Illinois Equine Humane Center ILEHC
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​IT'S ABOUT THE HORSES AND THE VOLUNTEERS WHO CARE FOR THEM
​ EVERY... SINGLE... DAY...


Spring Open House and Tack Sale
Saturday, March 25 from 10am - 3pm

Please join us as we welcome Spring with an Open House and Huge Tack Sale.  Lots of TACK for sale including saddles, blankets, show clothes, riding boots, saddle pads, and MORE.   Snacks and beverages available to purchase - with all proceeds supporting our rescue, rehabilitation, and re-homing efforts.  Kids win a prize for completing our scavenger hunt.   

​47W635 Beith Road, Maple Park

Also an opportunity to meet our new three rescues, Lizzie, Louis, and Santini, pictured to the left.
  

ILEHC -YEAR IN REVIEW 2022


Holiday Gathering and Tack Sale - December 10, 2022
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Thanks to the many that attended to purchase tack and support our rescue efforts, or came by to say hello and chat.  More photos will be added as Santa Claus was dashing this year!  

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​​5th Annual Charity Silent Auction & Farm Festival
September 17

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What a wonderful evening!  Good music (Outpatience), fantastic BBQ dinner (Hat Trick BBQ), lots of items to bid on; both on-line and in person.  Activities for the kids and 11 raffles.  

We thank all who attended in person or on-line.  This fundraiser is important to our horses and allows us to get ready for another winter.   We are grateful for your support.   Click here to see the many supporters of the Silent Auction!   



​July 16 and April 9, 2022 Tack Sales
14th Anniversary - Thank You


Thank you to all who attended, lots of tack was sold with 100% of the proceeds benefitting the ILEHC horses.
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It is ALWAYS Hay Time!

PictureChappy
The Illinois Equine Humane Center (ILEHC) is always in need of hay - so let's gallop into action to raise the funds we need to purchase hay for the year. Please help us increase our financial funds so that we may stock up on this much needed and consumed item.

The ILEHC current hay price is $8 a bale (March 2023), we are in need of your financial support to help us continue to provide a safety net for the horses in our care and for the horses we will be called upon to assist throughout the year. You can help ensure that ILEHC can meet these essential needs by donating to our HAY FUND today.

To make an online donation,  click on the “Donate” link above. To mail your donation, please send to:
ILEHC, 47W635 Beith Road, Maple Park, IL 60151.

​On behalf of the horses, we thank you very much for your kindness and generosity!


​Volunteering - Good for the Soul

PictureCasper inspecting the work done!
Thanks to all who commit their time to the ILEHC and assist in morning (starting at 8:30am) and afternoon (starting at 3:30 to 4pm) chores along with those who tend to the grounds and fences.  We are always looking for volunteers, so if you have time and would like to work with a GREAT group of individuals, please email us at volunteerilehc@gmail.com.  Thank you!! 

 


Visitors ALWAYS Welcome!


47W635 Beith Road 

Maple Park, IL 60151
815-761-4937
​
Please call to make an appointment.




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Be sure to tell all of your friends!
ILEHC rescues, rehabilitates and then places horses in proper homes.  Please see horses available for adoption, fostering or sponsoring at this website.
​Horses Available For Adoption 



Thank You! 


We cannot say it enough, but thank you to all ILEHC volunteers and supporters.  We could not continue our mission of horse rescue, rehabilitation and adoption without you.  




ILEHC and Founder, Gail Vacca Featured in America's Best Racing  

PictureConti's Whirl after arriving at the ILEHC
After showing horses as a child and later transitioning into becoming a racehorse trainer, Gail Vacca had a strong background with horses before starting the Illinois Equine Humane Center (ILEHC) in 2008.  As a teenager, Vacca spent summers at Rockingham Park cooling out racehorses to earn extra money so she could afford to show her horses in top level hunter and jumper shows. That experience found her spending more time at the track as the years went on. “I just fell in love with the horses; the beauty and the athleticism of the racehorses. It’s an addiction,” Vacca said. “I did that during summers when I was a kid then when I got out of high school, I kind of spent a little more time at the track. I was a groom for a couple years and then that evolved into me getting my trainer’s license when I was 24.”

During her time as a trainer, people would come to Vacca with horses who needed to be rehabilitated or rehomed. That eventually turned into Vacca rescuing retired racehorses and finding them new homes before starting ILEHC. “It was just kind of a natural progression of things with me for being involved and advocating for racehorse welfare while racing and after racing for all those years just kind of evolved into me ultimately opening my own facility,” said Vacca. ILEHC gets horses from both the track and neglect cases, so depending on the situation horses can go through the program in only a few weeks or they can stay for the rest of their lives. Horses who can’t be ridden generally go on ILEHC’s permanent resident list but in some cases those horses will be adopted out if the right non-riding home comes along. However, if the horse is healthy, it will be ridden a few times to figure out what it is best suited for.  See more at:


http://www.americasbestracing.net/en/the-latest/aftercare/2015/2/18/program-spotlight-illinois-equine-humane-center/#sthash.I62HNHY6.dpuf

PictureCody the Reindeer Pony
That is the end of this page but there is so much more to see!  
Go to Photos, Horses to Adopt/Foster/
Sponsor,
How to Help/ Volunteer 
 

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Boomer the Holiday Horse

 Illinois Equine Humane Center (ilehc)

47w635 Beith Rd
Maple Park
IL 60151

contact us!

​(815) 761-4937
© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
    • About Us
    • Mission & Background
    • Governing Body
    • Photos
    • Older News But Still Good News!
  • ILEHC Supporters
    • Our Partners
    • Founders, Founder's Club
  • Horses
    • Featured Horse
    • Gone but not Forgotten
  • Success Stories
    • Champions >
      • Esther Egg
      • Scooter Roach
  • Events
  • How to Help
    • Volunteering
    • Donating
    • FundRaising
    • Gift Shop >
      • T-shirts!
  • Contact Us
  • Forms