No vacancy for horses
Fields of Dreams Horse Rescue and Adoption is going strong, more than two years after it was founded in October 2005.
In fact, business is booming and the group is looking to expand.
According to founder and board president Sue Balla of Sycamore, the organization is "blessed with many wonderful volunteers" and the barn she leases on Brundige Road west of Geneva now has 12 stalls instead of nine.
"But I sure could use more funding," Balla added.
The group is hosting a bunco tournament at 7 p.m. Friday at the Pottawatomie Park Community Center in St. Charles. More than 20 teams have signed up to compete, and another bunco event will be held next month if there is enough interest.
A luau is planned for July 26 in Hampshire and the organization raises most of its funds from a dinner dance and auction in October.
Still, Balla is concerned about being able to accommodate all the horses who need a haven from abuse or neglect, or whose owners simply can't care for them anymore.
So many are in need.
"I have a waiting list," Balla said. "Honestly, I could use a 50-stall barn.
Just last week, Balla accepted T.J., a 4-year-old race horse from Hawthorne Race Course.
"T.J. is a beautiful horse who needs some time off," Balla explained. "He has an ankle injury and they considered putting him down. But we'll be able to give him six months to get well. No way would anyone want to see him put down."
Other recent acquisitions include a donkey, who lives in a makeshift stall, and two ponies, one who is 30 and one who is a year old.
Balla says the ponies were not treated well and the young one must be kept close to the older one for comfort.
"We need to let him know that not all humans are bad," Balla said. "He's terrified."
Although the barn has 12 stalls, only half are available for rescued horses. The other six stalls are home to horses that board members have adopted.
For information on fundraising events or to make a donation, call Chris Biederer, the group's treasurer, at (847) 431-6302.