Horse dies after neglect case

Windchill Dies After Tough Fight




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."

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Horse
• colt

[BlindMagSoprano]

--climates probably also gave him respiratory illnesses. Not to say Tucker didn't do a standup job in caring for the animal, it's just that his eventual death was predictable, as sad as it is. It's a good thing that he lived the rest of his days somewhere he was loved and cared for.

[BlindMagSoprano]

Summerboard, suck it. You have no idea what its like owning a horse then losing it, an animal that's not only a pet but your teammate. It's sad that this happens, but with such a neglect case, I'm sorry to say I'm surprised Windchill lasted this long. My own mustang mare was neglected but not this severely before she was rescued and wound up with us. Windchill had to not only have suffered malnutrition which probably caused his immune system as well as organs to shut down slowly, but the cold--

[Horsejumper2000]

@summerboard shut up u have no idea how hard it is to loose a horse!!!!!

[girlfriend11221]

im so sorry for your lose he look like a good strong horse that could get through any fight but unfortunately he lost this fight but i hope you all get past this sad stage and still remember a amazing horse R.I.WINDCHILL hope you are all still thinking of the amazing horse you helped through a such tough time but at least he stayed with you to say thank-you for saving his life just a bit longer but he deserved to live and that's exactly what you did you helped a good natured horse

[Cinnimonrocksxoxo]

he reminds me of Barbaro</3 trys so hard to fight but in the end everything comes crashing down...well R.I.P Windchill...maybe you'll find my old horse Ellie up there and she an take care of you(: She died having her baby. Shes ready to be a mama again(:

[sophielovesanna]

@summerbored you fucker that isnt cool id like to see u as a horse who gets abused yea and dies how would u like that? shut the fuck up BITCH!

[Fluffysnowballkitten]

Aww I feel bad to Windchill

[mollym1963]

I lit a candle in memory of that little guy who so wanted to live. He is now over rainbows bridge happy in the knowledge that his last days on this earth were spent with people who loved him so much. Its thanks to guys like Jeff & Kathy who tried so hard to give windchill a chance to learn that not all people are like his past owner, who neglected him. We have to be their voice, please, speak up if you witness abuse to an animal, dont presume someone else has! 1 call could save a life...PLEASE

[SleazyKitten]

they should starve that girl!my horse came from a farm where the lady was charged with 35-40 counts of animal abuse and neglect.And now thanks to that lady my horse forever will think that she's being starved.Even though she's as fat as a house and well looked after.She even trapped a woman in a stall because she thought she was after her food.poor pony.animal abuse is such a piss off.Because you know the only thing thats suffering is the animal.

[CallMeAndyx3]

Oh, My, creammated horse? isnt the a little cruel? or is burrying it more cruel? i think barrying it is bttr then burnuing it