Huge personality in a pony-sized package!

The Mexican may be small, but he certainly thinks he's mighty!  "Jorge" is a trotting-bred gelding who has the height of a pony, but the heart of a lion.  He will strut his stuff in turnout and in the ring, and there's no convincing him that he is not as big as his counterparts! He makes everyone in the barn smile with his fondness for sticking out his tongue, and he will catch your eye with his shiny jet-black coat. 

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - Jorge is easily led in a regular halter and cotton lead and is respectful of his handler.
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 - Jorge can be a little fussy about having his flank area brushed, and will sometimes lift a hind leg in protest to brushing his ticklish spots or tightening his girth too quickly. 
• Horse Care - Level 1 - Jorge is currently wearing basic front shoes, but may be able to go barefoot eventually.  He is an easy keeper and requires no special care. 
• Riding - Level 1 - 2 - Jorge is a pretty straightforward ride. He stands quietly for mounting and goes right to work when asked.  He is a little powerhouse and has a forward and energetic trot.  He has offered to canter on the lunge line many times and we do think with more strength under saddle, he will canter there as well.  We have ridden him out around the property and down the road, and while he was a little reluctant to leave his friends and ride out alone, he did do so with the reassurance of his rider. 
• General Demeanor - Level 2 - Jorge may look little and unassuming, but in the pasture he is usually the boss and will sass around horses much larger than him.  He would not do well in a mixed herd situation as he gets very defensive of the mares over the fenceline. A gelding-only pasture situation will suit him best.
• Horse Physical Capability - Level 3 - Jorge should be suitable for most disciplines including some light jumping!

 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.