• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2 - 3 - Nocturnal is led easily with a shank. He can be a little pushy at times, but he has improved as we’ve had more time to work on his manners.

• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 - 3 - Nocturnal enjoys being groomed and loved on! He is fidgety at times and is learning to respect personal space, but it all comes from a place of kindness.

• Horse Care - Level 2 - He wears front shoes and has been a relatively easy keeper, especially for a horse coming right from the track.

• Riding - Level TBD  

• General Demeanor - Level 1 - 2 -Nocturnal is a head-turner and knows it! He has a confidence that suggests that he will be a confident, curious individual in new situations and challenges in the future, so we think he will be a great prospect in any number of different career paths. He is currently tuned out overnight in a 2-acre paddock with another gelding and enjoys having his time outside. He is playful at first but settles and mostly keeps to himself. 

• Physical Capability - Level 4 - 5 - Nocturnal is getting time off to give himself to mentally and physically relax, since his last track workout was just a month ago (8/17/22). In his most recent vet examination (9/1/22), our vet stated that he believed Nocturnal would have “No limitations on future athleticism” and he could start gradually starting back into work in November. Since he is still young and green he would do best with an experienced rider, and will likely do best in a program with a professional or an advanced rider with a trainer.

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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.