13-year-old girl’s racing horse shot to death

American Quarter Horse

KENS 5 News reports that a San Antonio family is grieving tonight after the killing of their horse, who they considered a family member.

“She wasn’t just a horse she was part of the family,” said an emotional 13-year-old Haylee Field while talking about the horse who she had grown up with for the past nine years. Haylee told KENS 5 News, “She was the same age as me; she was 13. She took care of me if I fell off. She would stand there and wait for me. We go to barrel races and we ride out in the field.”

The family horse, Six, was found Saturday morning. According to Haylee the family saw something laying in the trees, and they assumed it was a cow, but when they got closer they realized it was Six.

A purple cross hangs in trees where Six is buried.

Haylee’s mother told KENS 5 News that they just want answers and for the person who did this to come forward.

“We are a Christian family, and we believe in forgiveness which will happen at some point. An apology goes a long way towards that.”

According to a GoFundMe page, Haylee is heavily involved in the youth rodeo, and without Six, she will likely miss the opportunity to compete during the spring rodeo season.

A friend of the family has started a GoFundMe so Haylee can get a new racing horse. To contribute and read more about the story, click here.