Saddle up some family fun
"There is nothing so good for the inside of a man (or woman, or child) as the outside of a horse."
This well-known quote, and its many variations, has been attributed to a variety of people, from Sir Winston Churchill to Will Rogers to Ronald Reagan. Regardless of who said it, horse lovers all agree with it.
The Hooved Animal Humane Society is inviting everyone to its second annual Fun Horse Show and Picnic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 in Woodstock to see if it's true for you.
The fun horse show starts at 10 a.m. and will feature 20 different classes. The lunch break in the show schedule will be filled with performances by the Boone County Mini Driving Drill Team and the award-winning Midwest Renegades Equestrian Drill Team.
Kids can play on the inflatable bouncers, get their faces painted and enjoy pony rides. There will be delicious food and a variety of silent auction items, as well as wagon rides for the whole family.
"It has always been a popular event, and we are expecting our best attendance numbers this year," said Hillary Clark of HAHS. "It is a fun way for families to spend the day together outdoors while helping our horses at the same time."
McHenry County is estimated to have the largest horse population in the state of Illinois. HAHS' 26-acre farm, located in the heart of the county in Woodstock, has five barns, including a rehabilitation facility and an Education Center.
Photos and stories of horses, donkeys, goats and pigs saved by HAHS line the walls of the Education Center, which is used year-round for meetings, fundraisers, training sessions with emergency personnel and first responders, and seminars through the University of Illinois Extension Office for new and experienced horse owners alike.
The Education Center also is used to teach children about proper horse care.
"One of our key objectives is the focus on education in order to prevent abuse and neglect of hooved animals," Clark said. "Scout troops and other youth organizations come for tours of the farm and learn how important it is to take care of the animals that belong to them. Children and adults see what really happens to the horses when they are not cared for."
Visitors will also have the opportunity to talk to volunteers and find out more about sponsoring of one of the farm's residents through the Adopt-A-Hoof program, or becoming a member of HAHS.
Admission is $7; kids 10 and under are free. Admission to the kids' area, including a hand-stamp good for unlimited pony rides, is $5. Parking is free. Food will be available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The HAHS farm is at 10804 McConnell Road in Woodstock, 1.25 miles east of Route 47 and north of the intersection of routes 14 and 47. Directions, maps and more information on registering for the fun horse show, donating a silent auction item or sponsoring one of the fun show classes are all available on Web site www.hahs.org or by calling (815) 337-5563.