2022 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover Eligible

Talk about a compliment ... Lexington trainer Leandra thinks this girl is one of the most naturally talented and exciting prospects that she's ever ridden!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 3 - Ouchy Night '18 is oozing with talent and she know it! She marches around like she owns the place, which can mean she sometimes forgets to mind her handler and can come off as pushy. She just needs a quiet reminder to mind her manners, and she obliges well! We generally head her with a chain because she's a more energetic type and can be anxious at times.

• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 - She is always happy to have someone give her scratches and doesn’t mind being groomed. She likes to keep things moving and can get impatient on the crossties. She gets a little fussy when being tacked up and gets a bit anxious before working, so we think it's important for her adopter to spend some extra time connecting with her and setting boundaries in a reassuring way since she has those pre-ride nerves; we believe this will diminish with time and positive experiences!  

• Horse Care - Level 2 - Ouchy Night ‘18 has basic front shoes and is barefoot behind. She can be a picky and slow eater.

• Riding - Level 3 - After a warm up, Ouchy Night ‘18 is happy to walk around on a loose rein and you can confidently kick your feet out of your stirrups and enjoy! Before she’s warmed up and settled in, she still has those pre-ride nerves and can be anxious and seemingly look for things to spook at. Based on what we’ve seen during her time with us, we feel pretty certain that the right rider and more time and experience in her post-track career will help her grow out of this phase. She has all the makings of being a solid citizen under saddle, but she will certainly benefit from having an advanced rider who can help her through her anxious tendencies and bring out the best in her. Ouchy Night '18 has three exceptional gaits and she has the ‘X’ factor so many sport horse people seek endlessly! She has picked up on leg yielding fairly quickly, but she is still working on connecting her front and hind end, especially down the long side. She will also let you know if she is unhappy and might offer a flying kick out if she disagrees with you. Even in those situations, a skilled rider won’t feel threatened by this display and, as she learns to understand and respect the partnership, we're confident those instances won’t happen as much!

• General Demeanor - Level 2 - 3 - Ouchy Night ‘18 is a very, very sweet mare with lots of affection to give and a kind disposition. She will let you know what she's feeling, but she’s as polite as she can be on the few occasions that she’s upset (and when she’s upset, there’s usually a reason, too ... she's a bit sensitive and something's making her uncomfortable or she has a stall neighbor who's being impolite, for instance). She is generally submissive with other horses, but she can be anxious in new situations.

• Physical Capability - Level 3+ - Ouchy Night ‘18  retired sound and hasn’t had any issues with us in training!

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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.