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Founders
Without the good thinking, hard work and support from the individuals listed below, ILEHC would never have gone from a thought to an organization that rescues and rehabilitates horses that were abused or neglected. In alphabetical order:
Lydia Gray, DVM; Brian Guastella; Steve Notaro; Christine Righeimer, JD; Janine Starykowicz and Gail Vacca |
ILEHC 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. “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
Founder's Club and Gold Members |
As a start-up not for profit horse rescue organization, funding was important and remains so today. Horse rescue is expensive. We thank those who in 2008-2009 joined ILEHC's Founder's Club with a generous donation of $5,000. We thank those who with continued donations have allowed ILEHC to serve as that rescue net for horses in distress.
Donation(s) needed at that time and today allow ILEHC to implement and maintain its rescue program. We acknowledge: the Late Linda Seidler Brian Bird Dover Family Several anonymous donors |
Members
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We are fortunate to have the donations of many, too many to name here but wish to thank publically those who continue to support the ILEHC mission of rescue, rehabilitation, adoption, and sanctuary. We cannot do it without you!
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