There’s a lot to say about Talking! This 4-year-old gelding has 11 starts under his belt, so even though he’s young, he’s got plenty of experience to help him prepare for  a new career path!

On the ground and around the barn, Talking is a great citizen who respects his boundaries. He goes out at night with three other geldings and sits higher up in the pecking order. He doesn't show any aggressive behavior, but he has a natural, easy presence that commands attention. Inside, you can often find Talking quietly napping in his stall or munching on some hay. He has no stall vices and leads easily in and out of turnout. Another perk? He's currently barefoot and doing great!

Talking is rehabbing a soft tissue injury, so he’s been getting time off prior to starting back into under saddle work, but in a recent exam our vet thought he looked perfectly sound at a jog! He will do best in a home with an experienced rider who has the know-how to slowly and skillfully reintroduce Talking to work (he can start rehab rides any time!) and to monitor his progress. 

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2 
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2
• Horse Care - Level 1 - He is currently barefoot!
• Riding - Level TBD
• General Demeanor - Level 2 
• Physical Capability - Level 3+  

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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.