• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 2 - Windy walks in and out of his paddock quietly and politely. He is well behaved in his stall as well!
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 - Windy stands quietly on the cross ties for grooming and tacking.
• Horse Care - Level 2 - Windy is happy barefoot and could easily live outdoors. He has been in overnight turnout as well as day turnout.
• Riding - Level 2 - Windy is an easy going guy under saddle! He is very willing, and will try anything you ask. When you face a situation that could be scary, he settles down after being given a short moment to assess the situation. At the mounting block, Windy is great! He also does well with dismounting and doesn't need to be held. He will trot under saddle (and is quite comfortable!), has a very soft mouth and is light in the bridle. 
• General Demeanor - Level 2 - Windy is very sweet! He spent a lot of time with the kids at the training barn and has been kind for all activities!
• Physical Capability - Level 4 - Windy could probably do just about anything that is asked of him. He has a lovely trot and will continue to develop with more training and muscling.

 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.