“Cardi” has those sought after good looks and perfect personality that will make him a star in any arena!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - Cardi is easy to lead in a regular lead rope and is very respectful of his handler’s space. He is always setting a good example for his pasture buddies! 
  
  
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - He is very patient in the crossties and enjoys having a bath on a hot day!
  
  
• Horse Care - Level 2 - Cardi currently wears steel shoes up front, but he is very low maintenance otherwise. 
  
  
• Riding - Level 1 - 2 - He's a steady and straightforward guy under saddle. He is a slightly “downhill” ride and is learning how to bring his hind end up under himself to improve his impulsion. He is a very willing horse and is always up for a challenge. 
  
  
• General Demeanor - Level 1 - Cardi is a sweet and easy-going guy who aims to please his handler. Even around food and his younger pasturemates he maintains a level head.    
  
  
• Physical Capability - Level 4+ - Cardi had surgery to remove a small chip from his left knee in 2018 and successfully returned to the racetrack following the procedure. He retired from racing in January of 2020 and spent some time with Dan James being retrained both in the English and Western disciplines. In his time with us we have even ridden him in a dressage saddle! We have no reason to believe he wouldn’t excel in a number of different arenas. 

 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.