ILLINOIS EQUINE HUMANE CENTER ~ 13 YEARS OF RESCUE IN 2021
IT'S ABOUT THE HORSES AND THE VOLUNTEERS WHO CARE FOR THEM EVERY... SINGLE... DAY...
AN EVENING WITH SANTA & THE ILEHC HORSES
A MINI MOVIE PREMIERED ON DECEMBER 12
WATCH NOW!
ILEHC PROVIDES NON-PERISHABLE ITEMS TO THE ELBURN & COUNTRYSIDE FOOD PANTRY

Thank you to all who donated food and other non-perishable items to the ILEHC. On December 10, we were so happy to deliver the items to the Elburn & Countryside Food Pantry. In this odd year, ILEHC felt we needed to step up, with the help of others, so that we could help others in our community who may be experiencing food insecurity. The Elburn & Countryside Food Pantry was so appreciative of our donation. Thank you all very much!
3RD ANNUAL SILENT AUCTION - ALL BIDS CLOSED!
Saturday, September 5, 2020
ILEHC is profusely grateful for all who were involved in the 3rd annual silent auction; on-line or at the fundraiser. Many of the on-line items were a success and we will consider having another with many wonderful items in 2021.
Thank you to everyone; volunteers, donors, companies and people that donated their services, restaurants, pet items, art work, painted ponies. Too many to name here but please refer to the Our Partners page. |
ILEHC TACK SALE
SATURDAY, JUNE 27
PAINT & WINE - FEBRUARY 22
THANKS TO THE MANY WHO ATTENDED!
DECEMBER 2019 HOLIDAY CELEBRATION & TACK SALE
LOADS OF FUN
Thanks to all who attended the ILEHC Holiday celebration. A couple of special thank yous; Tom Ferry who was good enough to take professional photos of Santa/Cody and the kids/adults, along with DeJ Mills and Little Shoppe on Oak, Bartlett.
As we near the end of 2019, please consider ILEHC in your holiday giving, we appreciate all of our volunteers, donors; both people and organizations that have extended funds. |
It is ALWAYS Hay Time!

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. Hard to believe that first cutting is done and onto second cutting. 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 $7-8 a bale (January 2021), 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 a secure 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!
The ILEHC current hay price is $7-8 a bale (January 2021), 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 a secure 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

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 Jessica at volunteerilehc@gmail.com. Thank you!!
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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 |
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ILEHC and Founder, Gail Vacca Featured in America's Best Racing

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
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

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/Events to learn about volunteering or ILEHC's 2021 Event Schedule.
Go to Photos, Horses to Adopt/Foster/Sponsor, How to Help/Events to learn about volunteering or ILEHC's 2021 Event Schedule.