2022 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover Eligible

We're proud to offer “Pub” for an early adoption, ahead of schedule! This handsome guy is hard to miss because of his good looks (he looks just like his dad, Liam’s Map!) and his disposition is what keeps you coming back for more!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2 - Pub is learning to be a gentleman on the ground and has been a great student! He was just gelded in December and, while he could be pushy at times previously, he's grown into a quiet and reliably easy-going guy. 

• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - 2 - Pub has shown exceptionally good behavior for grooming and tacking! He is very quiet in the crossties and happy to be groomed, which is a good thing since his coat tends to show dirt very easily. When he’s being tacked up, he might paw once in a while, but that’s the “worst” behavior he’s shown!

• Horse Care - Level 2 - He wears front shoes, but he is otherwise a low-maintenance guy and a relatively easy-keeper.

• Riding - Level 2 - 3 - After some well-deserved R&R upon arrival at New Vocations, Pub is a bit out of the swing of things. He's currently brushing off some rusty gears when it comes to under-saddle work! He'll need to be brought back into work slowly in order to give him the best possible prognosis for an athletic career, so he’ll need another two months of minimal riding before starting rehab rides. Pub can be a little anxious at first (humping up his back as though he might do something naughty) but he relaxes with a little warm up and an experienced rider who can guide him to relaxation without getting nervous.

• General Demeanor - Level 2 - Pub came to us just weeks after he was gelded and has been a pretty quiet citizen around the barn through-and-through. He is confident in new situations and is not a spooky horse in general. He can be more dominant in groups with other horses, so it is important that he is matched in turnout with a horse who can play but also set boundaries. 

• Physical Capability - Level 3+ - Pub retired from racing with a fractured sesamoid in his right hind that has been healing well but will still need a couple months of restricted/controlled turnout to set him up for the best future success possible. He is currently in a small paddock overnight and minds his limits well. 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.