RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas -- Fort Worth firefighters using two boats rescued an exhausted horse from neck-high Rio Grande floodwaters.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Wednesday that the videotaped rescue of the mare named Irish Painted Lady happened near Rio Grande City on Sunday. Her 3-month-old colt died.

The firefighters, part of the Texas Task Force 1 rescue team, managed to get straps around Irish Painted Lady and slowly guide her to shore between the boats.

Dr. Dan Villarreal, who breeds American Paint horses, said the horses were stranded on his family's land along the Rio Grande, which flooded after heavy rain and late June's Hurricane Alex.

Villarreal said he rented a boat to try to save the animals, but failed and sought help from emergency responders.

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