Hinsdale, IL — When a tornado roared through the Walker Standardbred Farm in Sherman, Ill., early last Friday evening (March 31), flattening two barns full of horses and letting loose dozens of broodmares and their foals, it was soon apparent to the farm’s owners Doc and Pat Walker and their staff that their situation was so severe they needed help, and pronto.

Walker Standardbreds is the largest breeder of harness horses in the Prairie State. Photo courtesy of Walker Standardbreds.

Dark was only hours away and there were dozens of frightened broodmares and their babies who had wandered off, and ultimately would have to be tracked down.

A call for help was posted on the Walker Standardbred Facebook account. It wasn’t long before help arrived — and lots of it.

“The response from our community was incredible,” said Kristi Walker Patterson, the farm’s business manager. “I looked down the road and as far as I could see there were people walking towards our farm. They just kept coming, and we’re so thankful that they did.

“Our community came together in a huge way to help locate the horses, begin removing debris, and cleaning up. It wasn’t until 10:30 that night that all horses and babies were eventually located safe.”

We’re in the heart of the horse breeding season and the Walker’s 24-stall broodmare barn was full of expecting mares and others with their terrified babies. Also, the 30-stall infield barn was fully loaded with mares and foals, some days old, when the tornado struck, leaving both barns and their paddocks in shambles.

With no place on the farm to accommodate the rounded-up broodmares and their babies, help again was needed, and once more the Sherman community came to the rescue. Friends and neighbors provided near-by facilities to house the homeless horses although it may be a while before those horses all can come back to the farm.

Here is some of the devastation caused by last Friday’s tornado. Photo courtesy of Walker Standardbreds.

Luckily the tornado missed both the Walkers’ home and that of Kristi and her husband, and there was no loss of human or equine life. Four horses were injured and since have been treated and are recovering. The storm did damage to several other homes and businesses in the Sangamon County village that is located just north of Springfield, Ill.

“Half the farm’s horse capacity is no longer usable,” said Kristi, the Walkers’ middle daughter. “About 80 percent of our infrastructure is gone and will need to be replaced. As long as there’s positive movement in the future of the Illinois horse racing industry, we plan to rebuild.

“My mom and dad had opportunities in the past to move to other states where harness racing is thriving but instead chose to stay here in Illinois. This is an agriculture community. There are many near-by farms that produce the corn, oats, and grain that our horses feed on. It’s a wonderful community and we’re grateful to be a part of it.’

Coretta Scott King, the wife of the late civil rights activist Martin Luther King, once said: “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”

The village of Sherman residents have shown they are one of those special remarkable communities.

Baby Boom: On an uplifting note, seven babies have been born at the Walkers’ farm since the tornado released its havoc.