2023 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover Eligible

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - 2 - Aswan is relatively easy to lead and respectful. He is quite mellow and generally unfazed by things too. 
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 - He loves to be doted-on and is well-mannered in the cross ties and for grooming and tacking. He can sometimes get fidgety (like when other horses are getting served dinner while he’s getting tacked up), but he’s generally drama-free.
• Horse Care - Level 2  - Aswan wears front shoes and is a pretty easy keeper. He is not on any supplements and is on our default feed program.
• Riding - Level 2 - A maturing young gelding indeed, Aswan is pretty agreeable under saddle, but certainly is transitioning from a track mindset. He is very relaxed– even pokey– at the walk and trot, and is learning to give from the front end while engaging his core and hind end. He tends to want to go around inverted, and needs a strong rider to help re-educate and balance him. He has proven to be a quick study though! While Aswan can step up into the canter nicely, he tends to want to push into a gallop, so he does need a strong rider to ask him to come back with their body– he can get heavy and hard in the mouth, whereas he’s learning to come back with the rider’s weight– so an independent seat is important. As far as his disposition goes though, he may look at things, but he is typically not bothered by things going on around him, and he doesn’t ‘argue’ much when new things are asked of him. As such, he might be a great candidate for a strong novice or advanced intermediate rider.
• General Demeanor - Level 1 - 2 - Aswan loves people, dogs and generally other horses! He goes out with a group of other geldings at night and he is mid-level in the hierarchy. He tends to keep to himself, but he does sometimes get distracted by the mares in the neighboring field. He’s a flirt, but he doesn’t get too worked up. He’s stabled in a barn where there are mares as well and never seems bothered by them!
• Physical Capability - Level 3 - 4 - Aswan was found to have an injury to his right front superficial digital flexor tendon after his last workout, in May 2022, but it has rehabilitated well and he is expected to be a great candidate for a low-mid level career!

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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 are set at $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.