't take them long to settle and enjoy some grazing. He stands patiently in the crossties and for the vet and farrier. Patrick cribs, however it's been easily controlled with a collar during his time at our barn.

Under saddle, Patrick goes around like a typical baby horse. He has yet to show any naughty behavior, but he reminds you he's still a greenie by tossing his head, wiggling between your leg or letting his attention drift off from what is being asked of him (who can blame him, it’s hard being a baby!).

Patrick sustained a tendon injury on the track so he is slowly being introduced back into work. With the proper amount of time and a slow transition to training, we see Patrick lighting up any ring he enters!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - 2
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - 2
• Horse Care - Level 3 - He has direct glue-on front shoes (he'd developed a talent for losing shoes weekly previously!).
• Riding - Level 2 - 3
• General Demeanor - Level 1 
• Horse Physical Capability - Level TBD (should be 3+ with proper time and a slow return to work)

 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.