Almost two dozen neglected horses have been confiscated from a home in a remote part of Fremont County. Animal cruelty charges are being leveled against their owner.

Some of the horses will be coming to El Paso County, about 18 will be going to a rescue in Ramah, but this wasn't always the case. Up until Wednesday afternoon there was a chance the horses would be going up for auction, something that was very concerning to many.

A total of 22 horses were taken by the Fremont County Sheriff's Office. Pat Miller, owner of Ruby Ranch Horse Rescue was prepared to take in 18 of the horses.

"Three of them are in the worst shape," Miller said.

But hours before she was set to pick the horses up she got a call from the sheriff's office.

"The sheriff had decided to sell them at auction, they were going to try and re-coup some of the expenses of confiscating these horses," Miller said.

Fremont County Sheriff Jim Beicker confirmed that decision to 11 News. Miller says she was very concerned because horses sent to auction can often end up in slaughter. “The slaughter process is inhumane and vicious and these horses deserve better than that. Pretty soon there was this whole mobilization effort around not letting them go to auction."

Sheriff Beicker says after receiving dozens of calls and emails he decided to reconsider. The horses, he says, will not be sold but sent to rescues.

"It's been a big relief," Miller said.

The sheriff hasn't released the name of the woman facing the animal cruelty charges, but according to some vet records obtained by 11 News her name is Geri Rem. The sheriff’s office says they have been investigating her for more than a year.

The horses will start going to rescues across the area Thursday.