2023 RRP Thoroughbhred Makeover Eligible

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - Sierra is respectful of her handler and is led around the farm in a plain halter and lead rope.
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 - Sierra is getting more relaxed on the cross ties every day. She loves the attention and a good brush, but can fidget a bit while getting tacked up.
• Horse Care - Level 1 - 2 - Sierra is living out with a small group of mares and has established herself in the middle of the herd. She isn’t the happiest in a stall and tends to stall walk. When she arrived she was tough to catch, but as she’s gotten to know us it's been easier. She even offered to meet us in the field yesterday! So far she has been happy barefoot. She has a cosmetic scar on her left hind leg.
• Riding - Level 2 - 3 - Sierra is very enjoyable under saddle. She tries very hard and is settling into her new program. She is forward thinking and at first was a little unsure about the jumps in the grass ring. As her ride continued she became more comfortable and rode around them without a second glance!
• General Demeanor - Level 3 - Sierra is the ‘go-getter’ on the farm! She is very eager to please and just as eager to get to work. When she arrived she was a little anxious and guarded, but within a few days we watched her relax and are seeing her very neat, very sweet personality shine.
• Physical Capability - Level 5 - Sierra retired with a bowed tendon and we have finished up her rehab. This beautiful girl won’t have any limitations for a new career and strikes us a great event type!

 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.