2023 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover Eligible

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - Whiskey quietly follows his handler and leads around the farm in a plain halter and cotton rope.
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - Whiskey has learned to be very patient and quietly stands in the cross ties. He enjoys a good grooming!
• Horse Care - Level 1 - Whiskey has remained barefoot throughout his retraining and is happily living out in a small group. He tends to be towards the bottom of the pecking order in the field so quiet, friendly geldings would be his best companions.
• Riding - Level 1 - 2 - Whiskey has settled right into our program. Although still green, he is quiet and dependable under saddle and will make a lovely prospect for any discipline. He will occasionally hang his tongue out, but we have left him in a plain cavesson and mullen happy mouth.
• General Demeanor - Level 1 - Whiskey is such a sweet boy! He enjoys coming up to the barn to spend time with us and is blooming into a very solid citizen.
• Physical Capability - Level 5 - Whiskey arrived with some suspensory inflammation so was given turnout time and slowly brought back into a program. He will be unlimited in his new career but his adopter should continue to increase exercise intensity slowly for training success.

 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.