New Vocations: Taking Care of Great Ambassadors

Started in 1992, New Vocations has become one of the most well-known Thoroughbred aftercare programs in the nation with about 400 horses adopted from the program every year.
However, the process of getting a horse from the track to a new home takes more behind-the-scenes work than many realize. If a horse hasn’t had time off after retiring, New Vocations has lay-up facilities where horses can stay to mentally and physically regroup before entering the organization’s training program.
“I would say over half of the horses we get into the program are actually going to need some sort of rehabilitation to time. That’s fine, it’s a costly venture but it’s part of our mission so both our facilities here in Lexington and in Ohio have lay-up facilities separate from the training facilities,” Program Director Anna Ford said. “For instance, at the facility here in Lexington, we keep about 10 to 15 horses at that facility, and all they are doing is getting healthy and sound. Once they are ready to go back to work then we bring them back here and start them back into the training process.”
Some horses, such as 2010 Belmont Stakes runner Dave in Dixie, come into the program after their owners have spent time and money rehabilitating track injuries, such as bowed tendons.
When people hear of past injuries racehorses have suffered, they can be turned off from adopting a horse. Ford pointed out that even though some injuries have a bad reputation, they often are not as serious as people make them out to be.
“Although [Dave in Dixie] retired due to a bowed tendon, he’s been fully rehabilitated and that injury is not going to limit him that much in a second career. He may not be able to go and be a Rolex [Kentucky 3-Day Event] competitor but he is definitely going to be able to go on [to a second career]. It really should not bother him for the majority of things most people are looking for,” Ford said.
“So when we’re looking to promote Dave, we’re looking for a specific home with someone who can take him and actually use him. It doesn’t have to be in the show ring but a horse like him - he’s so smart, he’s so classy, and he’s a great mover - so we’re going to be looking for someone who will … utilize his ability to promote the breed. These horses are great ambassadors when they are out in the show ring and even on fox hunting and hunter paces. He could do so many different things so we’re going to look for a home that will utilize his gifts.”
NEW VOCATIONS TRAINING PROGRAM

Photos by Melissa Bauer-Herzog
Once a horse moves to the training farm from a lay-up facility, they are slowly introduced to spending time in a paddock both by themselves and with other horses. After horses settle into the program, they are reintroduced to ground work, which includes lunging both with just a halter and under tack.
The ground work allows the New Vocation team to evaluate the horse both physically and mentally. The team can assess how a horse will handle riding cues and determine if the horse has any lingering soundness issues that may need to be addressed before moving on to more serious training.
After the ground work is complete, a New Vocations trainer starts riding the horse. The first few rides are short so the horse can get used to the new surroundings and relax under saddle. One thing New Vocations looks for during the first ride  under saddle is the rhythm of the horse. The rider tries to get the horse into a nice, steady rhythm rather than rushing or going too slow while adjusting to arena work.
The pace of the training from that point forward depends upon how quickly a horse picks up what the trainer is teaching and what the horse is suited for physically. Most horses will be asked to walk over poles and other obstacles and, if possible, will then start over jumps.  
The final major step is getting the horse to relax outside of the arena. It not only allows the horse to realize that not all riding is going to be hard work but also allows the horse to feel comfortable if their future owner decides to go on a trail ride or do any sort of riding outside of the arena.
New Vocations doesn’t push a horse toward one discipline or another during training but it does give new owners advice on what might best suit the horse. Graduates of the program have gone on to successfully compete in a variety of disciplines from hunters and jumpers to western events.
For more information on New Vocations, you can visit www.newvocations.org.