New Beginnings
New Beginnings Co-Directors Michelle Horgan (left) and Nicole McKinley (right) with their OTTBs Courage to Be and Gelt after a day of cross-country schooling at the Horse Park of New Jersey. Credit: Mallory Kirst
Services: Rehabilitation, Adoption
Location: Howell, NJ
Founded: 2014
Website: nbottb.org
Social: 
Average Number of Thoroughbreds: 11
New Beginnings Thoroughbreds is a nonprofit Thoroughbred adoption program. Our founding members have spent years retraining off-the- track Thoroughbreds for second careers. Our team is all-volunteer and our mission is to find loving adoptive homes for Thoroughbreds once they have retired from racing.
New Beginnings receives horses either directly from trainers or owners at various racetrack aftercare programs or from other adoption programs, working with such organizations as TAA-accredited MidAtlantic Horse Rescue. We strive to retrain the horses for a second career that is best suited for them, working hard to pair loving adoptive owners with our horses to ensure the best possible outcome for the horse and adopter.
We have a wonderful group of qualified volunteers and board members who work tirelessly to help us with the horses, with fundraising, and with the many pieces that make the program run smoothly.
Each Thoroughbred that comes into New Beginnings is given time for assessment and let down. The horses are introduced to turn-out and spend time away from their stalls. Each horse is different and requires different amounts of time before beginning to work under tack, and we adjust accordingly based on what each horse is showing us.
New Beginnings participates in a variety of activities with its adoptable horses to prepare them for their second careers and to bring awareness to the adaptability, resilience, and talent of the Thoroughbred. Our Thoroughbreds have participated in 4H drill teams, in demonstrations in the Pennsylvania Horse World Expo, and in the Thoroughbred Makeover. These events are wonderful outlets to showcase the versatility of the Thoroughbred and have been instrumental in helping our organization grow and assist our horses in their adoptions.
New Beginnings relies solely on grants, donations, and fundraising to support the horses in its program. Every dollar received goes directly to the care, training, and feeding of our horses.
Success Stories from New Beginnings
Karen’s Gotta Go – The playful New Jersey-bred battled a serious infection early in life but is now building a foundation in dressage with his adopter. Read more >>
Silver Bouquet – She was a resident of the New Jersey-based organization for nine months before catching the eye of her adopter at the Horse World Expo. Read more >>
Urban Burn – He checked all of the boxes for a new family horse for his adopter. Read more >>
Little Frankie L – The Pennsylvania-bred made 14 starts in the maiden claiming ranks at Monmouth Park and Penn National before retiring. Read more >>
