2022 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover Eligible

“Oliver” is a sporty, laid-back guy who could shine in many arenas!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - Oliver is the slooooooow poke of his turnout group and can’t be bothered to expend the necessary energy to misbehave! We typically lead him around with a regular halter and lead rope!
  
  
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - 2 - Ever-trusting and curious, Oliver enjoys being loved on no matter the circumstance and will stand tied all day. In fact, standing is his favorite activity! 
  
  
• Horse Care - Level 3 - Oliver wears a full set of shoes; we added hind shoes to help him out a bit as he was reconditioning, and he seemed to really appreciate that extra support! He is so mellow in turnout that hind shoes weren't too risky for his turnout buddies, either!
  
  
• Riding - Level 1 - 2 - Oliver recently started some rehab rides to build fitness and assess his capability. To nobody’s surprise, he took to ridden work like a fish to water! He is more than happy to plod along, just enjoying the sights and smells of the day. He can be a bit of a leg ride, and as such, will require a strong rider to encourage him to develop a forward and energetic way of going. With the right rider, though, he’s got a great engine though and he already has a great sense of balance and self-carriage. He is still working on developing supple contact in his mouth, but he’s a quick learner!
  
  
• General Demeanor - Level 1 - Oliver has the type of sweet, gentle soul that makes him just irresistible! He is a more submissive type in the herd, but he gets along wonderfully with his turnout buddies. 
  
  
• Physical Capability - Level 3 - 4 - Oliver has had some time to rest post-racing and has started reconditioning, which has given his muscles some time to relax and reconfigure for a new career. He could go in lots of different directions in a new career, but we could definitely see him enjoying low- to mid-level eventing!

 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.