Could you be the idyllic situation Utopia has been looking for?

"Utopia" means a highly desirable, nearly perfect state - we think Utopia is just that!  This big, bold trotting gelding is loaded with personality and has a great work ethic!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - Utopia is easily led in a regular halter and cotton lead rope. He is mindful of his handler and polite for turnout and turn in. 
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 1 - Utopia stands quietly in the cross ties for grooming, saddling, the farrier and really any attention you give him! 
• Horse Care - Level 1 - Utopia is a generally easy keeper, a good eater, keeps a tidy stall and goes barefoot. 
• Riding - Level 2 - Under saddle Utopia is quiet and willing, but pleasantly forward.  He has a big trot to match his big personality, and sometimes will play with his head as he gets started with arena work.  He loves riding outside and is confident in new situations. We could see him making a great endurance or trail horse!
• General Demeanor - Level 1 - Utopia is a well-traveled horse and settles quickly into his new environment. He gets along well with other geldings in turnout and has been good to ride and handle by a variety of people here at the farm.  He's the first to put his head over the stall gate to ask for attention and treats.
• Physical Capability - Level 3 - Utopia has no current soundness issues or maintenance, but he did have a long and successful racing career and is ready to step down a bit in intensity.  With his love of the outdoors, we can see him being a great partner for hunter paces. He will happily pop over logs and ditches. 

 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.