It is not every day that a horse like “Lavish” comes along! His classic excellence starts with his remarkable breeding and shows in every step he takes. He has a real “look at me” energy to him, and you sure won't be disappointed when you look! He holds your attention with his floaty movement and his sweet, goofy personality.

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2 - Lavish doesn’t do anything halfway. His mentality is that of a serious athlete and there is no pause button on that! He is generally a pretty relaxed, easy horse to handle but at times he can be eager to get to turnout or come back in for dinner, so he needs a handler who can contain his enthusiasm! If weather conditions result in him missing turnout, he might throw in a head toss or be a bit pushy as he's walking out, but it’s just because he’s excited to play, and he’s easily corrected!
  
  
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 - Lavish knows how to stand in the crossties very well. He can be impatient on occasions, but he respects the boundaries of the ties and, overall, is a gentleman!
  
  
• Horse Care - Level 2 - He wears a front set of shoes and is generally easy to care for.
  
  
• Riding - Level 3 - Like a true athlete, Lavish has lots of potential and just needs the right rider/trainer and environment to help him reach it. He will need to go to a home with a quiet, confident and experienced rider who can keep him focused, since he is still young and distractible, but for the right person, he struts his stuff like no other! With long, floaty strides and an effortless style, he’s hard to keep your eyes off of!
  
  
• General Demeanor - Level 2 - Lavish is a quiet, polite personality in the barn. He has no stall vices. In turnout he does best when matched up with quiet, seasoned horses; he can be playful but is balanced out by a dominant, low-energy type.
  
  
• Physical Capability* - Level 2 - Lavish came back into our program after sustaining a laceration to his right hind limb with his previous adopter. The injury did cause tendinous damage, and as a result his athletic ambitions have been modified to flatwork only, but Lavish doesn’t seem to see any issue with that! His beautiful gaits and presence will likely make him a wonderful low dressage prospect for someone who still wants a fancy mount, but doesn’t mind having more relaxed goals.

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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 range around $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.
  
  
• $2,000 - $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 - $1,500: 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.

*Assessments are based on information provided by the donors, physical/ mental assessments done by our professional team, as well as any veterinary examinations done at the farm (as needed). Approved, prospective adopters are welcome to arrange and coordinate a PPE if they choose, after speaking with the trainer at the respective facility of the horse. Adopters may also elect to use the 60-day trial period to thoroughly vet and assess the fit of the horse at their barn to ensure a great match!