Rescued horses in Barrington Hills need new owners

A Barrington Hills-based horse-rescue service typically receives requests for help about every 10 days, but rarely must it save 11 animals all at once.

That's what happened Wednesday afternoon when 11 horses from a bankrupt farm in Crete arrived at the Hooved Animal Rescue & Protection Society.

"It's a sad commentary about the state of the economy," said Ronda Ewing, HARPS director of development.

Because the number of new horses exceeds the agency's winter capacity, prospective adopters will be sought almost immediately, Ewing said.

The horses range in age from 6 months to 13 years and are in the process of being restored to full health, she added.

HARPS investigator Phyllis Piunti was alerted to the plight of the apparently abandoned animals this summer and began to supply them with food and water at their original location.

When the bankrupt owner of the property was located more recently, he immediately relinquished ownership of the horses to HARPS, which began providing veterinary care.

The horses are not being sold for any specific price, but donations to HARPS are appreciated to cover the costs of the animal's upkeep and the adoption process itself, Ewing said.

Prospective owners of the horses can best demonstrate their ability to care for the animals by owning their own property and, best of all, owning some horses already, she added.

For more information about these or any other horses currently available for adoption, contact HARPS at (847) 382-0503 or visit harpsonline.org.