Groove is a lovely guy who is looking for his perfect match! His handsome, striking looks and his wonderful attitude make him a barn favorite.

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - Groove is led around the farm in a plain halter and cotton lead rope. He is happy walking beside his handler and is easy to work with.
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 - Groove stands quietly and patiently on the cross ties. He can sometimes be a bit anxious in new situations or when other horses enter the same space, but is overall easy to tack, bridle, groom and work around.
• Horse Care - Level 2 - Groove turns out well with his group of geldings. He is in the middle of the pecking order and comes in nicely at the end of the day. Groove is currently barefoot, but may benefit from front shoes as the ground hardens and the mud dries out.
• Riding - Level 2 - Wow! This is a lovely horse that has been ridden by both trainers and teens. He stands well at the mounting block, is happy to move forward and is ready to learn more advanced steering and bending. He has a large, fantastic and comfortable trot, and has been worked in the arena empty and with others. 
• General Demeanor - Level 2 - Groove is easy to work around and is a pleasture to have in our barn. He is sturdy and has a great presence. Groove has previous experience around younger children, and has been worked with by young teens under supervision.
• Physical Capability - Level 3 - Groove has rehabbed well from a hind suspensory that is not showing any signs of lameness during work. It is just not something that would have held up with the continued physical demands of a racing career. There is no swelling or heat and he is not bothered by it in turnout situations.

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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 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.