Whether you’re looking for a low-key partner for pleasure riding or a talented athlete for your competitive equestrian goals, there’s a good chance you can find the horse you’re looking for off the track at our adoption drive. This week, we’ve got five retired racehorses: four Thoroughbreds and one Standardbred. They’re located at New Vocations’ facilities in Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Is one of them the horse of your dreams?
Munny Thief
- Thoroughbred Gelding
- 3 years old
- Chestnut, 15.3 hands
- Is this horse trained to ride or drive?
Ride, but he is not yet restarted off the track - What level of rider/driver/handler is the horse best suited for?
Experienced - What discipline does the horse have training in or would be suited for?
Pleasure riding, Hunter
Our first off the track for this adoption drive is Munny Thief. An incredibly sweet, handsome red horse, Munny Thief has stolen all of the New Vocations’ Lexington team’s hearts! Super friendly and lovable from the day he arrived, he loves to be loved on. Best suited for a lower level career, Munny could be a stunning low-level hunter or pleasure mount. Munny last raced in December of 2018 and earned more than $11,000 in two starts.
As a special opportunity for qualified approved adopters, Munny is available for adoption ahead of the normal schedule. Ideal qualified homes would be experienced with at least basic rehab protocol, have a good working relationship with their equine vet (so that rehabilitation plans and checkups are kept up-to-date), and would be comfortable doing the re-starting under saddle once the horse is ready to start back into training. Based on our current rehab plan, he should be able to initiate training in May (2019).
Munny is located at the New Vocations’ Lexington, KY, facility. Adoption fee: $600. Tap here for Munny’s full profile.
Summation Time
Located at New Vocations in Lexington, Kentucky
- Thoroughbred Gelding
- 8 years old
- Bay, 16.2 hands
- Is this horse trained to ride or drive?
Ride. - What level of rider/driver/handler is the horse best suited for?
Advanced - What discipline does the horse have training in or would be suited for?
Dressage
Our next off the track for this adoption drive is Summation Time. Sporty and solid, Summation Time is a true war horse, with over $315,000 in earnings in 21 starts. Called “Kai” at the farm, the 8-year-old bay gelding raced last in November of 2017. Kai has a lovely, athletic build; under saddle, he has three beautiful gaits. He has plenty of impulsion and loves a quiet-but-firm rider. He has lots of great suspension in his trot and his canter is very comfortable.
Kai is a bit of a worrier, and will keep to himself if he feels overwhelmed; he is quite intuitive, so nervous people make him nervous. Kai is suitable for an advanced rider experienced with bringing along young horses. We think we will see him rocking the dressage ring one day!
Kai is located at New Vocations’ Lexington, KY, facility. Adoption fee: $1,000. Tap here for Kai’s full profile.
Only One Wish
Located at New Vocations in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania
- Thoroughbred Mare
- 6 years old
- Bay, 15.1 hands
- Is this horse trained to ride or drive?
Ride. - What level of rider/driver/handler is the horse best suited for?
Intermediate to advanced - What discipline does the horse have training in or would be suited for?
Any
Our next off the track for this adoption drive is Only One Wish. A sweet, kind bay mare, Only One Wish, or “Minnie” as she is known around the barn, is wishing for her very own person! A petite little mare, Minnie is very friendly and loves other animals (especially our barn cats!). Super easy to work with on the ground, she will follow you around like a dog and is always one of the first horses to meet you at the gate.
Under saddle, Minnie is light on her feet with three good gaits; she’s very balanced and elegant. Minnie is suitable for an advanced rider with experience or for an intermediate rider with a trainer and is suitable for all disciplines.
Minnie is eligible for the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover and is located at the New Vocations’ Hummelstown, PA, location. Adoption fee: $500. Tap here for Minnie’s full profile.
Express Stride N
Located at New Vocations in Laurelville, Ohio
- Standardbred Gelding
- 8 years old
- Bay, 16.1 hands
- Is this horse trained to ride or drive?
Both - What level of rider/driver/handler is the horse best suited for?
Any - What discipline does the horse have training in or would be suited for?
Endurance, trail, pleasure riding, fox hunting, driving
Imported from New Zealand, Express Stride N us a true world traveler. A pacing Standardbred, “Strider” prefers trotting under saddle. This classy, big gelding was trained in the United States by 2018 Breeders Crown winning trainer, Mark Harder.
Strider simply oozes class, and will be spectacular as an endurance horse, foxhunter, trail horse or show horse. He is a dream to work with and be around, and is always happy to see people.
Strider is located at the New Vocations’ Laurelville, Ohio, facility. Adoption fee: $500. Tap here for Strider’s full profile.
Nick and Zoe
Located at New Vocations in Lexington, Kentucky
- Thoroughbred Gelding
- 3 years old
- Bay, 15.3 hands
- Is this horse trained to ride or drive?
Ride. - What level of rider/driver/handler is the horse best suited for?
Intermediate to advanced - What discipline does the horse have training in or would be suited for?
Dressage
A handsome dressage prospect, Nick and Zoe, known as “Nick” around the barn, offers a tough-guy attitude to his horsey friends, but is truly a big old softie who LOVES attention. Nick marches around the ring like he knows everyone there is to watch him; he’s a lovely uphill mover with natural balance and freedom in his gaits.
Nick has worked both under saddle in company and out on the trails; he’s always game and attentive to what is being asked of him. A rider with a quiet let, seat and hands would be his ideal riders, as Nick has a soft mouth and enjoys light contact.
Nick is best suited for an intermediate rider working with a trainer or an advanced rider. Nick is located at New Vocations’ Lexington, KY, facility. Adoption fee: $1,000 plus $200 donation. Tap here for Nick’s full profile.
It is unfortunate that homes exist on the west coast, but animals are available on the east coast
It would be wonderful if some organization established a network of volunteers willing and able to transport animals to homes at a cost adopters could manage. Perhaps coordinating several transporters in various areas linking to move them.