URGENT message...the ILEHC is at present experiencing a funding shortfall and is in need of support from all its members, donors, volunteers, and supporters! Donations are critically needed to provide feed and care to the horses dependent upon us to meet their needs.

In August of 2011 the ILEHC took in 9 neglected Thoroughbreds - making a tremendous physical and financial effort to restore these... deserving horses to good health and to find them new homes. Though some funding was provided via available grant making organizations, the funds obtained were less than HALF that is needed to sustain these horses as they await adoption. Three of these horses are currently in foster care, however, 6 of the horses are older and/or have issues that make them more difficult to place. The ILEHC believes that each of these horses deserves a chance at a new life and does NOT want to consider euthanasia of healthy horses due to the current financial crunch. That said, horses do not live on air and the cost of feed and hay are at an all time high in our area. We need your support to help us continue to provide these horses with the care they need until new homes can be secured.

Please make a donation today and/or sign up to sponsor, foster, or adopt one of these deserving horses! We simply must reduce the size of our herd and generate some income if this organization is to continue on with its good work.

Gail

I held on to After the Finish Line's secret for a full 18 hours and for 7 of those hours I was sleeping. All kidding aside, ATFL would like to thank our Board of Directors, volunteers, donors (monetary, in-kind and services), charity partners and grantors for helping us exceed our funding goals in 2011. ATFL is sending surprise Holiday donations to 24 rescue organizations totaling $13,500 to show our appreciation for their commitment to the Thoroughbred ex-racehorses in their care. This demanding work does not go unnoticed and ATFL applauds their dedication to our equine friends.
The check is truly in the mail for Equine Encore, United Pegasus Foundation, Harmony & Hope Horse Rescue, Southern CA Thoroughbred Rescue, Illinois Equine Humane Center, GEVA, ReRun, CANTER-Ohio, Omega Horse Rescue, Tierra Madre, Bright Futures, Finger Lakes SPCA, Run for Home, CANTER-Michigan, Our Mims, Island Horse Welfare Foundation, Horse Feathers Equine Rescue, Heavenly Horse Rescue, CANTER-New England, The Golden Carrot, Triple Me Mac, Safe Haven Horse Rescue, Changing Fates Equine Rescue and Serenity Equine Rescue.

October 14, 2011 - The southern Illinois horses (originally dubbed "The Skinnies" are on the mend!!!  All have been adjusting well to their new environs and are gaining much-needed weight.  But we still need your help to care for these sweet animals!!! Every dollar counts so please donate what you can and pass the word along to friends and family alike!!!  And all are available for adoption or for sponsorships as well.  Check them out!

Area residents and horse lovers can make a huge impact by voting through the Chase Community Giving program.
The Illinois Equine Humane Center, a non-profit working to assist abused, neglected, and unwanted horses is competing with charities nationwide for donations ranging from $25,000 to $250,000 through the Chase Community Giving program. Folks can help ensure their this charity’s success by simply voting for the Illinois Equine Humane Center (ILEHC) through the Chase Community Giving program running on the Facebook platform.
Through the utilization of the social media networks, the Chase Community Giving program has already directed more than $15 million dollars toward charities nationwide, putting the power to bring positive change across the nation into the hands of those who need it most. Due to enthusiasm, the program is being continued into this fall - giving hundreds of additional charities, including the ILEHC, the opportunity to win much needed funding.
“A grant of this magnitude would be an incredible blessing to countless horses in Illinois that currently suffer from neglect or that are unwanted” said ILEHC President, Gail Vacca. “Every week we receive several calls from horse owners who have lost their home or job and can no longer afford to keep their horse. Limited by funding, we are often unable to help. Winning a Chase Community Giving grant would provide the ILEHC with the funds it needs to help more horses and their owners,” continued Vacca.   Read more.... 

September 4, 2011 - It's been almost a month since we welcomed the first of the "skinnies" at the barn and all are doing quite well! These photos were taken this morning and you can see the marked difference in both Lexi and Zingy. While they each have put on close to 100 pounds, there is still a ways to go with all of them. Your donations and kindness have helped tremendously! Keep passing the word, though - every dollar counts and these sweeties are not out of the woods yet! It's been almost a month since we welcomed the first of the "skinnies" at the barn and all are doing quite well! These photos were taken this morning and you can see the marked difference in both Lexi and Zingy. While they each have put on close to 100 pounds, there is still a ways to go with all of them. Your donations and kindness have helped tremendously! Keep passing the word, though - every dollar counts and these sweeties are not out of the woods yet!

Over the past several weeks the Illinois Equine Humane Center (ILEHC) has been working  to rescue several horses from a downstate Illinois horse owner who has fallen upon hard times and was unable to provide adequate feed and care to his horses.   In total, the former owner has voluntarily relinquished 11 Thoroughbreds to the ILEHC. Each of the horses are underweight with several of them being extremely thin having Henneke Body Count scores of 1.5 - 2.0.  Each of the horses are in drastic need of veterinary, dental, and farrier care and are going to require an extensive period of rehabilitation in order to be restored to good health.  Read more and find out how you can help..... 

 The Illinois Equine Humane Center, NFP (ILEHC) is pleased and honored to announce that it has been awarded a grant from Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA).
“We are deeply grateful to TCA for the generous grant awarded to the ILEHC and for their longstanding work in providing financial support to Thoroughbreds once their careers at the track have ended. This grant will enable us to enhance our efforts in providing quality care, rehabilitation, and retraining to the over two dozen former racehorses that are currently in our care,” said ILEHC President, Gail Vacca. More