Tour

Best for small groups who want to see first hand how versatile the Thoroughbred is while learning more about retraining and rehoming these incredible athletes. WHAT YOU'LL SEE Thoroughbreds in retraining, you may get hands-on too! BEST FOR All Ages, curious, casual, and committed fans welcome ON THE TOUR You will be walking & standing throughout the tour Come visit New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program and discover how we rehabilitate, retrain and rehome racehorses after they retire from the track! You will learn how former racehorses, many of which were born on famous Kentucky farms, begin their second careers. Learn about the founding and 30 year history of our nonprofit program, and our relationship with the iconic Mereworth Farm and the Susan S. Donaldson Foundation. Experiences may include greeting retired racehorses in the barns and pastures, discovering the adoption process, meeting our permanent equine resident, Ranger, and his important duties, and the many different jobs these retired athletes go on to do. For an extra in-depth look at the history of the retired racehorses in our barns, we recommend pulling up Equibase.com on your smartphone during our tour to search the horses’ registered names! For those interested in adopting a horse from the program please visit our website to learn more about the adoption process. This tour is geared toward learning the history and mission of New Vocations rather than an adoption meet and greet. This tour is suitable for all ages and photos are encouraged. We are an active working horse farm, so closed toed shoes are advised. Please note, all walkways are gravel and may not be wheelchair friendly so access may be limited. ABOUT NEW VOCATIONS Learn more about New Vocations on their website, through their Trip Advisor Page, or by visiting their social media pages: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter New Vocations is the nation's premiere racehorse rehoming organization; founded in 1992, the program has grown from one location to nine and has served over 8,000 retired racehorses to date. New Vocations' Lexington facility is its flagship location, situated on over 150 acres of the historic Mereworth Farm. Our mission is to rehabilitate, retrain and rehome retiring Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses. New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program has a long history of offering retiring racehorses a new purpose when their days on the track come to an end. Since 1992, we’ve focused on offering safe haven through rehabilitation, retraining and ultimately rehoming to qualified and loving adopters. Some of the horses we serve are sound and healthy but just too slow to be competitive on the track. Many have sustained injuries that need time to heal, while others just need some R&R from the occupational hazards that come with being a racehorse and to get reacquainted with just being a horse again. But they all face a common reality: Without training beyond what they’ve learned for racing, a good future isn’t guaranteed. That’s where we—and you—come in! Since we started in 1992, we’ve placed more than 8,000 retired Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses from more than 40 different racetracks with experienced, educated and appropriate adopters like you throughout the country. Looking for another time to visit New Vocations? Check out their regularly scheduled tour here. TERMS & CONDITIONS Please be sure to make your booking prior to arriving at the farm. We do our best to let fans meet their favorites however there are no guarantees that can be made for any horse on any particular tour Showings depend on the health and daily activities of our horses No pets are allowed on property Tours are conducted rain or shine; in the case of severe weather, a cancellation may occur with a rain check or refund. No weapons will be permitted on property Please note there are no public restrooms CANCELLATION POLICY Private tours are paid in full at the time of booking. 50% of the booking cost is considered non-refundable to secure the date at New Vocations. Cancellations for private tours require a notice of at least 48 hours ahead of the scheduled tour time in order to be eligible for the other 50% refund. Service fees are fully non-refundable at all times Cancellation policies for peak tourism times (Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup weeks, others) may vary. Please let us know of any request for accommodation or assistance. We are available at 859-963-1004 and [email protected]. We understand COVID-19 continues to be a factor in how our guests and members participate in experiences. We are committed to providing safe and fun experiences, and recommendations and best practices may change based on changing circumstances. If you have specific questions about any experience, please feel free to contact us at 859-963-1004 or [email protected]. If you are not feeling well or have any symptoms of illness, we kindly ask that you plan to not participate on a tour.