Jose and Irma Sifuentes went out to run a quick errand Monday only to come back to find Rey, their American quarter horse, missing from the family’s stable in unincorporated Kane County.
The 5-year-old had managed to open his stall and take a run through Elgin’s west side neighborhoods, surprising residents on Lin Lor Lane and Jane Drive, some of whom captured his wild ride on their cellphones. He ended up on Larkin Avenue behind the Jewel-Osco store.
Elgin police and animal control officers faced a challenge trying to wrangle the runaway, needing about 15 minutes — and the lure of carrots — to corral him, the family said.
“He loves carrots,” said Irma Sifuentes, noting that he’ll come to her immediately whenever she produces one.
By the time the couple arrived at the scene, Rey was contained but still having fun.
“He was pretty calm,” Irma said. “He was just kind of running around in a circle. He probably thought it was a game.”
Her husband placed a rope around Rey’s neck and walked him back home, she said.
The American quarter horse is one of the most popular breeds in the world, known for its speed, according to the American Quarter Horse Association’s website. It’s typically used for racing, ranching, trail riding and timed events, the site said.
Rey is “very young. He’s very playful. He’s not aggressive. He’s a really good horse,” Irma Sifuentes said.
Once he got home, Rey was given a bath to help him calm down and relax, Irma Sifuentes said. And, of course, a few treats — carrots, naturally.
“He’s doing just fine,” Irma Sifuentes said a few days after Rey’s big adventure. “He was a little scared, but he’s fine. Thank goodness he’s not hurt. We’re still baffled as to how he got out.”
The couple had a mare several years ago who figured out how to open the latch on her stall, she said. In case Rey had learned the same trick, they’ve since added a second latch to be safe, she said.
Rey has been part of the Sifuentes family for two years. They aren’t planning to race him or display him as a show horse, Irma said. He’s just their pet, “like a little kid,” she said.
But Rey’s escape has given him a level of unexpected fame in the neighborhood thanks to the videos now posted online. “It’s all over social media,” Irma said.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
