A herd of eight young horses escaped in Peotone, Illinois, over Easter weekend, capturing community attention as they evaded capture for nearly a week. While seven of the horses have been accounted for, one remains missing. Initial rescue efforts were chaotic, fueled by rumors and misinformation about the horses’ origins and treatment, which complicated the situation further.

The horses, owned by Jimmy Gary, were untrained yearlings brought to Peotone for training. They escaped when one horse broke through a corral, leading to a frantic chase down I-57. Gary, who was injured during the search, enlisted the help of local farmer Adam Cordes and two non-profit horse rescues, Illinois Horse Rescue and HHH Ranch, to coordinate a more organized rescue effort.

As of now, most of the horses have been captured and are being cared for by the rescues, while the last horse remains elusive. The rescues emphasize that the horses are frightened and unaccustomed to human interaction, urging the public not to approach the last missing horse but to report sightings instead. The collaboration between the rescues has been praised, highlighting the importance of teamwork in such challenging situations.