2023 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover Eligible!

• Leading and Ground Manners - Level 1 - Strawberry is cooperative and attentive on the ground, and can be led with a regular lead rope and halter! 
• Grooming and Tacking - Level 2 - Strawberry can be a slightest bit wiggly when being groomed and tacked - but only because she wants to be a part of every step in the process! She is known to reposition herself in the crossties so that she can peek at her rider and make sure they're doing a good job. 
• Horse Care - Level 2 - Strawberry is an easy keeper and wears regular front shoes! 
• Riding - Level TBD  - With lovely, flowing gaits, we could easily see this flashy girl in the hunter ring in the future! She’s had a couple rides under saddle in our program, but since she had a significant amount of time off to heal her tendon injury, she’s benefitted most from slow reconditioning on the ground to loosen up her muscles and build back her topline to comfortably support a rider. She has shown us a lot of athletic talent and scope for many different disciplines already.
• General Demeanor - Level 2 -  She goes out overnight with several other mares and is mid-high ranked– she can be bossy or assertive, but she doesn’t show major alpha qualities. She likes to run around and play, but also keeps to herself well and doesn’t get overly attached to her friends– making her easy to work with separately.
• Physical Capability* - Level 4+ - Strawberry had a previous tendon injury (right front superficial digital flexor tendon-- arguably the easiest type of common tendon injury to heal) that, in a recent vet exam, had an ultrasound with NO abnormalities! The vet determined that the tendon "should not be a limitation to any future athletic endeavors" so she is ready to go into a new career path after further reconditioning.
  
  

CLICK FOR HORSE LEVEL INFORMATION

*Assessments are based on information provided by the donors, physical/ mental assessments done by our professional team, as well as any veterinary examinations done at the farm (as needed). Approved, prospective adopters are welcome to arrange and coordinate a PPE if they choose, after speaking with the trainer at the respective facility of the horse. Adopters may also elect to use the 60-day trial period to thoroughly vet and assess the fit of the horse at their barn to ensure a great match!

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.