Give in to your desires with this confident mare’s sweet and determined attitude out on the trails! “Lily” is a fun, sassy and solid ride in the ring and on the trails. Now in her third career after raising a foal, Lily will be a welcome addition to any stable!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - Lily goes well in a simple halter and cotton lead. She turns in and out easily with her herd being led single or with another horse.
  
  
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2+ - She takes the bit well and is typically not fussy about girthing. A perfect lady most of the time, Lily can be a bit touchy and sore when she comes into heat. Her trainer is happy to discuss with interested, approved adopters what she's found to be the best ways to manage Lily in a positive and amicable manner during those few days.  
  
  
• Horse Care - Level 2 - Lily is happily barefoot and easily maintained on a diet of free-choice forage and ration balancer. Due to her hormones, she's currently receiving a mare supplement to ease her body through the days she isn’t up to her usual fun and working self. Her trainer is happy to discuss this further with interested and approved adopters!
  
  
• Riding - Level 2 - Lily likes a confident rider, is light in the bridle, and is learning that leg cues are totally fine (even acceptable!) for guidance and support. While she paced on the track, she's happy to show off her smooth pace and big, ground-covering trot under saddle; she adjusts herself based on her balance and how she is asked. She can be kind enough for an experienced beginner to ride in the ring and over poles, but at this time she needs more experience guidance when going out and about on trails and in open areas. 
  
  
• General Demeanor - Level 2 - 4 - Lily loves a good rapport with her partner, one that will listen to her and consider her say in her life and job. She isn't afraid to share her opinions, though she can be persuaded to rethink them if she's formed a partnership and trusts her rider/handler to consider her opinions. She nickers at her riders when we get things out for work unless she is feeling the woes of being a mare. 
  
  
• Physical Capability - Level 2 - She retired from racing sound, but after a second career as a broodmare, we think Lily would appreciate a quieter third career! She'd love to be a trail or pleasure horse! She trots or paces through mud, tall grass and whatever lies ahead, or she's happy to move along at a pleasant, “ready for adventure” walk. She'll ride out alone, but she also quite enjoys the pleasure of a friend or two exploring the great outdoors!

 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.