Horses need new homes to avoid slaughter, rescue groups say
Seventy-five horses that once were the pride of a nationally known breeder are in need of new homes, to avoid slaughter, representatives of two horse rescue groups say.
The Hooved Animal Rescue and Protection Society of Barrington and Hands and Hooves Rescue of Chicago announced this week the groups are arranging the adoption of the quarter-horses.
“It would be criminal to put down these perfectly healthy, lovely animals,” Donna Ewing, president of HARPS, said Thursday.
The animals belonged to Bingham Quarter Horses LLC, which was owned by Richard and Karen Bingham of Elk Grove Township. The Binghams were active for many years with the American Quarter Horse Association; Richard was a president, and is in the group's Hall of Fame. Their daughter, Kimberly, was also active in the business.
Kimberly died in 2009 and Richard died in 2010, and the horses were forced to move off the farm the Binghams owned in Harvard. They ended up at the Northern Illinois Equine Center in Hampshire.
In March, the stable owner filed for eviction, saying Bingham and Bingham Quarter LLC hadn't paid the rent. In May, Karen Bingham agreed to pay a $15,162 judgment approved by a Kane County judge. The stable's owner filed paperwork in August saying Bingham hasn't paid and hasn't left the premises as agreed.
Two weeks ago, the stable owner asked HARPS and HHRC to find new homes for the horses, and set a deadline of one month. Otherwise, the horses will be sent to slaughter, Ewing said.
“He (the stable owner) did not want to see them go to slaughter,” Ewing said.
Bingham could not be reached for comment at her home nor at a number for Bingham Quarter Horses.
The attorney who represented her in the eviction, Richard Balog of Geneva, said Thursday the stable owner had received a judgment for possession of the land and buildings, but not for the horses, as far as he knew. He said Bingham had been trying to find a place that would take all the horses, but had no luck. Balog also said he is no longer representing her.
“My advice was 'Do everything to move the horses to other people,' ” he said.
Fed, but ...
Kane County Animal Control investigated conditions at the stable several times, as did a Kane County sheriff's deputy. The horses had adequate food, water and shelter, according to a March 6 deputy's report, and “there were no visible signs of injury on any of the horses and no signs of abuse or neglect.” Deputies had been called to the stable after Bingham accused two volunteers from another rescue organization of stealing two of the horses.
Ewing said the horses did have enough food and water. What they didn't have, she said, was adequate routine veterinary care, including having their teeth filed, and getting vaccinations and deworming treatments. Their hoofs were not trimmed. The tails on several became so matted that they were stiff as boards and had to be cut off.
And more than half of the horses were mostly kept in stalls for two years, so they got fat from lack of exercise, she said.
“Nothing in the law requires them to be exercised,” Ewing said.
The horses are halter-broke, meaning they have not had riders. The ones younger than 10 may be able to be trained to accept riders, Ewing said. The oldest horse is 27.
Ewing said she hopes the public doesn't “crucify” Bingham, noting the horses were not injured nor starving.
Jason Hornickel of HHRC said feed can cost about $20,000 a month for all the horses. He's a farrier, and said trimming the hoofs on all the animals could cost several thousand dollars.
Getting a horse
The organizations are seeking donations for the costs they have incurred. And those who adopt a horse are being asked to pay $500 for a younger horse, $100 for the older ones.
Interested people can apply at harpsonline.org.
Ewing noted that as show horses, this group was judged on their breeding, their looks and behavior.
“They're living art,” Ewing said.