2022 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover Eligible

“Felix” is a super sporty prospect with a bold personality!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - 2 - Around the farm, Felix will quietly follow his handler on a rope lead. If there’s some excitement or he's in a busy environment, he might need a chain as a reminder to mind his manners. 
  
  
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - Felix stands like a gentleman on the crossties, is patient and very well behaved to tack up and LOVES a good curry! He'll even often lift a hind leg in hopes that you have a minute to give him a good belly scratch! 
  
  
• Horse Care - Level 2 - 3 - Felix is a very easy keeper! He wears steel shoes on his front feet. While he's currently on any supplements, he might benefit from a joint supplement in the future as his activity level increases and his training progresses.
  
  
• Riding - Level 2 - This guy is a ton of fun under saddle! He is bold and forward-thinking, so a confident, game partner would be the best fit for this sporty little guy. He is still green his half-halts and his steering need some finessing, but he is coming along quickly. He is very clever and, should he pick up the wrong lead, he happily swaps to the correct one without missing a beat.
  
  
• General Demeanor - Level 2 - Felix is basically an over-grown pony in all the best ways! He certainly has a sense of humor and a ton of personality. He came to us with lots of opinions about everything, but he's a quick learner and, after lots of ground work and with clear boundaries, he is now quite well-behaved. He still shows interest in the mares on the farm, even though they're kept apart, so we wouldn’t suggest a mixed-herd turnout situation. 
  
  
• Physical Capability - Level 4 - Felix came to us with a knee injury that we rehabbed slowly and properly, and he sports some hardware from his days on the track. However, our veterinary team is confident that these factors won't have much impact on his future career! He'll likely benefit from a preventive joint supplement down the road, but we're confident this athletic guy will shine in just about any discipline! 

 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.