“AJ” is as flashy and personable as he is well-bred! He's a tall, handsome guy with classic Thoroughbred good looks and he absolutely adores any and all attention!

He's quiet on the crossties and loves to be loved on. He quite enjoys his visits with the equine chiropractor, even falling asleep during adjustments! He's often cooperative to lead, but there are times when he needs a chain to keep him on his best behavior. He's just a young kiddo who gets excited to go outside if the New York weather has kept him in for a short spell!

AJ is a lovely mover and very athletic! He is looking for a partner who enjoys a challenge under saddle but can see his big potential through the antics he sometimes displays. For instance, he sometimes prefers things to be his idea (he's a big toddler ... he just won't be told!), and he's been known to protest a tap with the stick by stopping and kicking out. We've reached an understanding and saw huge improvements after going back to basics—AJ is currently working happily and very well under saddle!—but potential adopters should be aware that these and other behaviors could return when he switches programs or as he's learning a new rider/trainer. We think he'd do very will in a program that includes regular ground work along with riding.

While AJ retired due to some arthritis in his left knee, the surgeon who reviewed his radiographs said the changes are mostly old and outside the joint and shouldn't keep him from doing just about anything in his second career. As always, interested and approved adopters are welcome to review any veterinary records we have on AJ.

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2 - AJ does best leading with a chain in some cases, often depending on how much turnout he's had if the weather and footing has been bad.
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 - He loves to be groomed and will stand in the crossties as long as you ask him to, playing with the ties and finding other ways to entertain himself.
• Horse Care - Level 2 - AJ wears front shoes.
• Riding - Level 3 - 4 - He's been going well under saddle recently, but AJ will need a more experienced rider to bring him along properly.
• General Demeanor - Level 3 - This guy loves all the attention and pets he can get! He'll even ask for it by taking things off his stall door and tossing them in the aisle to catch your eye. He can also be a bit mouthy towards people and does best with set boundaries.
• Horse Physical Capability - Level 4

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

 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.