Windchill

[keesha]

Re: Windchill

I have been following all the reports on Windchill. This just brought tears to my eyes. I just cannot comprehend how animal owners can be so very cruel. Just know that in the last weeks of his life he had to know how much he was loved.To be out of the elements, have shelter, food, and the medical attention he needed,shows just how many people loved him...

[R00TS]

Re: Windchill

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70394-bawlout.gif[/img] oh no!
never forget his brave heart [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/notworthy.gif[/img]

RIP (((Windchill))

(((Schultz&Nanook))))

[Jamaicamiss]

Re: Windchill

Thank you for keeping us abreast of this soul who has definitely made a difference in our lives. I could not comment before because I had horses for several years and I had a premonition and did not want to say anything. He was a very brave and cute horse and will remain in my thoughts for several years to come. I feel privileged to have been able to track his last few days on this earth.

[Seveen]

Re: Windchill

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cry.gif[/img] such a brave fight - may he have peace . . .

[Nanook]

Re: Windchill

Windchill, the nine-month-old colt who was near death when he was rescued from a South Range farm Feb.9, has died.

An entry on a blog maintained by Jeff Tucker, who runs Raindance Farms in South Range and took Windchill in when he was found suffering from dehydration, starvation and exposure to extreme cold, said Windchill died sometime between 9 p.m. and midnight Feb. 29.

"He passed quietly in his sleep, surrounded by his two sisters, Kisses and Sunday, at the only real home he had ever known," the blog said.

Though Windchill was given a 1 percent chance to live when examined by a veterinarian Feb. 10, he had made strides toward recovery since being rescued, including walking around his stall after being hoisted from a lying position.

Watch duluthnewstribune.com today for more updates and find more in tomorrow's News Tribune.

source

[Nanook]

Re: Windchill

I am so profoundly sad...

RIP sweet little Windchill. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/crybaby.gif[/img] It was so awesome getting to know you. You helped me so much with my pain over losing Bucko and helped me put it into perspective. Bucko lived a long 30 year happy life and never wanted for anything but the greener grass on the other side of a fence. You...sweet little baby, taught people all over the world about strength and determination and love [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/crybaby.gif[/img]

From Jeff's journal


March 1st, 6:12pm: Out of respect for the world that was unable to come pay their last respects today to Windchill, and to allow for the many who love him to see him at peace, we allowed the Duluth News-Tribune and WDIO-TV to view him as he rests. We'd like to say that both organizations were very caring, respecting those who came to mourn and respectful of him, shooting pictures only after asking. For that we are very grateful.

The morning was a very sad one. We had to re-live the event over and over as people arrived to meet the little hero only to find that he had passed away the night before. Each time was met by tears and hugs. Uncalled, his care team arrived early to be with him. For one last time they gathered together to gently lift him and carry him into the waiting trailer. Kathi had to leave. I thought I could help. I found out I was wrong. I honestly thought the next time Windchill left his stall would be under his own power, probably charging out the door into the aisle as he had tried to do so many times before. It was a day of tears and hugs. Windchill's admirers came in a steady flow throughout the day, bringing flowers, cards, treats and a lot of love.

The woman who won the painting of Windchill and Walker (by artist Deborah Sprague) came to pay her respects - and give the winning bid amount to Windchill's foundation. She is donating the painting to us to hang above the fireplace.

The answering machine filled with messages throughout the day. Many were folks crying so hard we couldn't understand the actual message but truly understood the meaning and sentiments. Our veterinarian called to tell our care team we did an amazing job and that Windchill's loss was due to secondary complications caused by his malnutrition.

Various folks emailed or stopped by, worried that what happened to Windchill happened after the webcam turned off. That was actually not related - yesterday the webcam was setup on my laptop computer which was on a chair in the middle aisle of my barn (hence the reason many of you got a close up view of Walker over and over as he examined the cam). With the vet coming over at close to the same time as Windchill's scheduled lift time, as well as the time we bring the youngsters into their stalls, and Annie into the middle aisle where she rules the roost, the cam had to be shut down and moved or become the victim of horseplay. After a thorough examination which I noted earlier, Windchill was lifted by the team. He was more tired than usual, and after wandering about his stall for a bit he decided to lay down so we lowered him back down. Our vet re-examined him and found his pulse rate was normal and that he was not stressed from the raising or lowering.

The care team left early and we sat with Windchill until 9pm. He was his usual self, a bit restless, but tired from his day of trying to get up on his own. Many of you viewed his attempts to rise and were heartened by his spirit.

At midnight I went out for my final check of the night. My first sign that something was wrong was Walker - he came out of the garage to greet me. Walker has not left Windchill's side at night since his first night here. I ran for the barn, threw open the door and there was the next sign - no little whinny. I called to him. No return whinny. I entered his stall and found that Windchill had passed away. I ran to get Kathi and we examined him. What we found was that he showed no signs of distress and no signs of suffering. He passed quickly and quietly in his sleep, more than likely his heart finally giving out due to the prolonged starvation. When a horse loses 50% of its bodyweight, its prognosis for survival is extremely poor - hence the 1% odds he had been given at the beginning. The fact that he survived as long as he did, as well as he did, was truly a miracle and a testament to his sheer willpower. A horse's body, in extreme starvation mode and with no other reserves or means of survival, will turn to the only available source of protein available to it - the tissues of its own heart and vital organs. Essentially the horse's body destroys itself trying to survive. Thus in the end, we believe Windchill's growing body and weight hit the limit his heart could support and it stopped. It was quick, painless and Windchill passed in his sleep. While we never wanted him to go, if he had to leave us this painless passing was the probably the best we could ask for for his sake.

[schultz]

Re: Windchill

I'm sitting here at the computer crying so I can hardly see. Little Dottie senses something is wrong so she starts licking my face. OMG...this is so sad. RIP little Windchill.

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70459-hugs.gif[/img]big group hug[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70459-hugs.gif[/img] Thanks to everyone for the prayers. He will be missed by many.

[Nanook]

Re: Windchill

(((Schultz)))...dosen't this royally suck. What an amazing little guy he is. I can't stand this.

[Bink - the Only]

Re: Windchill

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70394-bawlout.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70394-bawlout.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70394-bawlout.gif[/img] i just read this and i am shocked and saddened. that poor little thing. what a great heart he had. these are situations that i truly believe we two legged beings can learn from. now i need to go cause the tears are flowing.

((((windchill)))) [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70394-bawlout.gif[/img]

[Nanook]

Re: Windchill

Dosen't suck bink. Jamaica Miss...yes, I had always known that this could happen. I wanted to distance myself a bit until I knew he was on his own legs but was unable to do that. Now I get to pay the price. Keesha, it's nice to hear you are here with us also. Seveen, I knew you were here with us. Laurel, if you happen to see the broadcast in Mpls, please let me know, they usually webstream video. It does not seem the broadcast that happened locally tonight will be available video. It was the lead story though. It ended with Jeff sitting in the snowbank up against his white railed fence looking very sad...


wdio television

After 3 hard-fought weeks, the horse nicknamed "Windchill" has passed away. He was living at Raindance Farms in South Range, Wisconsin.

The horse, allegedly neglected, had been in the care of Jeff Tucker, owner of Raindance Farms. Tucker tried for weeks to help Windchill get his strength back, by hoisting him up with a harness to assist him with standing and walking. He went to the barn at about midnight Friday, to check on him. That's when he noticed his Australian Shepherd, Walker, wasn't at his usual post in the barn. "I knew we were in trouble because Walker was in the garage instead of his post in the barn," said Tucker. "He didn't knicker when I opened the door. When I call him he usually whinnies back, and he didn't."

Tucker says in the end, the horse's heart, weak from a combination of starvation and cold, simply could not keep up with the rest of his body, which was quickly recovering. Until recently, messages posted on the Raindance Farms website were 'get well' wishes. Now, they're goodbyes. Tucker spent much of the day Saturday hugging people who drove in from all over the area, and checking on phone messages left for Windchill. "Every time we go back in the house, there's 10 or 11 new messages, and we can't understand them because they're sobbing so hard."

Tucker says Windchill's death has also been hard for his four-legged friends. Olivia, the cat who slept next to him in the stall; Bonnie, his adopted mother; and Walker, the dog that used to watch him through the night.

But Tucker says long after Windchill is cremated, his spirit will live on forever. He plans to return an urn with his ashes to his barn, where he'll watch over the other animals. And though Windchill's life was short, Tucker is thankful that the 'little horse that could' spent his last days in the happiness of a home, and in the hearts of thousands.

"I don't know that there's any way to thank the people who have poured their hearts out; its been overwhelming."

[Bink - the Only]

Re: Windchill

(((nanook)) i facillate between being jealous that you actually saw the little guy and touched him --- to --- feeling sadly good about not having that opportunity.

that guy will live in the hearts of many of us for long time .....

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img] good job, windchill

[Nanook]

Re: Windchill

It is uncanny how I even heard about Windchill. Since I rarely pay attention to the news it was only through artist Deborah Sprague way over in Oregon that I even heard about the little guy on the ebsq art site. It is like she brought me Windchill so I can put this whole Bucko business into perspective I think. Otherwise my heart is breaking in two for nothing.

I have met some wonderful people in all of this tragedy. Deborah, Jeff, Kathi, and many of Windchills caregivers. I guess the pain is the price for that.

[Bink - the Only]

Re: Windchill

indeed, Nanny .. i have, through this week, always thought of you and Bucko. we can only do so much and just love them to eternity. (((Stephanie))

[Nanook]

Re: Windchill

Thanks bink [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70459-hugs.gif[/img] I am going to go cry myself to sleep now. It is a sad cry and a not so sad cry because that little guy is sporting angel wings right about now and gazing down upon all of us and smiling because he knows things...like unconditional love, tenderness, hope and caring. And he has a big job to do from up there in horsie heaven. He can use his fighting spirit to help protect others of his species from suffering the same fate.

The equine messenjah...

RIP little guy. The world is a much emptier place without you.

[Bink - the Only]

Re: Windchill

Nanny, i understand totally .. it really sucks. i think the best we can do is take care of our "kids". windchill needs to become a touchstone for many. much love to you little guy. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/blushing2.gif[/img]