84 • THE PLAID HORSE
LEGACY RIVER EQUESTRIAN CENTER: Building the Next Generation of Riders Outside Chicago Just 42 miles outside of the bustling, urban streets of Chicago sits the bucolic haven of Legacy River Equestrian Center. Located in Sugar Grove, IL, the gently curving driveway leads to a beautiful modern equestrian facility. On nine verdant acres, Legacy River offers 24 appointed stalls, a heated indoor ring, and a large outdoor ring. Contiguous to the impeccable grounds are eighteen acres of maintained trails, allowing horses and riders the luxury of riding through a beautiful swathe of countryside along Kane County’s Legacy River. Owner Dorothy “Dolly” Flisk purchased the property in May, 2016, after planning to buy an empty parcel of land to build a barn. Hearing that this facility was available, she decided to look at it while she continued her search for land. As she drove into the property, she was immediately drawn to it. “There is a peace when you come onto this land,” she explains. Flisk was enamored of the quiet atmosphere, spacious feel, and splendor of the setting. Within a few months, she had the facility in top shape, including the addition of an eight stall annex. Flisk is a lifelong horse enthusiast who rode one day per week beginning at five years old and continuing through college. She did not have the opportunity to more fully immerse herself in horses until adulthood, but always had a passion for them. As Flisk began her post-graduate education to eventually obtain two Master’s Degrees, she also ramped up her riding commitment. The scale of involvement grew from a half-lease on a horse, to a full lease, to full ownership. She began to compete A DAY AT THE BARN FOR (LEFT TO RIGHT) TRACY BERKOS, HANA ARNOLD, DOLLY FLISK, AND JOHN BERKOS.