This is the one you've been asking Santa for! “Louie” is that unicorn Standardbred you've all been waiting for! Louie hasn't raced since 2016, so he's had plenty of time to decompress from the track. During that time, he traveled all over the country with his racing trainer, from Michigan to California and beyond! He rides at a walk, trot, and canter, and did we mention he is gray??? Louie might be a bit of a reluctant reindeer, but we know he's a perfect horse to bring home for the holidays! 

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - Louie is led easily with a simple halter and lead rope. He is quiet and patient to handle.
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 - Louie has no major issues but can sometimes a little sensitive when tightening his girth (can we really blame him for not liking his belt tightened??) or brushing in his flank areas. 
• Horse Care - Level 2 - Louie has some arthritis in his hocks (most notably his right) and will do best with a joint supplement and/or injections. He is barefoot and an easy keeper. 
• Riding - Level 2 - Under saddle Louie is pleasantly forward, but his go-getter attitude might be a bit intimidating for a nervous rider. He has not yet had much experience outside the arena, and we think he'd do best with a seasoned buddy to acclimate him to trail riding. While he raced as a pacer, he prefers to trot under saddle and also has a nice canter. 
• General Demeanor - Level 2 - Right now Louie can be a little standoffish in the stall, but he warms up to people once he decides they are worthy of his affection. He is not very treat motivated, so spending quality time with him is the way to his heart! He currently goes out with a group of geldings and falls in the middle of the pack. 
• Horse Physical Capability - Level 3+ - With proper care and maintenance, Louie should be able to do a wide variety of things, including lower-level jumping!

 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.