If you are looking for a wise horse, Elena is your horse! Elena is a young-at-heart girl who was a very successful trotter before retiring from racing in 2006. She was a wonderful broodmare and mother to 11 foals, and her connections felt she was due to retire after rearing her babies. They also knew she'd still need a job to keep her busy, though, and, boy, were they right!

Elena loves having all the attention on her at all times; whether she's in the grooming or wash stall, getting treats in her stall or getting praise and pets under saddle, she adores all the time she can get with her people! She loves her carrots and all the face brushes she can get! She'd love an adopter who can give her daily attention, be it on the ground, grooming and adoring with love and treats, or riding with buddies on an easy trail ride.

In turnout, Elena likes to remind the youngsters who is in charge, but she does so in the way only a mom of her experience can manage ... it's just enough to make her point and keep peace and order. 

Under saddle, she's happy to take a brisk walk or get moving with a nice trot. Elena has been on numerous trail rides, both alone and with other horses and she is that calm, stready presence for anxious horses but able to lead or stay back, whatever you need her to do. She soft in the bridle and seems very happy to go where you ask her to go. She walks over poles, logs, tree stumps, anything that may be on the trail, she has done amazing. She also has had lots of time riding in both an indoor and outdoor arenas with no problems. 

Elena also attended Equine Affaire. She loved the attention of having hundreds of people pet her and greeted everyone that came by for four days straight. She had no problems with traffic, loud noises or commotion. She again showed that she is steady and smart and happy to go where you ask her. We can't say enough great things about this mare. She is wonderful for kids to work with, groom, tack and ride with guidance. She is already an incredible family horse.  This mare is a gem and although she is 20 years young has so much life and love to give. 

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - Elena has been a touch girthy as her gloriously thick coat can get pulled a little as the initial tightening happens.
• Horse Care - Level 1 - She's happily barefoot and doesn't require excess feed to keep her weight up.
• Riding - Level 2 - Elena can get very quick strided initially when mounted to ride, but she settles after. She is very sensitive to the bit; even making regular contact in her loose-ring French link will have her halting in no time! 
• General Demeanor - Level 1
• Physical Capability - Level 2 - We think Elena would enjoy a life of leisurely hacks and trail rides or a career on the flat! She seems interested in taking on challenges and isn't afraid to get into shape for work, but she'd also be content with an occasional work schedule. 

 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.