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Horses are good for the human mind and soul.  These majestic animals have been admired by mankind throughout the centuries.
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LATE FEBRUARY 2026

   Wanting a new equine art model here at our artist ranch in Fredericksburg TX, we began searching. 
  For years, we've known about a horse trader here in Texas who hosts consignment auctions.   But they also purchase vast amounts of horses from many various private and public sources to quickly resell to the public online.  These horses are given a tag id#, a short video with a few comments about them ... and an advertised slaughter ship date.
 After their "last call" deadline, any remaining unsold horses are loaded onto large trailers and hauled to Mexico slaughterhouses, who pays horse traders per pound.    So either way, these horse traders sell all of the listed horses and prepare for the next batch.  
 

It's an on-going cycle, in which all types of horses -  including young and healthy horses - can get trapped in.

  In late February, we began browsing through their current list which contained over 50 head.  Its a mixed lot of various ages, breeds, and training levels:  including yearlings, 2, & 3 year olds, as well as many aged and permanently injured horses.
  I noticed three older broodmares that had been brought in together. All three were sore and limping.
  The first mare was a gorgeous paint with really good Quarter Horse halter confirmation, bone structure, and muscling.  She was a looker, and I couldn't help but wonder if, at one time, she may had been registered with papers. 
  The second mare was a golden palomino.  A popular color, she was thinner, but nice, and she too had some flashy chrome (white) markings.
  And the third mare was only advertised as "Brown Mare".  They didn't have her breed type listed, but to me, she looked like she could be part Morgan.
  Out of these three older mares, I felt the brown mare could easily be overlooked.  With so many horses to choose from, her chances of being purchased were slim.  She had no flashy white markings, and she was sore and limping.  
  But there was something about her profile photo that kept getting my attention.  
  It was her expressive - and intelligent - eye.
  I spent time reviewing all of their horses, watching their movements in the videos.  
  I also spent much time looking at other sources who have nice horses for sale, including well trained quarter horses.  With so many available horses at many locations, it's a challenge to pick just one.      
  Over days of researching, I found myself going back to that not-so-perfect, brown mare.  
  Should I pick this aged mare over hundreds of other really good prospects?  
   
  Then on Feb 26th, the kill buyer posted their “Last Call Feb 27th deadline" for this group.

  This is it.

  These horses had less than 24 hours remaining for their chance of being purchased and removed from the horrid Mexico slaughter pipeline.  
  According to their list, only a few had been purchased up to that date.
 
  I purchased the unknown brown mare.     

 February 27, 2026 

  Yesterday, these pens were full of horses.  All unsold horses have been moved from the barn pens to outside. From there they will be loaded and transported to Mexico.
  While our brown mare is being transported to us here in Fredericksburg Texas.  
 

  Later that afternoon, she arrived dehydrated and injured.    Separated from her former pasture mates, she was scared of these unknown surroundings.   
   
   But she’s here ...

 Meet ZORA! 
An ancient name, meaning 'dawn', or a new beginning.

  Zora is gentle, well trained, and she loves to explore.
  She is definitely intelligent.

  One of a lucky few, this old gal has found her forever home at our ranch.  She's on her way to healing, and living her new life as an equine model.

 
And when the wind blows just right, Zora will be listening to the music coming from Luckenbach Texas. 

  I guess we can say that WESTERN ART helped saved her life. 

  Thank you for reading about Zora!  

   Send us an email if you are a local artist and would like more info on spending a couple hours with Zora for your own photography day trip, drawing & sketching, or plein air painting in her pasture near Luckenbach Texas.

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