2020 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover Eligible

If you’re still salty that you missed out on Lottery Ticket last year, then let this cool dude spice up your life! Pepper Lane is a sporty, uphill ride with all the makings to be an incredible sport horse. “Peppy” has just the right amount of fire in his eyes to make him a fun project for professional or a show partner for a more advanced amateur. 

Peppy is one of our residents in the barn that is always a little busy. He prefers to spend his days staring out the window or into the barn aisle when he’s not snacking on hay. He can look aloof but he genuinely enjoys being groomed with soft brushes and getting treats and attention throughout the day. He is turned out in a larger gelding herd at night and tends to be closer to the middle of the pack. Peppy stands well for the farrier, general grooming/mane pulling, and is learning to be patient in the crossties. He is still working on standing quietly at the mounting block but has made lots of great progress in that area of training. He has no stall vices.

Under saddle, Peppy is a fun, forward, and uphill ride. He has three springy gaits and is fairly balanced both directions. While he is still traveling somewhat inverted through his neck and back, Peppy displays the potential for lovely, lofty suspension and an engaged hind end. He already reaches from behind and has a comfortable, cloud-like canter. Peppy likes a light rider who uses their upper body and back to bring him to balance and collect him, he gets fussy when too much hand is used and rides very well from the leg and seat. He can be rather generous with the amount of energy he puts into his transitions but if you patiently bring him back to you with soft aids he quiets right back down and settles into his work. Peppy is very brave and bold, walking and trotting over ground poles and has not displayed any spookiness. He can have moments where his energy sort of bubbles over and he offers more than you may want but patience and a sense of humor makes those moments short lived.

Pepper Lane is suitable for an advanced rider working with a trainer or a rider experienced bringing along young horses softly and correctly. He would be suited to a career in dressage.

Pepper Lane came to New Vocations via NYTHA’s Take The Lead Program.  We are very grateful for their support!

COVID-19 Adoption Fee Update

You might notice some of our horses' adoption fees have been reduced in recent days.  This is solely due to the current COVID-19 situation and not because we've discovered new physical issues or behavioral issues.  We always aim to keep our adoption fees low so adopters can invest more in the future training and care for each horse. The adoption option is truly the most economical option!

In addition, please keep in mind the more horses we rehome, the more retiring racehorses we can welcome to our program. And, with the current uncertainty at many racetracks and training centers, we're hoping to eliminate barriers to help find perfect homes for our current residents so we can continue serving those in need of transitional training. Adopters must still be approved to bring a horse home.

Please feel free to contact any horse's trainer for additional information on his or her adoption fee.

ADOPTION FEE POLICY

New Vocations’ adoption fees are intentionally set lower than the cost of buying most Thoroughbreds or Standardbreds through a private seller. In today’s market, it’s not unusual for horses coming right off the track to be listed for sale at a price between $2,000 and $5,000. At New Vocations, we set a fee that will ultimately help each horse find a home quickly. The program’s facilities are always at full capacity, which means we cannot take in an additional horse until one is adopted. Adopters should be encouraged to know that by adopting a horse through New Vocations, they are actually helping two horses transition to careers outside of racing.

In general, our fees are set at $500, $1,000 or $1,000 with a $1,500 donation. 

• $1,000 with a $1,500 donation: This range is for horses that we consider to be the cream of the crop or the unicorn horses.  They are horses that have few or no limitations, have great conformation, movement and size.
• $1,000: This range is for horses that are suitable for a competitive career up to a certain level (for example cleared for 2’6” but not 3’).  They may have been fully rehabbed from a race injury but have been cleared for most disciplines.
• $500:  This range is for horses that are limited to a flat, trail or companion type home.  These horses are healthy and have been fully rehabbed and evaluated by a vet.

Additionally, adopters get great value for their money: The majority of the horses have been in the program for a minimum of 60 days. During that time, horses are rehabilitated (if needed), socialized with other horses, fully evaluated, and in work with a professional trainer. New Vocations fully discloses each horse’s history and provides all available medical records, many of which include X-ray and ultrasounds.

While adoption fees are low, it should be noted that costs associated with ongoing care and additional training for each horse after adoption can be high. New Vocations hopes that by helping an adopter save money upfront, he or she will have more funds available to cover the continuing costs of properly caring for a horse.