Don't make a big mistake (huge!) by missing out on this "Pretty Woman"! “Vivian” (named after one of her trainer's favorite movies!) is a pretty lady, indeed!  But she's not just a pretty face ... she has a personality to match and no known limitations for her second career!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2 - Vivian leads well sans chain ... a rope halter works fine!
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 - This pretty lady enjoys being pampered: She loves bubble baths and neck massages! She prefers to stand tied in a stall for grooming.
• Horse Care - Level 2 - A girl's gotta have her shoes, and Vivian is no exception! She's not too complicated in this department, though, and does well in simple steel shoes up front. Also, during her time with us, we've found that Vivian is happiest and most cooperative on Regu-Mate. Her trainer is happy to discuss this further with interested and approved adopters.
• Riding - Level 3 - Vivian isn't all looks ... she's an athletic girl with well-balanced gaits and a big, ground-covering trot. She has a soft mouth and is very willing to learn.
• General Demeanor - Level 3 - While Vivian can get distracted and is still working on paying attention to her surroundings, she's an all-around good girl!
• Horse Physical Capability - Level 5 - Vivian retired from racing sound and has no known issues that would limit her second career potential. We believe she could go in any direction very successfully and with unlimited potential!

Vivian is a great pasturemate in a herd of mares and sits in the middle of the pecking order. She does tend to rub against stall walls when she's in a stall, so we think she's best suited to live in 24/7 turnout with a shelter (and stall access in case of emergencies) or in a stall attached to a field or paddock so she can come and go as she pleases.

Tell Me I'm Pretty came to New Vocations via the NYTHA Take the Lead Program. We're so grateful for their continued support!

Approved Adopters: Schedule a phone appointment with trainer Cheryl at appointfix.com/New-Vocations-Racehorse-Adoption-Program.

 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.