A Thoroughbred Rescue Dear to my Heart
When I lived in Illinois, I began volunteering at Illinois Equine Humane Center and continued my love affair with the American Thoroughbred breed. Gail Vacca was a former race trainer who became so digusted by the sport that she instead founded her own rescue operation that is thriving today.
When I lived in Illinois, I began volunteering at Illinois Equine Humane Center and continued my love affair with the American Thoroughbred breed. Gail Vacca was a former race trainer who became so digusted by the sport that she instead founded her own rescue operation that is thriving today.
I had never met anyone so in tune with the herd she maintains at her facility - knowing how to read each individual horse. She is very old school in a lot of her thinking and approach to problem solving, but what I admire most about Gail is her commitment to stay current on everything. From nutrition, to horse care, to abuse cases (local, as well as high-profile) to managing local fundraising events - Gail is the kind of woman I have known for many years and never once doubted that everything she did was for the good of the horses.
She is a bright, shining light in the horse world and passes on her education to anyone willing to take the time to listen. Volunteering at the Illinois Equine Humane Center helped to shape me into the woman I am today, upholding integrity, empathy, compassion, and commitment to doing better and righting the wrongs inflicted by others.
As time progressed and we got younger, sound horses in, I would ride them in my spare time. Many of them had little to no rides post-track life, but I was never one to turn down a challenge. Just like Billie Rae Croll had taught me, as long as you are gentle, kind, and don't touch their mouth - a good Thoroughbred is a good Thoroughbred.
ILEHC has given hope and second chances to many Thoroughbreds that would have been shipped to Canada or Mexico for slaughter, often enduring multi-day journeys with no food or water crammed into trailers made for livestock. I can even remember the time there was a slaughter truck that had crashed somewhere in Chicagoland, and Gail saying that it was a miracle because the horses that survived went to a rescue and did not finish their journey to the slaughter house. Working in rescue situations opens your eyes to the tragedies that are happening to these beautiful creatures on a daily basis. My heart broke for these animals who did nothing wrong, yet were dealt a cruel hand. ILEHC showed me the power of healing and the power of humans when they come together to support a cause bigger than themselves.
Please consider donating to the Illinois Equine Humane Center today to help support their mission of saving the American Thoroughbred.