“Bliss” is a dream in the barn! Bliss is also a chestnut!!  He's very relaxed on the ground and has fantastic manners. He is respectful at feeding time and easy to lead around the farm. He loves to be groomed in the crossties and is easy to tack and prepare for a ride. 

He's all business under saddle and is always ready to go! Bliss has dressage training, goes nicely in English tack and listens to aids well. He can get a bit anxious in tighter spaces (like an indoor) and when asked to travel in a frame. We feel that this gorgeous guy would love to venture around trails, fields and outdoor spaces with a partner who enjoys moving purposefully while taking in the sights. He is not worried about anything he sees outside and loves to explore the big, wide world! Bliss had a great career as a racehorse and was bred and trained by the great people that donated him. He would make a beautiful driving horse as well. 

He has a huge, gorgeous, lofty trot (he sometimes paces if he's unsure about something) and a nice canter, and he steers well. This guy came to us with a lot of under saddle training so has more experience than most of our horses coming off the track.  While he can be a bit anxious at first, Bliss has shown us that once he finds his person and gives his trust, he will do whatever you ask. We see Bliss excelling in endurance, foxhuntting, trails, dressage and driving. This versatile horse is super sound and ready to go! 

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2
• Horse Care - Level 2 
• Riding - Level 3 - 4
• General Demeanor - Level 2
• Physical Capability - Level 4+  

 click for horse level information 

ABOUT OUR ADOPTION FEES

New Vocations intentionally sets our horses’ 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 $5,000 to $10,000!).

Our facilities are nearly always at max capacity, which means we can’t take in a new horse until one is adopted. Keeping our adoption fees low helps us find appropriate homes for horses quickly, thereby enabling us to assist even more horses transition off the track as stalls open up in our barns! In that way, when you adopt a horse through New Vocations, you’re actually helping two horses: your new family member and the one who takes his place in our program!

While our adoption fees are low, it’s important to remember that costs associated with the ongoing care and additional training for a horse (adopted or otherwise!) can be high. We hope that by helping adopters save money upfront, you’ll have more funds available to cover the costs of properly caring for and training a retired racehorse.

In general, our fees are set at $3,500, $2,500, $1,000, and Under $1,000:

• $3,500: This range is for horses considered unlimited in their physical ability or those with exceptional qualities that would make them an upper- or high-level equine athlete.
  
  
• $2,500: This range is for horses we consider physically capable of a mid- to high-level second career. They have few or relatively minor limitations.
  
  
• $1,000: This range is for horses best-suited for a low- to mid-level career. They may have sustained an injury but have been fully treated and rehabbed. These horses have been examined by and cleared by our veterinarians for most disciplines, possibly up to a certain level (for example, suitable for a career jumping 2’0” but not suitable for a 3’6” career).
  
  
• Under $1,000: This range is for horses that could be harder to place in a perfect situation or those with more limited athletic potential (for example, possibly suitable for flat-work only) but are still capable of a successful second career. They have been evaluated by our veterinarians and are otherwise healthy.

Another perk of adopting from us? We do all we can to give you the most value for your adoption fee. 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, evaluated by trainers and veterinarians, and in regular training with a professional; on average, the monetary value of these services exceeds $5,000. Any medical records (often including X-ray and ultrasounds) and pertinent history we have on each horse is also available to interested and approved adopters.