This lovely lady is a Les Paul in a sea of Yamahas! “Iona” is an absolute rockstar of a mare!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2 - Iona is easy to catch and lead. She loves treats and is easily bribed!
  
  
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 3 - We all know horses can do silly things from time to time, and before coming to New Vocations, we believe Iona had an unfortunate moment or accident that likely involved a set of crossties and/or having her head hooked on either side. We do not know the story, but it is clear that she is very uncomfortable when restrained on both sides of her head and she will not stand in crossties. However, she is good to tie in a stall and she's learning to ground-tie! Aside from that, Iona is a gem who loves attention and loves being groomed. She is always good for grooming and bathing, even when being treated for rainrot! Iona prefers the Tigers Tongue (available from our friends at Big Dee's!) to any brush for her grooming sessions. She is easy to tack up and loves to have her face rubbed.
  
  
• Horse Care - Level 2 - Iona is a bit of a hard keeper, but we have successfully helped her gain weight as she let down from the track. She currently wears shoes up front and, as she progresses in her new career and workload, may need to be shod behind, as well. 
  
  
• Riding - Level 3 - While she hasn't been the easiest keeper, she's been incredibly easy to restart. She has a good brain and is been walking, trotting and cantering well under saddle. She also enjoys quiet hacks around the farm! She is still working on her balance, straightness and strength in smaller arenas, but she's been a steady partner, is fun to work with as she learns new tasks and is improving every ride.
  
  
• General Demeanor - Level 2 - Iona is a lovely, kind and sweet mare. She bonds well with her handlers. She is lower on the pecking order than our other mares, but she's not at the very bottom of the herd hierarchy. She is a horse that makes a person smile every day because of her sunny disposition!
  
  
• Physical Capability - Level 4 - Iona has old set osselets, but they do not limit her. She can go and do any job that is asked of her! She enjoys a program and would be a nice restart for any discipline, English or Western.

 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.