2022 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover Eligible

It's not every day you have the chance to bring home a full brother to the great Eskendereya, but Irving is here to offer that opportunity! While he didn't share his brother's success on the track, he's a fun and personable guy who loves attention and is ready to see what his second career holds!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 3 - Irving gets excited when he knows it’s time to come in and his breakfast is waiting (but don't we all?). He can be a bit strong and pushy in some instance, but he takes correction well and steps right back into line.

• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 - 3 - A typical mouthy teenager, Irving can be a bit wiggly in the crossties and always wants to have them in his mouth. But he never shows any aggressive behavior ... he just likes to get on with things! 

• Horse Care - Level 2 - Irving wears front shoes, but he is otherwise a low-maintenance guy. He does, however, believe he always needs more treats and attention!

• Riding - Level 2 - After a some well-deserved R&R upon arrival at New Vocations, Irving is a bit out of shape! It'll take some time to get his fitness back, but he's shown that he's always willing to try anything we ask! He's a quick learner, too ... after a few repetitions, he catches right on!

• General Demeanor - Level 2 - 3 - Irving craves attention from everyone and everything around him! A playful and talkative guy, he sometimes tries to egg on his neighbors in the barn; he enjoys making as much noise as he can and has gotten very good at convincing his barn mates to join in his impromptu concerts whenever possible! When he’s not in a musical mood, he's also excellent at enticing any and all passers-by in for a cuddle with his big, puppy dog eyes and sweet face!

• Physical Capability - Level 2 - Irving had a previous soft tissue injury in his right front leg that's now healed. We're not quite sure what his upper limits will be at this time, so prospective adopters should (conservatively!) plan on him being a lower-level horse. Only time (and conditioning and care!) will determine his future athletic ability, but with some luck he might be able to do more in the future. As always, his veterinary records are available to approved, interested adopters.

 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.