This is the account, as told to me by Kay, of how Pax was rescued from slaughter, or death by disease and mal-nourishment from spending 3 weeks in a kill-pen:

Kay's friend wanted to rescue a Belgian draft horse from Donald Nickersen's slaughter pens. These are pens that temporarily confine horses who are slated to be hauled to Quebec, Canada where they will be slaughtered for meat. Kay agreed to accompany her friend for she has MS and cannot drive. They made the 150 mile one-way journey to buy the Belgian from Nickerson who will sell his horses if anyone will offer him a figure higher than what he paid for them at auction. While in the pens, Kay was followed by a little mare who continually nickered at her as if asking for help. In the meantime, Kay was also drawn to Pax who appeared so sickly and weak. He was covered with sores from bites perpetrated on him from the other frantic and frightened horses. There is so little food given them; just enough to keep them alive until they are shipped to slaughter. Since Pax is an omega, he bore his bites and backed off, not willing to participate in the contest for food. Meanwhile, these horses have only muddy water to drink and are standing in mud up to their knees and beyond. Kay said the mud is littered with cast off horse shoes, wire, huge chunks of iron and all manner of refuse. Kay walked over to Pax and observed exudate coming from his nostrils and considerable amounts of water came from his mouth when he coughed. She deduced he might have "strangles".

She and her friend purchased the Belgian and mare from Nickersen and hauled them home on a Friday. Kay named the mare Grace after "Amazing Grace". For three nights, Kay could not sleep thinking about Pax. On Monday, she asked her friend if she would accompany her to the slaughter pen to get Pax. They made the trip again only to discover they could not find him because about 70 more horses had been admitted to the kill-pen. One that stood out the most, according to Kay, was a Thoroughbred race horse who was in extreme panic and bewilderment having been pampered in off-track stables. Now he was standing in muddy debris with no food and only muddy water. Kay said other horses had broken legs and eyes dangling from their sockets. (probably injured during shipping) God have mercy! Kay said she could not find Pax in this sea of horses. After a length of time, her friend found Pax remembering he was wearing a red nylon halter. They loaded him in their trailer and went to find Nickersen to pay him for Pax. Nickerson came out to see Pax loaded in their trailer and said he would not pay a dime for this sick and skinny horse. HE THOUGHT THEY WERE THERE TO SELL PAX TO HIM!!! So, off they went with Pax ... such a deal! On the way back to Kay's home, her friend called their vet to have Pax humanely euthanized since the clinic was located on their route back home. Kay had second thoughts on the way home and said to her friend that first (before euthanizing him), she would like to give him a chance to live. Kay gave him bran mash, good sweet feed, all the hay he could eat, and had her equine vet treat him on several occasions. In time, Pax gained weight, his bites healed, he no longer coughed water or had nostril discharge. He bounced back to a healthy horse.

Pax was driven very hard by the Amish during his young life. Kay said he was known as a "boy's horse" ... that Pax had lots of "snap". She also learned that Pax, alone, pulled a STEEL wagon loaded with all the members of an Amish family - and, of course, on pavement. Pax's mouth was sorely abused by an unsuitable bit ... he is poorly shod by two homemade Amish shoes on his front feet - the rear shoes have been lost. My farrier will be pulling his shoes and accessing Pax's present needs for proper shoes or preferably letting him go barefoot.

Despite Pax's hard 8 years, he does not kick or bite. He even let Kay's goat steal his feed. (she has corrected that) He has excellent ground manners, but may now feel threatened at the sight of a harness. ??? All in good time ... he needs to learn there are humans who love him. This will be his last stop ...

      ~Mari