• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - Ghost happily follows his handler around the farm in a plain halter and cotton lead. He is quiet and respectful.
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - Ghost was a little leery of the wash stall at first. With some patience allowing him check out the new space and a pat, he walked in and relaxed once we started brushing. He stands patiently and exhibits no negative behavior while being tacked up - in fact, he looks quite happy!
• Horse Care - Level 1 - 2 - Ghost is living out and really loves his food. He arrived barefoot, but once his work level increases may be happier in front shoes.
• Riding - Level 2 - Ghost, like with the wash stall, was a little concerned about all the spooky jumps in our big grass ring. With some quiet encouragement and extra time to check everything out, he went right to work. He is lovely in the bridle and seems to naturally work into a nice outline. He is balanced, quiet and has three comfortable gaits.
• General Demeanor - Level 1 - Ghost has been a very welcome addition to the program and has fit right in at the farm. He is very sweet and is inquisitive without being mouthy or pushy.
• Physical Capability - Level 5 - Ghost doesn’t have any known history that would hold him back from enjoying an unlimited new career!

 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.