SAN ANTONIO — For 22 years, a far West Texas horse rescue group has worked around the clock to save horses scheduled for slaughter.
The Firelight South Ranch just south of Alpine, is the only horse rescue facility and sanctuary equine in that part of the Lone Star State.
"We have the trailers go through this town all the time. And it's hard to see," said ranch owner Rachael Waller.
As a professional horse photographer, Waller says she could no longer turn her back on beasts of burden shipped to the slaughter houses south of the border in Mexico.
"I was tired of seeing horses go to slaughter,” she said.
Waller has three fulltime ranch hands, volunteers, financial donors and a veterinarian, who help her keep the horse rescue operation going.
"I really wasn't on the rescue end of it for a long time. We'd take colts and turn around and sell them. Then I came out here and realized there were so many other horses out here that just need a chance," said Firelight South employee Cory Hill.
Ranch operators estimate they have saved hundreds of horse from certain death. Currently, Waller has more than 40 horses at Firelight going through rehab. Once the four-legged intelligent mammals are ready, Waller tries to find responsible families to house and care for the orphaned animals.
"Some of them will never, ever be able to find a home. They were too abused or too starved. Or they're too wild, or too old," said Waller.
Waller adds that doesn't mean she and her crew are turning their backs on any horses.