PLEASANTON, Texas -- One South Texas woman has found an unusual way to combat rising gas prices by trading in horsepower for, well, horse power.

Jackie Hutton of Pleasanton said she was tired of paying rising diesel prices for her truck and decided to change the way she made her 4-mile commute, going from a truck to her horse, Tester.

Hutton said her passion is horses and figured she could save money and spend more time with her pet.

"I sat there and paid for the horses and looked at that, that's all I did," she said. "I'm saving $10 a day, I'm not lying."

Not only does she save money, Hutton said, she gets to relieve work stress while riding home.

"When you're going home, you don't have to worry about traffic," she said. "All you have to worry about is chilling out and talk to the horse."

Hutton's boss let her put up a mini-pen behind her work where Tester stays during the day until it's time to ride home again. She still has her truck, but said she'd rather spend more time embracing her passion.

"What's the good of making a living if you can't live?" she said. "Do what's important."