Here's your chance to own a hansome Thoroughbred in a Quarter Horse body! Just look at his flashy demeanor in his free lunge video!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - We have started Leo on ground work, and he can be easily led around the farm in a plain halter and lead. 
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 - 3 - Leo's patience is improving in the cross ties, but he still needs some supervision. He has been demonstrating some anxiety with the tacking process, so we have been taking half steps back to build up his confidence and comfort level.
• Horse Care - Level 1 - 2 - Leo is currently sporting front shoes, but has been happily barefoot as well. He is an easy keeper. Leo lives outside and gets along very well with other horses.
• Riding - Level N/A - Leo has not yet been restarted under saddle.
• General Demeanor - Level 2 - Leo is a very nice, stout Quarter Horse type. We suspect his time under saddle may have been limited before coming to New Vocations to begin his rehab, so we are finding that he is quite green. He is currently a bit uncomfortable with the tack up process and lunging under saddle. He is quiet and kind, but needs a partner that has experience with young, very green horses who will give him some time to grow and mature before slowly restarting Leo.
• Physical Capability - Level 3 - 4 - Leo has been rehabbing from hind suspensory injuries and some resulting sesamoiditis. He will be suitable as a lower level prospect. As always, veterinary records are available to interested and approved adopters.

 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 range around $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.
  
  
• $2,000 - $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 - $1,500: 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.