ILLINOIS EQUINE HUMANE CENTER ~ 11 YEARS OF RESCUE
IT'S ABOUT THE HORSES AND THE VOLUNTEERS WHO CARE FOR THEM EVERY... SINGLE... DAY...
HUGE TACK SALE AND ILEHC'S 11 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SATURDAY, JULY 20 FROM 11am - 4pm
Lots of newly donated and gently used tack for sale. Saddle pads, riding clothes, bits along with barn and horse supplies. Lunch items will be available for purchase along with cake (what's an anniversary without cake?) and cookies.
We are located at 47W635 Beith Road in Maple Park (southwest corner of Beith and Meredith).
We are located at 47W635 Beith Road in Maple Park (southwest corner of Beith and Meredith).
THANK YOU - SPRING FLING, TACK SALE AND CLINIC
APRIL 2019
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Dr. Kati Lukas from Lukas Equine Veterinary Service presented on what to have in your Barn ER Kit along with preparing an ER Barn Kit that was raffled!
Tack Sale was a big success and we thank Martha and Wendy from Little Shoppe on Oak along with Sarah and her husband from Sweet Tooth by Sarah. The kid's Easter Egg Hunt was fun as well. |
2018 ILEHC YEAR IN REVIEW HOLIDAY GATHERING
THANKS TO SARAH M. DECEMBER 2018
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Thanks to all who ventured outside in terrible weather to attend the ILEHC Holiday Gathering and Tack Sale. We enjoyed seeing all of you and are ever appreciative of your generosity during the holiday season and beyond.
As we near the conclusion of 2018, we look forward to the many years ahead where we can continue our charitable mission of horse rescue, retraining and rehoming. |
ILEHC SILENT AUCTION & PARTY
SEPTEMBER 2018
ILEHC IS PROUD OF ITS 10 YEARS, AND COUNTING, OF HORSE RESCUE - THANK YOU
The Silent Auction Items were Incredible - The ILEHC is profoundly grateful to those who attended and supported the silent auction, including the many businesses who provided items or services toward the silent auction. Businesses are listed under the "more" tab on this website.
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ILEHC'S PERMANENT HOME
MAY/JUNE 2018
Veloce and Gelding Friends
The ILEHC is pleased to announce that we have our forever home. The move process concluded during June 2018. We are now located at 47W635 Beith Road, Maple Park.
We have a Riding Arena, Event Room for ILEHC gatherings and clinics, Lean-tos for the horses and so much more.
The ILEHC is pleased to announce that we have our forever home. The move process concluded during June 2018. We are now located at 47W635 Beith Road, Maple Park.
We have a Riding Arena, Event Room for ILEHC gatherings and clinics, Lean-tos for the horses and so much more.
Taxi Adoption - Miracle Horse...
Training for 2nd Career and Doing Well
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Taxi and Alex (who adopted Taxi). The ILEHC is pleased for both.
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It is ALWAYS Hay Time!
Amo
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 fast approaching, June 2019. 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 $6 a bale (May 2019), 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 $6 a bale (May 2019), 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
New Volunteer Orientation on June 9 from 1-3pm
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 Megan or 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
Conti'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 seven years ago. “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 seven years ago. “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
ILEHC's Gail Vacca Featured In the Chicago Tribune
Illinois Equine Humane Center Founder and President Gail Vacca was featured in the Chicago Tribune as part of their "Remarkable Women" series. Congratulations Gail! And thanks for your undying dedication to the horses. Please read the article below.
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One Man's Trash - Taxi's Story
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Gail's article about the rescue of Taxi and his "momma" from the kill-pens at Shipshewana has been published by Midwest Thoroughbred Magazine! Click here to read their incredible story "One Man's Trash" by Gail Vacca!
You can also read about Taxi on his own website - http://www.magnafortuna.weebly.com Or on Facebook at Taxi - THE MIRACLE HORSE |
Lulu (dam) and Taxi.
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