Kelsey Lefever of PA charged with 3 felonies

[sjdressage]

[QUOTE=MoonWitch;6158920]
Just took in a boarder who adopted an OTTB from a farm in Oxford from a girl by the name of Lacey. I went to pick up the horse and I can tell you that her records were up to date, and everything I saw about her was legite. I was copied on an email from her to the new owner & she seemed thoroughly committed to the best care of the horse.[/QUOTE]

Just a warning. This girl admitted to me that she took horses to New Holland. She also bought a warmblood from a vet who bred him. She couldn’t ride it so she took it to New Holland. I told her that anyone that would do that is a POS and not a true horseman/woman. She seemed confused by my response.

A couple of years later the starving horse came up. This was the horse of someone I know personally who paid her to retrain it. I can’t explain why she did it, I just know it happened. I’ve seen the pictures.

My point in bringing this up is that she is an example of someone you would not expect this from if you saw her. She looks normal. She is always hanging around with some dirtbag old guy from the track though with a bad reputation. Beware.

[EquineLVR]

[QUOTE=thatguy160;6086549]
I have zero relation to Lefever, absolutely zero. I am amazed at the attention an outsider instantly receives however, this thread was not the start of my career either, as I am a professional lurker. It’s always lovely to see what people say on COTH, it’s THE rumor mill of the East coast horse world. I just hope all are mighty proud of themselves as they judge someone else, then go out to feed their $20k wb they purchased instead of doing something to correct the problem at hand.[/QUOTE]

This is a ridiculous and insulting statement - there many many COTHer’s who have OTTB’s or other rescued horses…

I personally have had 7 OTTB’s and one I spent 30K trying to save and never even got to ride him…

So dont go making sweeping statements when you have no idea what you are talking about.

[Susan_P]

I can see how you see the negative of humans but just think that there are those of us who rescue and have hearts. I believe the problem lies in the apathetic majority who just want to take care of themselves and their own and turn a blind eye to the suffering of others. For those of us who actively work to help other living creatures I think there is hope. For those that are the exploiting abusers we need to focus on tougher laws and be more vocal and vote to deal with them, check your political candidates and hold their feet to the fire. Also when the primaries are in your state be there with information to hand out to people. You will be surprised to find out that most people care but are unaware.

For those that are apathetic, you have no hope and I’m hoping I’ve overestimated your numbers and that those of us who care can be made aware of the problem and will take a stand for the animals and force the issue.

This is the time to speak up, it’s an election year and even if we can’t get the right people in this time, we can use the polling place for an awareness campaign.

@Faverot;6156692

Yes, Sandman, I see that LeFever continues to “trade” in the misery of selling “horseflesh.”

The ridiculous “lifetime ban” from PA thoroughbred racing is…laughable.

What is called for is a…lifetime ban from horse ownership & buying & selling horses–& any other non-human animal.

As reported by a prior poster on this board, LeFever was & remains engaged in “backyard” breeding & selling of a wide range of non-human animal species.

In fact, in her low-IQ stupor, LeFever bragged about butchering & eating a beloved pig who had the misfortune of being in LeFever’s care.

The Dauphin County DA, “Firehouse” Fran Chardo, who “handled” the LeFever matter is typical of what citizens often find…

…on the order side of local “Law & Order” (in America).

Cutting deals in a bureaucratic haze, “mitigating” case loads, “expediting” litigation, maximizing “cost-benefits,” & “administering” justice…

…are the “ideals” that drive/motivate such individuals.

Word has it that Firehouse Fran has ambitions to higher office…as a judge. NO doubt he would excel in such an office & would likley find fast friends…

…among those caring souls in PA who wax poetic…

… about live pigeon shooting (PA is one of only 3 states that still permits live pigeon shooting) & other human activities that exploit non-human animals for human entertainment (& for the prerogative of simply killing time).

Yes, I confess to being a confirmed cynic, skeptic, & someone who is increasingly persuaded that the Biosphere (read: Planet Earth) would be better off…

…without homo sapiens sapiens.

Affronts such as the LeFever matter, no matter how insignificant they may be counted in the often awful world in which we live…

…simply urge me ever more incrementally & resolutely…

…to lose all faith in humankind.

Retreat into my little world of caring for the beloved OTTB & 7 rescued barn cats in my care…

…well, that certainly is an option.

Yet I am plagued with seemingly…impotent rage…

…& thus far I find no peace in such a retreat.

[Susan_P]

I agree and in PA there is no respect for life, not in enforcement, the courts not by the prosecution and not by legislators. But my new state rep does listen. He is interested and some of the new state reps and senators are getting an earful from us NOW…finally. We are a growing number of voters who want to take a stand and be heard. We work too hard to save animals from abuse so we are tired of the neglect of this issue.

@Pa Rural;6158153

Yeah, but defrauding me and destroying my favorite Ruffian Breyer horse model is not the same as sending my horse to slaughter in breach of contract. That’s the problem with our legal system in Pennsylvania. There is no realistic value placed on the breach/loss by our laws so our legal system says “…so what.” There is no consideration of aggravating factors or circumstances. So KL gets the same penalty whether she steals my toys or my horse.

[CruisingforGold]

Good Lord people - what do you want - the death penalty? Use the good old word of mouth to make sure she isn’t allowed to be a part of the horse business instead of whining about how horrible the laws are. Be part of the solution. Please understand that I am in no way defending her - I personally think she’s a sleazy piece of white trash.

[Faverot]

It is a small world.

And in this small world, this is a very different & better result than what we observed in the LeFever & Company matter.

I just read an article about the conclusion of the contest, held at this weekend’s PA Horse Expo (not far from New Holland & many of the figures implicated in the LeFever & Company lethal scandal),…

…of the Retired Racehorse Retraining Project (which is overseen by the admirable Steuart Pittman).

The beautiful grey ex-racer Thoroughbred mare who won the contest, Brazilian Wedding, who last raced in December 2011 at Charlestown (W.VA.)…

…& putting aside concerns one may genuinely have about rushing a horse off the race-track & putting her into an intensive retraining program & sport-horse competition (which takes place in indoor venues before reasonably large crowds of humans)…

…was “owned” by none other than…

…Kevin Patterson…

…who “owned” & trained the now-dead Beau Jacques, the very horse whom LeFever sold for slaughter.

I am a “Rortyan” by worldview &, consequently, acknowledge & assert that randomness (unlike teleological Aristotelians) is the…primary existential force/phenomenon to be reckoned with.

It is indeed random & supremely ironic that for two OTTBs formerly “owned” & trained by Kevin Patterson…

…life took two very different paths.

This is life…on the razor’s edge.

[Dispatcher]

Then I guess Patterson learned a very hard lesson: Never give another horse to Lefever to retrain.

Lucky for Brazilian Wedding, terribly unlucky for Beau Jacques

[haligator]

I suggest…

Hi All,
I suggest that everyone just ignore ‘thatguy.’ There is obviously something very odd with his responses, hostility, etc. Verging on troll.

Remember, don’t feed trolls no matter how annoying and ignorant they are. A friendly public service reminder.

Hallie

[judybigredpony]

Yes Brazilian Wedding was owned and Trained by Kevin Patterson, she last raced December 22, and on December 26 Kevin transferred her ownership to Me…He was caring enough to let this lovely mare retire on a Win and after getting some personal recommendations by people inside the racing industry offered her to me.

She did get 30 full days of complete R&R shoes off face stuffed w/ hay everyday and all the turn-out she wanted.
I will tell you this mare was in superb condition mentally and physically when I got her. Kevin and Amy take above and beyond care of their horses. They are just not stall numbers.

I had zero knowledge of his involement in the court case…I did not know he was the sole trainer who stepped up to the plate and brought charges against KL.

It was my absolute Joy and pleasure to see the mare win @ Harrisburg and to have Kevin and Amy share in it, and let the world know not every person who buys and sell OTTB are inhuman back door killer sellers…www.threeplainbays.com

P.S. she is right now shoes off standing in the field enjoying some well deserved down time!!!