“Reba” is the unlimited, fancy clean slate you've been waiting for! All we can say about her is, “WOW!” She started race training but didn't show much promise on the track, so her connections opted to let her excel in another arena.

She has incredible natural movement and hasn't even learned how to use herself yet. She doesn't have many miles under saddle yet, but she's been cooperative with whatever we've asked of her. She walks, trots and canters easily. She hasn't shown any naughty behaviors but is a very forward-thinking girl, which could intimidate a less confident rider.

Reba is sweet but isn't the most confident girl in the barn. She often looks to her handler for reassurance when being groomed and hosed. In her stall she can be a bit nervous and can move quickly when asked. We've been working on building her confidence in these situations and she's slowly improving. While she can be a bit reactive, she tries incredibly hard to be a good girl!

With the right adopter, we have no doubt that Reba will be a top-class show horse. Her perfect partner is confident and kind and is comfortable and experienced working with young, green horses.

Reba has no known injuries that would limit her second career potential (she has a small scar on her right lower eyelid from a past laceration, but it's purely cosmetic) and no vices.

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2 - Reba generally leads in and out of the barn easily (often with another horse) and is typically good on the ground. Like many youngsters, she might need a chain for leading in some cases, like if she's been inside for a bit due to bad weather or footing.
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 3 - She stands well for grooming and tacking, but she gets nervous around the hose. 
• Horse Care - Level 3 - Reba wears front shoes.
• Riding - Level 3 - She's a lovely, athletic mover and is a forward-thinker, but she's still very green and unbalanced.
• General Demeanor - Level 3 - Reba loves attention and being loved on, but she can currently be reactive in her stall.
• Physical Capability - Level 5

 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.