ARCHIVED
FEATURED AGENCY:C.A.N.T.E.R.
- To stand in
the gap for noncompetitive, often injured
racehorses providing a peaceful environment
and skilled hands to assist in their transition
to pleasure mounts.
- To place these
horses in experienced, loving homes that
will continue their education so each
has a skill and therefore, a future.
- To use the
program as an outreach for disadvantaged
youth, to encourage goal-setting and develop
a sense of responsibility.
ABOUT
US
New Vocations Racehorse Adoption
Program is one of six nationally accredited
racehorse adoption/retirement organizations
in the country. Although the Program receives
no federal or state funding, it places more
Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds in adoptive
homes each year than any other equine charity
in the United States. Many of these horses
have competed in hundreds of races and suddenly
find themselves crippled and on their way
to slaughter. New Vocations stands in the
gap for these fallen warriors providing
a safe-haven and secure future.In 2001 the
Racing Commissioners International selected
New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program
as the recipient of their Animal Welfare
Award.
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Binalong Flight
raced 50 times before he was retired
and sent to New Vocations. Sara Able
adopted the classy gelding and is schooling
him in dressage and over jumps. She
plans to compete in this year’s
All Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show.
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New Vocations was founded in 1992 to stop
the random discarding and slaughter of noncompetitive
and injured racehorses. It also targets
owners and trainers with educational campaigns
to encourage responsible handling of their
retirees while promoting the versatility
of the racing breeds to potential adopters
at equine expos and seminars across the
Midwest. Additionally, New Vocations acts
as an outreach to disadvantaged youth, challenging
them through the equine experience and motivational
teachings to set worthy goals.
Both Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds are
offered a safe haven, rehabilitation, and
continued education through admittance to
the program. The Standardbreds are started
under saddle and all horses are carefully
evaluated for temperament, soundness, and
suitability before being offered for adoption.
Only qualified, previous horse owners, willing
to sign a two-year commitment to the horse,
are allowed to adopt.
 Over
2,000 retiring racehorses have been placed
in carefully screened homes through the
New Vocations effort since 1992, with 234
entering the Program last year. These horses
primarily come from the greater Midwest
and are adopted by families throughout the
country. (View
some of these horses and their adopters)
Most of the geldings become pleasure mounts.
Companion homes are sought for those that
have no future under saddle, but still have
a good quality of life. Many of the mares
that lack the soundness for riding enter
cross-breeding programs. Adoption fees average
$400 and are waived on disabled horses and
those facing long rehabilitations.
Oaks Square and adopter
Dave Lovell
Once an adoptive home is found, progress
is monitored for two years to ensure a successful
transition. If a horse proves unsuitable
for the purpose it was adopted or otherwise
cannot be kept, New Vocations arranges to
have it returned to the Program. Rehabilitation
is also provided for the many injured racehorses
including stall rest, therapy, medication,
and socialization. Transitional training
is initiated in preparation for life as
a pleasure mount.
| Roadster
was retired at age eight after 54 starts
and sent to New Vocations. However,
the Strawberry Road gelding was sensitive
and nervous, flunking transitional training
twice. Kim Dawes was his third adopter.
Roadster bloomed under her confident,
patient handling and is, now, quiet
enough to ride bareback through the
countryside. |
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New Vocations also offers educational and
outreach services to the community. These
include informative adoption seminars and
retraining clinics for equine enthusiasts
and 4-H groups. The outreach programming
utilizes the horses as a medium for promoting
goal-setting and responsibility to at risk
youth. For the past three years, New Vocations
has been affiliated with the West Central
Ohio Juvenile Center, offering motivational
workshops and hands-on equine experience
to girls in the Gateway Program.
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Girls from West Central
Juvenile Center hose the legs on the
stakes placed Thoroughbred gelding,
Lord West.
.
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