We don’t mean to judge, but it would be a crime to not love this kind, sweet and talented mare, Felony Melanie (“Melanie”)!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2 - Melanie has an energetic and spunky personality that often translates to a bit of excitement when leading to and from turnout. As she settles into her new routine, she would benefit from a handler who can help encourage patience and relaxation.
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - 2 - Melanie loves attention and is generally a quiet citizen in the crossties. She will, occasionally, squirm around to get a better look at what's going on, but these habits are harmless and should reduce in frequency as she progresses. 
• Horse Care - Level 2 - She is an easy keeper who wears front shoes and maintains weight on about half of our normal feed ration. 
• Riding - Level 2 - Under saddle, Melanie is the picture of intelligence and bravery. She has a great motor, is receptive to leg and seat aids, and proves unflinching when faced with new questions. With a bit of time and strength building, we see a bright future for this classy little lady!  
• General Demeanor - Level 2 - While other mares like to spend their days squealing and running about, Melanie prefers to live a drama-free life. She has (much to our delight) been known to leave tense situations when there is drama between her pasture mates, and is a mellow buddy even in these groups. She is truly a friend to all! 
• Physical Capability - Level 3+ - Felony Melanie is an exceptional horse under saddle and shows curiosity and bravery in all new things. We pointed her at a low crossrail on her first ride in our program, and she popped right over it! She would do best in a low - mid level career path, having had a previous soft tissue injury left hind, but we could see her being the perfect junior or amateur low hunter or pleasure horse in the future!

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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.