story by MONICA VON DOBENECK, of PENN.com
“Deception”: Common Denominator in Horse Slaughter
It was not illegal for Kelsey Lefever to bring rescued horses to auction to be sold for slaughter. But it was illegal for her to tell the horses’ owners that she was finding them good homes, according to Pennsylvania state police.
Police said Lefever, 24, of Honeybrook PA, advertised herself as a horse rescue. In May, she met the owners of four racehorses who could no longer compete on the track, promising them she would find good homes for the horses and would never sell them for meat.
Instead, she brought them to the New Holland horse auction in Lancaster County, where they were bought by a buyer from Shippensburg who brings horses to a slaughtering facility in Canada, according to court documents.
Police charged Lefever in November with theft by deception and deceptive business practices. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 6 before district judge Lowell Witmer, Allentown Blvd., Harrisburg.
According to court documents, one of the horses, Beau Jaques, was a five-year-old thoroughbred who had a tendon injury so could no longer be used for racing. Beau Jaques’ owner, Kevin Patterson, spent $1,000 on veterinarian bills to get the horse sound enough for a second, less stressful career.
Patterson then met Lefever at Penn National racecourse and gave her Beau Jaques after getting good recommendations and checking her out on the Internet. He gave her $200 and ten bags of horse feed, and told her in no way did he want his horse to go to slaughter.
He told her he would be willing to give her more money or take the horse back if things didn’t work out.
A couple of days later, a woman who works for a Maryland-based horse rescue discovered Beau Jaques and three other horses given to Lefever for rescue in the trailer of a kill buyer at the New Holland auction. The horses were identified through the tattoos inside their lips. The horses were all shipped to the Canadian slaughter house.
The incident comes as race tracks, including Penn National, have been working harder to find second careers for retired racehorses.
In March, 2010, Penn National officials said they would revoke the stall privileges for any owner or trainer who knowingly sells a horse for slaughter. Penn National marketing director Fred Lipkin said the owners in this case were operating in good faith.
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Categories: Horse News, Horse Slaughter
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Deception , Lies Murder all fueled by Greed where the horse is concerned, there is nothing more pitiful and repulsive, despicable then when a person preys upon the innocent for monetary gains,,,,……….
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You would not be able to print what I would like to say. I am disgusted in how far some “humans” will go for greed, as we’ve seen on our BLM lands too. She will someday realize what she has done and she will have to try and find a way to live with it. She should be “made aware” of the horrific process these innocent horses experienced to know what we are trying to stop and to know what she has done to these innocents.
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you wouldn’t print what I think should be done to her. And no I disagree that she will regret it, this bitch is evil.
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Somehow I don’t think she’ll EVER feel bad about what she’s done. She knew all along what was happening and it was intentional. What a disgusting and lying bitch she is and I hope she has to pay dearly for it.
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Not surprised by this at all. The KB’s and the industry as a whole, would lie to their mother for a buck. They are so desperate these days, that they spend their time trying through screen shots of individual comments, to make those who take a stand against this look like raving nuts. I find it entertaining that the individuals doing this, are the same ones I have seen attack people like rabid dogs, with name calling and insults that made my hair stand up on the back of my neck. Like the farts recent shots on a comment made by one individual on autism. Never did they show the shots of those of us who took the time to comment on this. Yesterday it was that our claims of bute and food safety have been proven wrong. Wonder when the FDA made this announcement? There is no doubt in my mind, that they will once again try to put an evil spin on this story. But the bottom line is, folks will see it for what it is. Another sad and deceitful way to make a buck by an industry that only knows lies, deceit and propaganda. I do hope this young lady feels the full brunt of the gavel slamming down!
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A gal named Julia Swartz also leased purebred Arabians near the Columbia River at Lyle, Washington then sold all 90 of them to killer for $50 each so she cud leave her husband and run away with her boyfriend. I talked to the hauler’s son who said she told them they could not take them to auction but had to go straight to killers. She burned their registration papers. The sherriff of Klickitat County, the state livestock commissioner and other refused to do anything to do anything to her. Last I heard she was living in Hood River with an Oriental man who runs a wind surfing magazine and she was working as a dog groomer. One of her ex husbands said she was know for her abuse of animals…dogs, cats, starved to death goats and horses. This is all 100% true. She had 4 of my horses.
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This is disgusting. This 24 year old should be sent up to the maximum animal cruelty. I intend to try to find the telephone number of the courts and tell them to aggressively charge her. She should be made an example of all who lie, cheat, and deceive to make a BUCK off our beloved horses. There is no excuse for this. All tracks should demand like Penn National that any trainer, under any circumstances, with a horse going to a kill buyer is taken from ever training or racing a horse at any racehorse in the U.S. It’s about time we demand better for our horses and burros.
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Yes, Lynn Penn National should used as a example for Horse Racing Ethics, All Tracks should follow suite,I honor Penn National for this awesome move !!!! , Kudos to you Lynn I wasnt aware of them enforcing this ????
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Lynne please be sure and publish the phone number once you have it, so the rest of us can also speak with the judge or more likely someone in his office.
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I know that town she is from Honeybrook is in Mifflin Co. PA. But I think I saw a post that said she was going to be tried in a court in Harrisburg PA. Don’t know what county that would be. I only know Honeybrook because my mother lived there at one time.Honeybrook is a very small town located near Reedsville PA and Lewistown PA
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I don’t know anything about Mifflin Co. I live in Chester Co. and there is a Honeybrook, PA here. I’ve been through the town often in the past. It’s about 15 minutes east of New Holland, PA where the auction is located. I believe that I read that Lefever is in Chester Co. which makes sense. Also Honeybrook is not too far from the PA turnpike so it might be easy to get to Penn National. I have neighbors who race their TBs there and I think it’s probably close to a 2 hour drive from south east Chester Co.
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This is a deeply disturbing story. It reminds me of the young woman in Arkansas recently, who stole 5 rodeo horses along with the trailer and tack. 4 of the horses were recovered although they were found malnourished, tied to trees on her mothers property in Oklahoma without food or water. The 5th horse? The beloved Credit Card? He was shot in the head, had his throat cut, and then they dismembered him. At least 4 people were involved including the young woman who quote “wanted to see him die”. And this was all done out of jealous spite towards a few members of the rodeo team?? Truly we are in disturbing times with young people such as this taking their lack of sanity out on beautiful innocent creatures we are lucky enough to share this planet with. I hope Miss Lefever is given maximum sentence along with consistent hard core therapy.
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Horseshoe Angel, I so…… agree with you and to think this compassion lacking, leach of a female can bare children…..scary.
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We often hear people ask, “Why do people do these things?” The answer is very simple. The Bible teaches that the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. This is the motivation to deceive horse owners into trusting this woman while she betrays their trust and the horses to the slaughterhouse. Money itself is just like a tool, use it for good or evil, but to love it is evil.
1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
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For situations like this, the root of all evil is treating living beings like objects to be exploited.
Why the surprise that this happens? Most people not only don’t mind it, but pay others to do this for them every single day, they just select other animals to do it to.
This is horrible. But to be outraged when its one soul, and then turn around and pay someone to do it to another for you seems….well, it seems a bit hypocritical.
I’m very glad this woman’s picture is out and that she has been exposed as the abusive, betraying, cheating liar that she clearly is.
Now its up to us what lesson we choose to walk away from this with.
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As a member of the Bahai Faith I quote from the Bahai writings that demands compassion toward animals written by a Bahai named Abdul-Baha in 1912 who lived in Iran, “And indeed ye do worse to harm an animal, for man hath a language, he can lodge a complaint, he can cry out and moan; if injured he can have recourse to the authorities and these will protect him from his aggressor. But the hapless beast is mute, able neither to express its hurt nor take its case to the authorities … Therefore it is essential that ye show forth the utmost consideration to the animal, and that ye be even kinder to him than to your fellow man.”
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Anyone want to go to Harrisburg on the 6th of February?
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I hope this woman gets what she deserves.
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Hey kelsey, wanna see something cool? Just walk a little closer to the edge of this mine shaft. It’s only about two and a half miles deep. There is a nice pool at the bottom you can float in too.
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Did she need the money that badley ? There is no excuse for this….
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I wish I still lived in Pa. I would travel there to court in a heart beat. I truly hope this miserable excuse for a human being truly gets the punishment she deserves. (Oh, I guess hanging is still illegal?)
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I am tired of people like this. These bone heads claim the horses are not wanted, I am constantly bringing this issue up. I would not trust anyone these days. I had a dartmoor pony I saved from the “Killers”, he was wonderful, babies could crawl under his stomach, grab his legs, squeeze his legs, was just so good. I had him in several foster homes and decided that he needed more attention I had two people interested in him. One gal wanted him for a companion for her Arabian and she lived so close I could have gone to see him whenever. The other gal came with her father and said she had a program for young children. I was so guilable at the time. I thought he could be around kids and said she would be having a show for the kids in June and invited me out to her farm. She came the middle of March and I let her take him. I had her sign a document saying that she would call me if it did not work out and if she lost my number he would be given to the Hooved Humane Society in Woodstock, Illinois. I know the heart break because I called her back in June and she had no idea who I was. She claimed he was given to a good family. The gal was from Crystal Lake Farms in Crystal Lake, Illinois. I was devasted, I cried for days because I knew I had made the wrong decision for a wonder guy who just wanted to be loved. I guess I should have pursued it, but I couldn’t stand to hear the realty, if that truly happened. I would never again be sucked in to this situation. I did not listen to my heart and keep him close to me. I tell everyone to listen to your heart and that special voice because there is a reason. I will never let that happen again. You certainly would think when looking at this gal that she had the welfare of horses in mind. This gal was the same way, looking like she stepped out of a country magazine. NOT! Sorry, but this lier needs the book thrown at her! She should also be charged with the suffering of the gal and the horses. The “Killer Pipeline” has everyone at work. They know when the Dregs of Society pull up to buy a horse, you know exactly who they are. Unfortunately today they definitely have a different face. Another good one is the preachers who claim to use the horses to help children who have physical and psychological problems. One of the other sceniaros is bringing their children with and claiming it will be a family horse. Liers…I tell everyone don’t let your horse go unless you are absolutely sure. Its sad, but if you cannot keep your horse, you make the decision to send him/her to a better place. One horse auction was enough for me. I had to leave because it made me physically ill. May God Bless all those who attend and investigate these auctions and save all those that they can for they are truly Angels on this Earth.
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Over and over the people are shocked and amazed things like this happen in our society. We, as advocates are truly p*ssed but not really shocked or amazed. The inherent evil of horse-slaughter is proven again and again. The face of evil is not always ugly… this devil’s face is that of a pretty young woman. Nonetheless SHE is a PREDATOR, the very ‘type’ we talk so much about. She does not know the meaning of compassion only GREED. From the pro-slaughter camp we hear the argument “no one is gonna tell me what to do with my property”. Well, I say welcome to America folks. The government tells us every single day what we can do with our “property”. The government tells you-
you can’t beat or starve your horse (or dog or cow or cat for that matter ) you can’t sore your horse, you can’t ride your horse on the highway, you can’t ride your horse drunk, in Texas you can’t ride your horse at night without tail lights. Just to name a few! Now add one more to the books: you can not facilitate, aid, ease, expedite, forward, further, grease the wheels, hand-carry, help, make easy, open doors, promote, run interference for, simplify, smooth, speed, speed up, or walk through the tortuousness death of your horse.
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(this is a general post not just for Gail- and Gail sorry for your loss)
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I live only 30 miles from the worst horse auction in all of Ohio, the Sugarcreek Horse Auction, where the Amish and others dump horses by the hundreds. Of course most of these lovely beings are trucked to Canada and Mexico to be tortured to death! Again it is all about greed and making your last dollar, after you have worked your horses so hard they have nothing left to give-a shame on America!!
I tell you if horse slaughter plants start to be built here in the United States, the Amish will see a business opportunity and begin to breed horses, just like they breed puppies (currently 412 puppy mills with 11.033 dogs in those mills just within the Amish country of Holmes County,Ohio), and establish massive horse breeding mills… http://tuesdayshorse.wordpress.com/2011/03/15/take-action-for-sugarcreek-auction-horses-with-animals-angels/ This site talks all about it and is worth a look!
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Dear Veronica, I live in Ohio also !! I know all about that Horse Auction in Sugarcreek Ohio, and the very less then human that runs and owns it, Leroy Baker,and the Amish people for their cruelties to the horses, the entire Community there is corrupted…We did get USDA to fine him 4 yrs ago, however as far as I know it remains unpaid to date,,,,,,,…
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I don’t know. How are you suppose to check someone out who’s record shows her to be of good character? If a trainer is HONESTLY working in good faith where do you draw the line?
Then Kelsy what a disgusting piece of human filth!
The training stable Kelsy got a job at fired her when they learned of all of this. Which is great! I’m sorry that they indirectly got involved with her but I don’t think it’s totally fair to blame them for this piece of fifths ugly dirty deeds. Besides once they learned of her activities they took action.
Kelsy is worse than SS. At least SS is upfront about who and what she is. Kelsy is slimy dirty stab behind your back mean. Like those icky players on the tv show Survivor–who blindside players. The difference here is that horses lost their lives to her dirty double dealing ways.
At least her picture is out there on the net. Don’t think she’s gonna have anyone selling her horses or letting her adopt for a good long while!
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What do I wish for this piece of scum?
I want her to receive the MAXIMUM sentence for what she did, and for as many horses as they can prove she did this to.
Then I want someone to take care of her the EXACT way they kill these horses.
It sickens me that there are people this cruel- horses are PETS, not livestock. The way they’re killed is barbaric at the very least. That a Republican congressman from Georgia is proud of putting provisions in an agriculture bill that clears the way for this to happen once again in this country makes me sick to my stomach, and even sicker that the President signed it (I realize they’ve held a gun to his head, but for God’s sake….!).
I hope every one of these vermin enjoy roasting in Hell.
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How does she sleep at night? My hearts goes to the owners – this must be killing them.
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Is this Casey Anthony’s twin sister?!
They both need firing squads whose aim is slow…
This story is horrible. What disgusting human beings walk the planet!
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she should be sold for slaughter! I rescued three race horses and they make the best show horses in the world. People like this make me sick, i hope she get time in the state.
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Animal haters need to be held responsible!
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The horrific industry of horse slaughter attracts greedy, dishonest, and despicable people who will lie and say anything just to make a quick buck! The suffering the horses go through is beyond horrendous-they start by being overloaded, often into ill-fitting cow trailers, trucked for thousands of miles without food or water, some die in transport, while the rest who make it to the slaughter house, there suffering continues at the hands of a knife…
This deceitful woman needs to go to jail and be ban from dealing with horses ever again! Let us all make our opinions known and be sure the judge hears our outrage!
Kevin I am so, so, sincerely sorry for your loss and unbearable grief. You tried so hard to do right by your horse and yet you were fooled by this callous woman-so shameful! I live in Ohio and I know people everywhere share in your pain. We will help in any way you suggest to see that this woman is permanently out-of-business and new laws are passed! Please just ask.
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There are no words to express the anguish this woman has brought into the world. She must have no conscience….a true psychopath driven by greed. I hope she pays for her deeds.
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i hope this woman gets a very harsh punishment for what she did i cant believe people like this can even think about doing this to animals and go on like nothing ever happened like these animals are todays garbage? I love animals and would of been more suited to take the animals and feed them and take care of them and find them good homes, i would never think to send these animals to the slaughter house, NEVER in a million + years, Animals deserves to be happy, and loved and well taken care of for their entire life .
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Reblogged this on veganchiq.
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What a P.O.S. How can she sleep at night? I hope she is haunted for an eternity for what she did and the suffering she caused both equine and human…
I would love to be at her hearing to see the person who was so cruel and indifferent, standing in front of the judge…
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What I don’t understand is if they were found on a truck at New Holland and someone took the time to research their tatoo’s, then why were they still sent to slaughter? Maybe there should be a system where all horses with caring owners, have some sort of id and with that are ” Do Not Slaughter ” instructions forbidding any slaughter house or transporter to take them for that purpose. Along with the ID’s would be a list of contacts that would be used for contacting the people that would come and get the horse.I bet alot of lost horses would be found this way and alot of horses that are cast aside because no one wanted them would find that there are people from their past that still would take them in to keep them from going to slaughter. I know it may be a stupid idea and pretty sure the monsters that slaughter and sell these horses would not pay attention to the id’s but being an owner of a beloved Thoroughbred and worrying about what would happen to her if something happened to me, I am constantly thinking about the ” what if’s ” or ” would that work ” ideas…..
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This is so sick. This young gal better shape up or she will be in a world of trouble since she already has a pretty good start of being a lier and and a scam artist so very young. I hope the judge sees that if she doesn’t learn a very hard lesson from this (nothing will bring these animals back but her life whould be made pretty tough, she should be made to do community service for a few years, pay back all the vet bills, money and goods she took from these owners in good faith and she was counting up the money she would make to have them slaughtered and banned from ever dealing with any animals woning buying etc) SLICK SALLY WILL CONTINUE TO SCAM and hurt people and animals because she is so greedy and evidently has the moral and ethics of a rattle snake.
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At the average price of 400.00 dollars X 120 horses, I say the IRS should be investigating this troll, not to mention all the donated feed she probably resold at the auction. She might of been getting more horses off the internet.,probably using an alias when she called unsuspecting people trying to place thier horses in good homes. This New Holland auction should require all horses to be run through the auction, not just loaded onto the kill trucks in secret.
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Reblogged this on STOP ANIMAL ABUSE.
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Book this Bitch. Pass the damn bill to ban exporting to slaughter. How the HELL long does this take? I’ve been waiting for 15 friggin’ years now.
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Gotch TerryW, they should BOOK this repulsive poor excuse for a human being ,to prey on the innocent horses and people who believe d her lies , giving them solace that their Loved horse was getting a forever Home !!!!! Instead sending them to Slaughter !!! Dispicable Lieing Miserable woman !!!!!!!
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Sorry meant to say Gotcha
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They need to charge her, new Holland and the kill buyer and the Canadian goverment for accepting stolen property.
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Have pity on this pathetic girl’s soul….
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She needs to go to jail for a long long time. what she did was Wrong and she knew it. She is a liar and doesn’t have a heart. Just send her away
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After reading this article I can honestly say “I am no longer a proud Canadian”. Disgusting to hear those beautiful animals are brought to slaughter here.
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may she rot behind bars for her deceit. The race horse owner even said he wanted the horses back if she could not place them…yet she choose to sell them to the kill buyers…….
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What a nasty evil disgusting girl. What goes around comes around you little crap.
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She’s notorious… been killing way too long. Ugh
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There is a special place in Hell for people like this with evil in their hearts, and remember while here on earth…..KARMA!!!!!!!
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