Just For the Hay of It

There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.

–Winston Churchill

I fell in love with horses as a young child. Black Beauty was one of my favorite books and National Velvet was one of my favorite movies. So when I saw this majestic black beauty of a horse on the WGN news recently—a mere skeleton of herself—my ears perked up.

According to the news, “The drought is making it difficult for some horse owners to feed their animals because hay prices have sky-rocketed. The Illinois Horse Rescue of Will County rehabilitates and cares for about 30 horses—horses have been abandoned by their owners. Tony Pecho runs the organization and says because of the drought, hay prices are double or even triple the cost, and some people can no longer afford to care for their horses.”

Who would think that the drought would translate to a lack of hay to feed horses. Or worse, that such an increase in hay prices would leave owners with no options and force them to no longer afford to feed their beloved friends. So, they are turning the horses onto the streets for others to find and feed. Such is the story of Ashland, named for the black mare that was found on Ashland Street about an hour south of Chicago. I am proud to serve as a sponsor of Ashland for a few dollars a month to help her gain her weight back.

For more on this story, how to sponsor your own horse, donate as little as $10 to The Illinois Horse Rescue of Will County to help feed the horses, or volunteer to help out—call or visit them online: