Pepper Fewel owns Cherry Wood Bed, Breakfast & Barn in Zillah Washington along with her husband, Terry and their daughter, Tiffany.
Aside from its location in Yakima Valley’s Wine Country, Cherry Wood’s biggest draw is the horses – almost all of which were rescued from slaughter.
It all started 12 years ago when Pepper visited a feedlot where horses were being kept before slaughter.
“I could see these amazing horses that no fault of their own, it’s like a dog pound they’re there, and I watched these horses in that feedlot and it was overwhelming for me to tell you the truth,” she told kimatv.com.
They began taking in elderly, abused, injured and malnourished horses others threw away and have since rescued more than 100 animals from certain death – most of which are 25 or older.
Tiffany Fewel is a certified equine trainer. She works one-on-one with each new rescue and oversees their training and rehabilitation. The goal is to place them in loving homes or have them stay on as riding horses for the guests at the inn.
“From the groundwork, we start to ride them and we’ll start to ride them just in the pins and then well get them on the outside and start getting them used to the environment around them. It gets them mentally ready before we hit the trails with people,” Tiffany said.
The horses that enjoy trail riding are put to work taking guests on leisurely strolls to different wineries around the area. Those that are deemed unridable simply live out their days in peace and comfort on the Fewel’s beautiful land until they are adopted.
For the Fewel family, rescuing horses is a lifelong passion – and they are just getting started!
“I get so much more from them, than probably I give the horse,” Pepper said.
H/T to kimatv.com
Featured Image via Facebook/Cherry Wood Bed & Breakfast
