“Kenny” is a handsome guy with a big future ahead of him!

As he transitions from racehorse to riding horse, Kenny has taken on a very important job at our New York facility: teaching our summer campers about Standardbreds and driving! He's been a saint and seems to enjoy showing off! He stands patiently to be harnessed and hooked, and and he's taken 16 campers for rides each week!  

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2 - Kenny walks to and from his paddock quietly in a normal halter and lead rope.
  
  
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - Patient and easy-going in the crossties, Kenny is good for grooming and tacking.
  
  
• Horse Care - Level 2 - Kenny wears regular steel shoe on his front hooves. He turns out well alone or with other geldings.
  
  
• Riding - Level 2 - 3 - Kenny trots and paces under saddle. He has a big barrel and takes up a ton of leg! He's a forward thinker in the arena, and enjoys exploring outside, as well. We ride and drive him all over the farm and he loves every minute! He has a lovely uphill carriage, nice movement and an eager-to-please attitude while working. We've been riding him in a Dressage saddle and think he'd make a fantastic Dressage prospect!
  
  
• General Demeanor - Level 2 - A classy individual, Kenny has no vices and is incredibly easy to have in the barn! He takes a minute to warm up to new people, but he's very engaging and affectionate once he's in your pocket!
  
  
• Physical Capability - Level 5 - Kenny has no known injuries ... the sky's the limit!

 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.