2022 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover Eligible

Medieval Squire, or “Squirrel” as we call him (a nickname originating from a mislabeled halter!), has the kind of bloodlines of sport horse folks’ dreams. With all the class, strong bone and good looks of his grand-sires, ​​Medaglia d’Oro and Thunder Gulch, and looks that are basically a mirror image of his sire, Violence, Squirrel has a lot going for him already! Combine that with a fun, sweet personality and athleticism to boot, we can certainly see Squirrel climbing rapidly up the tree of accomplishment!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2 - 3 - Squirrel can be energetic and have a kind of bubbling energy at times, so we generally lead him with a shank, but he only needs gentle reminders occasionally. Still, an experienced handler would be best for him at this time!

• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 - Squirrel seems to enjoy being groomed and is typically a very good boy in crossties. He can, at times, be fidgety but nothing too dramatic!

• Horse Care - Level 2 - 3 - He wears front shoes and has required slight corrective shoeing to get him off his heels and back to good hoof angles. We don’t expect him to require corrective shoeing in the long-run though. Squirrel has at times needed sedation for shoeing, but he seems to be growing out of that, so with time and maturing he hopefully won’t require special care in that way either! Squirrel isn’t a very picky eater though, so he’s low maintenance in that category.

• Riding - Level 2 - Squirrel shows a lot of natural talent and an exceptional disposition under saddle. Even when he doesn’t necessarily understand what is being asked of him, he tries very hard! He has a naturally balanced, fluid way of going, with exceptional balance in transitions. We are working with him to develop more hind end and topline strength; like many OTTBs, he relies on ‘pull’ power from the shoulder, so when he’s asked to rock back and collect, he misunderstands that with being asked to slow down (in his ride video you can see him nearly break from the vanter a couple times). With time and continued training, we can see Squirrel being an outstanding mount, capable of going in many different directions for a new career! He would do best with at least an intermediate rider working with a trainer. 

• General Demeanor - Level 2 - 3 - Squirrel is a class clown type personality through-and-through. If you are by his stall, you can bet that he’ll be trying to get your attention. He is still young and a little immature, so like many young geldings, he can be a bit mouthy, and might try to grab your clothes if your in his proximity and not paying attention to you, but at the root of it, he really just wants to be loved on ... he just needs some solid boundaries! We can pretty much guarantee that whoever adopts Squirrel will be endlessly entertained though. For example, it is a common occurrence that at dinner time in the barn, Squirrel will drop his ground feeder tub outside of his stall, just in case you needed a reminder that it's’ dinner time! He's had no stall vices in our program.
  
  In turnout, Squirrel is playful but overall a very good citizen. He is turned out during the day with one other gelding and Squirrel is both polite to turnout and comes to the gate in the afternoon when it’s time to come in. While he is a funny guy, there’s no funny business with him about his routine– he’s a reliable, good boy.

• Physical Capability - Level 5 - Squirrel had several published works, but retired before making a start since he just wasn't going to be competitive as a racehorse! He has no known injuries. Since he’s had some help from corrective shoeing, he has been sound and is ready to get into a training routine! He has no known limitations!

Medieval Squire came to New Vocations via the NYTHA Take the Lead Program. We're so grateful for their continued support!

 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.