Serious George is an easy-going trotting gelding with an impressive 266 starts under his belt!  He raced for the same owner most of his life and retired sound, ready for a new adventure. 

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - George is quiet and sensible on the ground and is easily led in a regular halter and cotton lead rope. He is patient when going in and out of his stall and pasture.
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - George stands quietly in the cross ties for grooming and tacking, though he can be a bit ticklish in his flank area.
• Horse Care - Level 1 - George is barefoot and an easy keeper. He has no stall vices and is tidy, but also very happy to spend the night outdoors. 
• Riding - Level 1 - 2 - George has been a very solid citizen under saddle so far.  He stands quietly at the mounting block and is riding well at the walk and trot in our indoor.  He is not spooky or reactive and is used to dogs, cats and other horses working with him.  We have had a string of wet and cold weather and unfortunately haven't had the chance to try him out in a trail type setting, so he may prefer a confident rider to help him learn about new places. 
• General Demeanor - Level 1 - George is a go-with-the-flow kind of guy! Not much seems to faza him. He is happy in his stall, turned out and while being ridden.  He is turned out with a group of geldings and lets the rowdy ones play while he munches on hay. He does think the mares on the other side of the fence are very pretty, and is best turned out with only geldings. 
• Physical Capability - Level 3 - George retired with no known injuries and is sound for a wide variety of disciplines! 

 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.