This stunning war horse looking for his perfect match! “Pony Boy” is a strikingly handsome guy and, while he definitely knows he's pretty, he also has a kind and endearing personality. This big guy raced an impressive 284 times, but he had no problem transitioning to a riding horse. 

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - Pony Boy is easily handled in a regular halter and cotton lead.
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - He stands quietly in the crossties for grooming and tacking, which is good, because he LOVES to get muddy, so you may spend a lot of time brushing this one!
• Horse Care - Level 1 - Pony Boy has no issues or special needs.
• Riding - Level 2 - 3 - Pony Boy took very quickly to work under saddle, but he isn't always the bravest in scary situations. On trails he'll benefit from riding out with a more experienced horse as he gets his trail legs under him. When riding he will walk, pace and trot and he's given a little bit of a canter here and there. He shows some tendencies towards racking and we think with proper training he could shine as a gaited show horse!
• General Demeanor - Level 1 - 2 - Pony Boy was pretty excited about his turnout and turnout buddies the first week or so he was with us but then quickly settled into a routine. He is mid-pack in a group of geldings, though sometimes he enters the field like he might think about being bossy. 
• Horse Physical Capability - Level 3+ - Pony Boy has some old scarring on his hind legs from a fence accident as a young horse, but it is purely cosmetic and does not affect his soundness. He has not shown us any reason for limitations, though he does not seem like the ideal candidate for jumping events based on his movement and preference for gaiting. 

 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.