Fairbury, Illinois: Bouncy Horse Gallop

An equestrian procession of rocking horses extends through a field, inviting sitting. New members are mysteriously added under cover of darkness.

Bouncy Horse Gallop

According to Dale Bowman of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Bouncy Horse Gallop began when a farmer set a carousel horse into the ground as a marker for a "breather tile line" (I'm not a farmer so I have no idea what that is). Other people started leaving other horses and the line grew, sometimes being decked out in the local high school football teams colors. I've been there twice and plan to go back.

[Jim Hantak, 03/27/2013]

Bouncy Horse Gallop

We were driving on the way to Fairbury, hoping we would find the horses, and then all of a sudden, I saw what appeared to be geese off in a field (not uncommon this time of year). As I got closer, we found that they weren't geese, but the plastic horses we had been searching for.

[Luke Smucker and Jessica Anderson, 03/05/2012]

Bouncy Horse Gallop

This is easy to miss when the corn is up! Fun to see the herd frolicking amongst the green stalks though.

[J Nichols, 06/17/2010]

Bouncy Horse Gallop

West of Fairbury, this line of horses started with one horse placed mysteriously one night. Since then, this micro-equestrian parade continues to grow, with new members being added under cover of darkness. The herd numbers 27 (plus 1 green inch-worm) at present..

[John Hoke, 01/16/2008]