Thank you for coming here and explaining with such detail. How did you know people were posting about her and you here? Did someone contact you and tell you?
I cannot think of words to adequately describe what I feel about this person (Lefever)…How can ANYONE be such a piece of filth… it’s beyond disgusting. :mad: I feel sick
[QUOTE=Susan P;6092614]
Maybe breeders should stop breeding volumes of horses.
True Story Example:
Trainer/Breeder in PA says he bred 50 TBs in 2011 and he owns 10 acres and rents other pasture.
Same trainers now says he will breed less horses in 2012 and breed for quality.
My question is, “Why didn’t you do it that way sooner?” You can be sure some of those 50 horses will end up at the slaughterhouse.
Yes, I know this guy. :rolleyes:[/QUOTE]
In this market it only makes sense to breed for quality. Although Penn bred horses of lesser breeding were still doing pretty well at the Mid Atlantic sale. Some breeders were a little slow to cut back. Wonder what he is going to do with all of his open mares this year?
Thank you all for your support and comments. I am a regular reader of the horse forum and unexpectedly came across items related to Kelsey Lefever mentioning my name. Let me address some of the questions raised in your comments. Part of my business is selling horses and I sell horses for many people. I sold several horses for Kelsey, on commission, and these horses were all sold to good homes. I have a premier equestrian facility and many people rent the indoor and outdoor riding rings for their equestrian purposes. In 2009 Kelsey was one of many riders using the facility.
I work hard and have long days but will try to get back to the forum and check on any posts and questions as feasible. This is also very distressing for me so thank you for your support.
Melissa Michelson
I live in this area, in fact only a few miles or so from Melissa Michelson’s place, and while I fully believe that Kelsey probably used Melissa’s facilities to get horses sold (she has a beautiful indoor and has a good reputation in the area for selling horses), I also believe that Michelson did not know what Lefever was up to.
I have visited M&M Equestrian before (I was trying to find a new boarding facility) and have heard of Lefever from simply being involved in the horse community and had never heard even a whisper of illicit activity before the news blew up on Facebook this week. It sounds like Lefever has a way of keeping her activities relatively underground, and people only see the side of her that they want to see. The only reports I’ve heard of people who had an idea of what she was up to were the local rescues, some of whom I’m sure were working towards Lefever being charged.
I must again extend kudos to Great Scott Farm for their prompt dismissal of Lefever - they are good people there and I am sure her references did check out.
I purchased my miniature from Kelsey over the summer, and this news makes me sick. Not that my mini would do her any good, I don’t imagine a 24" mini would pull anything for the kill buyers, but I am extremely glad to have my mini out of her hands.
I have some good news, and a nice twist to this:
http://www.horsejunkiesunited.com/2012/01/re-homing-good-news/
[QUOTE=retreadeventer;6093022]
I have some good news, and a nice twist to this:
http://www.horsejunkiesunited.com/2012/01/re-homing-good-news/[/QUOTE]
Very nice story, but so far looks like a trainer bashing blog by the comments. Most trainers love their horses, feed them treats, etc. It shouldnt shock people that these horses will ship quietly and not get rattled by much, most of these horses have been there, done that.
Unfortunately, success stories don’t sell ad space; horror stories do.
Here’s to all the quiet, behind the scenes rescues, rehabs and happy endings that never make the news.
We have them in our barns; the lame, unraced, broodie, broken down, babysitter, pasture potato… etc. and we love them all.
I have them - those with impeccable breeding, great bloodlines and those with questionable pasts. And they are loved regardless of where they came from or what they’ve done.
Don’t loose sight of the real “victims” in this story. Just a thought…
I would like to suggest that this is a very senior and well respected rider in the local area who is doing some serious damage limitation. And if she is innocent, of course, she should do that, but I think there are more questions to ask other than hearing that she cares about horses.
Melissa, thanks for answering my questions, but as you said you were willing to answer more, I have them…
I specifically asked why you were selling horses for Kelsey, you answered that you sell horses for lots of people. Fine, I agree, you do. However she is right next to you and she herself sells the odd horse in the $10-15k range, there was just one last month - I am annoyed at myself as I have no memory and do not know the horses name. This wasn’t the first horse she sold in that price range. So what’s the need for you?
If your association with Kelsey was just as you stated, then why are people posting online that you were there when Kelsey went to see horses? Why are people saying that they met both you and Kelsey?
Your partnership with Kelsey was ‘brief’ but I have pictures of my horse that I bought jumping in your indoor in Oct/Nov 2009 - I can post them if you would like? You claim that she ‘rented’ the indoor from you. I assume then that you have receipts for this or proof of income on your bank account?
Let me tell you my LOCAL history. I was looking for a horse and about 10 months before I bought Lucas I took a mare on a trial. During that trial month period the owner of the horse suffered a terrible barn fire. I kept the horse with an agreement of the owner paying about (I forget exactly, but roughly 75%) of the board for those months. I knew I was not going to keep that mare, but I could not just dump her back on the owner - so I was looking daily for horses to buy.
So that would put us back in about early/mid 2008, and I saw plenty of Kelsey’s horses advertised, lots of them, as she was in my $2-3k budget in my local area, there is not an abundance of potential quality at that price range. I saw horses in that time period (early/mid 2008-2010) jumping in the same indoor arena as Lucas (YOUR indoor arena). I didn’t contact Kelsey (the seller) in that time as none of them appealed to me, but I know I remember seeing your arena plenty.
I firmly believe you are doing damage limitation as much as possible, I totally understand that and I imagine you are googling the heck out of your name to see what comes up as Kelsey is now national news and you were named in the police reports. Local people know who Michelle is so I imagine you are well aware that your name is coming out in all of this.
I also believe that you can prove where all the horses you sold went to, as I believe you only took the decent ones onto your property. But that does not mean in any way that you were not involved in the slaughter aspect.
It is my understanding that Kelsey sold her 4 horse trailer last year, I remember it well as I wanted it. So that left her with a 2 horse bumper pull. I think maybe the police could ask what kind of trailer these horse left the race track with?
It would be my inclination to not post on a public forum where people can reply if there are still plenty of questions about you. It was your choice to make a statement here and not with the local press, and you said you would check back - I guess this is the stupidness that has got you into this situation.
After reading the many comments in the horse forum, there appear to be many facets to this matter. Even many people close to these events and to Kelsey, were surprised by the evolution to the current situation. To reiterate, I had no knowledge of horses going to slaughter, and would never knowingly associate with anyone who would send horses to slaughter. It appears several people commenting on the horse forum are much closer to the situation. Some know Kelsey professionally, others personally, and are probably in a better position to provide any further details on this case. As I said before, I sell horses for many people including owners and trainers. Many of these owners and trainers also sell horses on their own, but ask me to sell specific horses on consignment, because of my reputation for placing horses in good homes. I sold several horses for Kelsey on consignment. At those times, that I was selling horses on consignment for Kelsey, she often came to my barn to talk to the prospective buyer. Kelsey also came to my barn to use the indoor and outdoor arenas, for a small fee which at the time was $10, now $20 per horse, per hour. Many other local equestrians also use my facilities. Also, I have never allowed Kelsey to use my horse trailers. Further, I have not gone to the track with Kelsey to buy or get horses, so I have no other direct knowledge that might shed light on this matter. Consequently, it is probably not very productive or informative for me to continue participating in this dialog in the horse forum at this time.
Thank You,
Melissa Michelson
I would love to know the answer to that question too. He was actually talking to a friend of mine but I am afraid to ask him. I think he will offer them to someone else or he often gives horses away. I don’t believe he would send a horse to slaughter but I know he’s had horses, maybe not his own but they have ended up slaughtered. I knew this through a reliable source who was trying to get him to buy her back, he didn’t.
A large part of the answer is SLOT MACHINES
The highlighted states below have artificially inflated purses for state breds, thanks to slot machines/racinos.
Registered TB Foal Crop from the JC.
State .----. 1999 .----. 2009 .----. % change
Kentucky .----. 9895 .----. 9479 .----. -4.2
Florida .----. 4406 .----. 2855 .----. -35.2
California .----. 3332 .----. 2424 .----. -27.3
Louisiana .----. 1208 .----. 2340 .----. +93.7
New York .----. 1388 .----. 1634 .----. 17.7
Pennsylvania .----. 978 .----. 1500 .----. +53.4
Texas .----. 2043 .----. 1112 .----. -45.6
Oklahoma .----. 1073 .----. 904 .----. -15.8
New Mexico .----. 411 .----. 871 .----. 111.9
Illinois .----. 833 .----. 639 .----. -23.3
Indiana .----. 467 .----. 636 .----. 36.2
Maryland .----. 1128 .----. 589 .----. -47.8
West Virginia .----. 269 .----. 554 .----. +105.9
Washington .----. 1021 .----. 474 .----. -53.6
Virginia .----. 614 .----. 318 .----. -48.2
^yep, I will never forget some of the craptastic WV yearlings I saw at the sale when CT got slots…and going for decent money too!
There remain many, many questions…to be answered.
We understand that the State Police made the decision to pursue the 5 charges (1 deceptive business practice & 4 theft-by-deception charges) against LeFever primarily…
…because Trooper Shelly was able to put together a strong circumstantial & evidentiary case.
That other individuals were not charged, we also understand, does not signify that other individuals were not in some way complicit with LeFever in the commission of the 5 alleged (& perhaps others) crimes.
Rather, as is often the case in law enforcement & subsequent adjudication, both the police & the prosecutors have both evidence & the inclination to file charges but refrain from doing so because…
…they determine that to succeed in meeting the reasonable doubt standard & the statutory elements constituting & defining the alleged crimes might require…
…a stronger case than they can put together & present to the court.
Many, many people have been investigated in the LeFever matter. Some of their names have been revealed & are part of the public record.
For those individuals who at some point abetted LeFever in her deceitful & dreadfully lethal enterprise but were not charged by the State Police, well, what can i say?
Were it not for CANTER USA/PA & the informal network of rescue at work in MD, PA, West Virginia, Delaware, & NY, LeFever & her confederates…
…would still be out there…strutting around the backstretch with her fetching smile, in her sleek riding breeches, handing out mugs, pens, & decals…promoting her & her confederates’s OTTB “rehoming” & rehabilitation" services.
Thank you, in particular, Canter USA.
This is such a tough issue and has so many facets to it. I really do appreciate everyone’s responses. Ultimately, it is for the court to decide whether she is guilty or innocent, but of course, everyone should be entitled to post their opinion. Thank you everyone for your thoughts on this issue - pro and con. I will try and update once the case goes to court.
Lefever’s prelminary hearing scheduled for today, February 6, 2012 has been postponed…
…for the third time!!!
It is now scheduled for February 21st.
Now doubt she has lawyered up & her lawyer is negotiating with the district attorney/Commonwealth’s attorney’s office…
…to prepare a plea agreement.
Here’s a newspaper account of the postponement:
http://www.publicopiniononline.com/localnews/ci_19896658
HARRISBURG – The preliminary hearing has been rescheduled for a Chester County woman who allegedly took a retired thoroughbred from Chambersburg and sold it to a supplier for a Canadian slaughter plant.
Kelsey Elva Lefever’s preliminary hearing had been slated for 11 a.m. Feb. 6 in Harrisburg. The date has been moved to Feb. 21, according to a statement issued Friday by Pennsylvania State Police.
Lefever, 24, Honey Brook, is accused of taking ownership of four retired thoroughbreds under false claims that she would find them loving homes, then selling them at the New Holland Horse Auction in Lancaster County.
According to a 16-page affidavit of probable cause filed by Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Colleen Shelly, the animals were ultimately purchased for $1,661 by Bruce Rotz, a Shippensburg-based “kill dealer.” Rotz then sold the horses to Viande Richelieu slaughter plant in Quebec.
One of those horses, a 5-year-old thoroughbred named Beau Jaques, belonged to Kevin Patterson of Chambersburg. According to the affidavit, Patterson retired the horse after it suffered a tendon injury during a race March 29 at Charlestown Race Track in West Virginia.
Police allege in the affidavit that Lefever told an acquaintance that she had sent about 120 horses to the same fate after promising their owners that she would care for and find them new homes.
Lefever remains free on $20,000 unsecured bail.
Thanks for posting this…this really ticks me off!
Haha…FINALLY someone is connecting the dots. Yes, I am a personal friend of Kelsey’s. It’s not right, nor fair that those involved with Kelsey’s business endeavours are now all the sudden turning a " blind eye" to what was going on. Why do you think they are turning in all of her texts/emails etc, to save themselves because they don’t want to get brought down with her. Those other people who were involved had more financial means than Kelsey and were able to pay lawyers to ensure they would be protected when this was all brought to light, which I guess was pretty smart on their part…
You state that you are LeFever’s personal friend. You don’t say what you knew and when you knew it. You don’t say if you still support her. If you were a good friend you must have known exactly what she was up to and so I guess you must think it was ok? I see no condemnation in your post.
