Jaga

On May 10, 2025, one of the largest horse fairs took place in Pajęczno in Poland. Since we managed to reduce the number of horses in Skaryszew, all these animals were sent to Pajęczno. And there – unfortunately – there is no one to talk to.

There are horses and many other animals standing there, but it is horses that are the most numerous there. In our area, they were loaded wholesale for slaughter, into large trucks. And we had no say in the matter. Neither we nor anyone else.

We saw various things there and we do not want to burden anyone with them.

Some time ago we created a petition to close such places systematically, through a law. Trading animals outside their place of permanent residence should be prohibited. Such markets, transport to and from them, are extremely stressful for animals. Apart from the fact that they are treated there like goods. They are patted, pushed, looked at. You look into their teeth, kick their joints to see if they hurt. And they often do.

Both young and old horses come to the market. The young ones are usually immediately loaded onto trucks and go where no horse wants to go. And the old ones… pray for a customer.

One of them was 28-year-old Jaga. Everyone passed her by. And no one bent over her. She stood staring at one point and didn’t even move when we approached. She brought her whole life, her whole story and all her suffering to the market.

Horses like Jaga are used to the end. She had been working in the field just the day before. She didn’t even have a day off before being taken to market. They are used to the last spark that is smoldering in them.

When we met her at the market, Jaga had nothing burning anymore. Only the desire for it all to end.

We had no way of raising money for her while we were there, but we begged the trader to take her back. We promised to pay $393 for her by the following Friday, and the rest later.

Jaga obediently got back into the car next to us. And although our hearts were beating not to let her get in there, we couldn’t do anything. We stood there frozen in fear. And she only looked back once. Then she lowered her head again – just as she had it all day at the market.

As if she was ashamed of what she was: an old horse.

There will be no additional action today. No story. Because Jaga herself carries a huge story – and I wouldn’t want to break it into pieces.

We have over three days to give her a chance to live out her days in peace, among other rescued horses. This is a large sum that we have to collect. And little time. But you have shown more than once that miracles are possible.

Let’s do a miracle today for old Jaga from the Pajęczno fair. No one else offers her miracles. You know what awaits her if we don’t help her.

And we don’t want to let that happen. Because old, worn-out horses don’t belong in a slaughterhouse. Only among the quiet grasses, warm winds and the shade of spreading trees. Where one day, surrounded by her herd, she will lay her head among these grasses, close her eyes.

And then, in the silence of her last breath, she will leave. And she will regret a little that she is leaving. Because somewhere in those last months or years of her life so much good happened that – despite all the suffering she experienced – somewhere in her heart there will be regret that it is over.

Because thanks to what happened at the end, we can say that in the end… it was not so bad.

Please, give her this grass. The shade of a tree. The warmth of the wind. Give her this when her moment comes. She only has you.