Windchill officially has a new home.
The 9-month-old colt that almost froze to death earlier this month when left outside in sub-zero weather had been rescued by Jeff Tucker and Kathi Davis of Rain Dance Farms in South Range. Windchill's owner Teresa Farmer has officially relinquished ownership to Davis, Davis said this morning.
"Realistically, I think this horse belongs to the entire world," Davis said. "I don't think anyone could claim ownership to him ever again."
Farmer had boarded Windchill at a another South Range farm last fall. Veterinarians who have visited the colt suspect other, bigger horses on the farm had bullied him out of his feed, leaving him dehydrated, malnourished and unable to withstand the cold temperatures, which reached 30 below zero wind chills the night he was rescued.
Initial vet visits were grim. One gave Windchill a 1 percent chance of survival. Another recommended putting him down. He couldn't move his forelegs for days because of severe frostbite, and circulation there was so weak vets were unable to get a pulse.
ADVERTISEMENT
Now, with the help of a sling to get him to his feet, Windchill is able to stand and walk for hours at a time, Davis said. She said she attributes his dramatic reversal in health to the good wishes coming in from across the world.
"It has to be everybody's prayers and the will on his part," she said. "There's just no way this colt should have survived."
