How had this 17.3 hand Belgian draft horse wound up at auction at the age of twenty? His past life is a mystery. It’s likely he had toiled as a hard-working plow horse for an Amish farmer in the Pennsylvania Dutch country. Perhaps he was no longer able to pull the plow with the strength he'd had in his younger days. In any event, with a too-small halter cutting into his face and nearly choking him, this gelding was but another horse among many at the New Holland auction in Pennsylvania destined for slaughter. After all, who else but a killer buyer would want an aged draft horse, his mane matted with knots and burrs, 500 pounds underweight, who was also blind in one eye, and lame with a painful swollen knee?

But No Small Wonder’s (known as Stevie) luck was about to change in January 2001. He had caught the eye of Cee Segarra, president of Equine Rescue Resource, Inc. at the auction. She did not have room at her rescue for Stevie but was determined to help him - Stevie would not die as a blind, confused and terrified animal in a slaughter house. With a high bid of $150.00, the old horse was hers and Cee started looking for a solution.

The mission of the Exceller Fund is primarily to rescue Thoroughbreds. The large, slow Belgian draft horse, bred for centuries to pull plows and carts, couldn’t be more different than his fleet-footed, thin-skinned Thoroughbred cousin. And yet, we could not resist the charms of this golden-coated gentle giant with his scarred face and heavy flaxen mane. He resides with Cuz of Cam at EPONA in New Hampshire, a beautiful horse rescue facility with a terrific track record of restoring horses to health.

Our beautiful Belgian is still a bit thin but looks so much better than he did at the sale, and he is no longer lame. His coat is getting shiny and the scars on his nose and cheek from the halter are almost gone with a new coat filling in the ridge marks. He is a sweet horse with lovely eyes and a gentle personality.

No Small Wonder has a name that suits him perfectly, because it’s no small wonder his life was saved. He is alive and enjoying carrots today only through the combined efforts of several people---Cee Segarra of Equine Rescue Resource, Debbie Polasek of Double D Equine Rescue, EPONA, and The Exceller Fund. The rescue of No Small Wonder shows us that miracles really can happen when caring people work together.

Update -- December 2001: No Small Wonder has been adopted!  His new caregiver, who has also become an Exceller Fund member, officially took custody of No Small Wonder on December 1st. 

Many of you will remember that No Small Wonder was purchased from the New Holland sale last January.  Of the many horses at New Holland that day, No Small Wonder was surely as close as any to the end of the road.  After purchasing him at New Holland, The Exceller Fund made arrangements to get No Small Wonder to EPONA in New Hampshire where love, care, good nutrition, and the chance to be a horse turned him into the healthy beauty that he is today.  For a horse of his age, and his near-death experience, to be adopted into a wonderful home is truly a fairy tale.  And since his new owner is an Exceller Fund member, we'll be able to keep up with No Small Wonder in his new life.

Update -- June 2002: In January 2002, No Small Wonder hosted an Open House day for all of his new friends at his New Jersey home. Take a peek at all of the fun that they had... 

Update -- October 2005: Sadly, No Small Wonder's heart began to fail, and he passed over the rainbow bridge on September 24, 2005. He will be greatly missed.