New Vocations' Pasture Potatoes Program

Eligible for Shipping Credit up to $1,000!

If someone doesn't step up for Drinking Storm soon, we're popping corks, cracking cans, and partaking in some day drinking! Seriously, this is now his FIFTH time showing up at our doorstep—and not because he's three pints deep and lost his Uber! 

Due to some soundness concerns, he has officially been upgraded to Potato Status™. But you know what else comes from potatoes? Vodka. So clearly, fate named him Drinking Storm for a reason. We call him "Guinness," because Google told us that if we believe hard enough, vodka turns into beer. But don't be fooled, we have discovered that Kentucky bourbon is his beverage of choice. Perhaps that is why he keeps coming back! 

So —who's ready to sip something stiff on their back porch while watching this tall, dark, and handsome horse graze like the majestic potato he is? 

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - Guinness leads with a plain halter and lead rope. He is an overgrown golden retriever and leads, well, better than any of our dogs on a leash! That said, we do not condone drinking while leading horses, despite his name. 
• Grooming - Level 2 - Guinness is an intelligent boy and enjoys interacting with his people. Like your stereotypical beer-drinking frat boy, he likes being extra dirty and getting covered in mud. He is pretty sure this aesthetic is his proper vibe, and while he is okay with baths, he does not exactly see the point!
• Horse Care - Level 1 - Guinness is barefoot, happy, and round on our normal grain ration! He lives outside in a large gelding herd full-time, but is also super when we bring him inside.
• Riding - Level N/A - Guinness is being offered for adoption to a non-riding home as a part of New Vocations' Pasture Potatoes program for companion Thoroughbreds.
• General Demeanor - Level 1+ - Guinness is a big, intelligent boy with a fun personality! He wants to be in your pocket and part of all of the shenanigans! 
• Physical Capability - Level 1 - While Guinness is not riding sound, he will make a wonderful and interactive pasture pet for non-riding activities.

 click for horse level information 

Interested in this horse? Already approved adopters may reach out to this horse's trainer at the "Email About This Horse" button above for further information. Still need to become approved? Learn about the process and start your questionnaire at newvocations.org/adopt. Approved applications are valid for 2 years.

ABOUT PASTURE POTATOES

New Vocations’ Pasture Potatoes program provides those seeking companion horses peace of mind with the following benefits.

• Potential adopters will receive special approval and support as a home for companion horses through New Vocations’ application process.

• A shipping stipend of up to $1,000 for each horse to head to their new home.

• If the adopter can no longer care for their horse, an additional $1,000 shipping stipend will be provided to bring the horse back to New Vocations.

• Additional stipends may be available to the adopters if they need veterinary support as the horse transitions into their new home, or training guidance as they work with their horse in-hand.

• Adopters of Pasture Potatoes will be unable to sell their adopted horse and instead must sign a contract agreeing to return the horse to New Vocations if they cannot, or no longer wish to care for the horse.

ABOUT OUR ADOPTION FEES

New Vocations intentionally sets our horses’ adoption fees lower than the average cost of buying a Thoroughbred or Standardbred from a private seller (in today’s market, horses coming right off the track are often listed at $5,000 to $10,000!).

Our fees range from $0 (waived) to $3,500.

• Fees typically correspond with a horse’s Anticipated Physical Capability. So, horses that are found to be best suited for non-riding careers (our Pasture Potatoes) have waived fees, while the fees for horses assessed to be suitable for high-impact careers will be up to $3,500.

While our adoption fees are low, it’s important to remember that costs associated with ongoing care and additional training for a horse 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.

When you adopt a horse through New Vocations, you’re helping two horses; your new family member and the one who takes their place in our program. 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, enabling us to help even more horses transition off the track as stalls open up in our barns!

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've rehabilitated (if needed), socialized with other horses, been evaluated by trainers and veterinarians, and have been in regular training with a professional. On average, the monetary value of these services exceeds $5,000. Any medical records (often including X-rays and ultrasounds) and pertinent history we have on each horse are also available to interested and approved adopters.