Take 50% off adoption fees when you bring a horse home by July 15 with our Saddle Up for Summer Adoption Special!

Millionaire with Show Ring Experience!

“Windy” is a classy trotting gelding with over a million dollars in earnings. He is a well-traveled war horse who has the distinction of competing in the Elitlopp in Sweden!  

Windy has transitioned well to riding life and exhibits the same excellent work ethic under saddle as he did as a racehorse. Like many top competitors, he knows he is special and initially sizes up the humans in his life to make sure they are worthy. But once he decides you are a friend, he's all in and will love you forever! He might also serenade you with his musical talents when he plays with his tongue!

Windy's ideal home would include lots of turnout, especially with mud and trips off property to try new things.

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - Windy is an absolute gentleman to handle on the ground. He's easy to catch, halter, and lead.
  
  
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1  - Windy doesn't always love having his belly or flank area brushed (okay, Windy really just takes great pride in keeping himself muddy, but he's extra ticklish there!), but he stands quietly for tacking and grooming.
  
  
• Horse Care - Level 2 - Windy sustained an injury while racing in 2018. He rehabbed and successfully returned to racing afterwards, but does best with front shoes for some additional support on that foot.  Windy is also not a fan of hotter and humid climates and would do best living in a more temperate environment.
  
  
• Riding - Level 1 - In his time with the program, Windy has gone on several outings.  First to the Equine Affaire in Columbus, OH, as a Standardbred ambassador.  He rode through crowds and in strange places with no hesitation.  Also, he attended a horse show in Delaware, OH, and competed in the dressage arena. He acted like an old pro in the showpen! He has also been on some trail outings and not surprisingly enjoys playing in the water! He will return to the Equine Affaire in Ohio this year. He is a forward-moving guy who goes to work when asked and is all business. 
  
  
• General Demeanor - Level 1 - Windy is a veteran traveler and settles in quickly wherever he goes. He is currently turned out in a group of geldings and does well. He's happy to settle into the middle of the pack and enjoys his time outside. 
  
  
• Horse Capability - Level 2 - Windy is suitable for most mid-impact disciplines including light jumping.  We think he would love hunter paces!

 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.