“Hugo” is tall, dark, handsome and, oh, so much fun! He's a playful guy who's sure to turn heads wherever he goes!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2 - Hugo leads easily in a regular halter and cotton lead rope. He can get anxious when he leaves his friends, calling for them to make sure they're still around. He prefers having a buddy to keep him company. 
  
  
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 - This guy thoroughly enjoys a good grooming and loves bath time! He's especially happy when you gently spray his lips with the hose! He stands well for grooming and tacking when he's tied in the stall. And, of course, he loves to nuzzle his people!
  
  
• Horse Care - Level 3 -  Hugo is currently wearing front steel shoes and stands well for the farrier. He has an overbite and should have a dental exam every six months (and don't worry, we've kept up with it!). And, Hugo loves his water, so we make sure he always has two water buckets in his stall. He likes to remind us to keep his buckets extra clean by pooping in them each day, so they get a lot of extra scrubbing! It's a small price to pay for how darn cute and lovable this ham is! 
  
  
• Riding - Level 3 - Overall, Hugo is a straightforward ride. He can get a bit strong in the hands in new situations, and he's working on his straightness and relaxation.
  
  
• General Demeanor - Level 2 - Hugo is currently turned out with a group of geldings and is mid-dominance in his field. He loves to play and he loves to eat!
  
  
• Physical Capability - Level 2 - 3 - We think Hugo is well suited for an intermediate level rider looking for a low Hunter/Jumper or Dressage prospect! He retired from racing with an incomplete sesamoid fracture and completed his rehab with us. As always, all the veterinarian records we have on Hugo are available to interested and approved adopters.

Higuita came to New Vocations via the Beyond the Wire Program. We're so grateful for their continued support!

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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.