February 17th, 2010

February 17th, 11:35pm: What are you folks still doing up this late and checking on this? Kidding. It’s kind of nice knowing that when I do the final check in the barn you’re there in spirit as well. Windchill’s resting comfortably. I think he has a lot to dream about tonight. For three full hours today he saw the world from where he should – on his own four feet. Those of you without horses probably won’t appreciate this but each time he stood he urinated – and everybody cheered. On his side he has to let it trickle out when his bladder is full so knowing what relief he must be feeling just made our day. Of course Windchill is a horse and really didn’t seem to appreciate that we all cheered either not really seeing the significance and probably thinking we really don’t have very high expectations of him if that’s all it takes to get us to cheer. I hate to sound like a proud parent but he made his debut tonight on the news and he did very well I think. A full day of standing, eating, drinking, meeting the media and now it’s time for the little guy to get some well-deserved sleep. Tomorrow we have some wonderful notes to put up near his stall from his online guestbook. For whatever it’s worth folks, we’re proud of you too. Thank you so much for being here for him.

http://www.wdio.com/article/stories/S350064.shtml?cat=10335

February 17th, 6:45pm: Add another 2 hours to Windchill’s record. He stood for two hours and is now showing his mischievous side, chewing on the stall door (I’m sure he got that from Case, his neighbor at night – GRRRR) and when we slung a net across the door he did his best to unlatch it. When we ‘suggested’ after an hour that he may want to lay down, he refused to lay down, standing another hour and even then he didn’t want to lay down but once we lowered the sling he decided maybe we were right – just maybe… There was space between his chest and sling the whole time standing so it was ALL Windchill.

He was a true ham when WDIO-TV came out to interview him this evening so as of 10pm tonight he will be known as “Windchill – as seen on TV and newspaper!” Probably his biggest ‘problem’ (and I say that jokingly) is the number of people that have come out here to say “hello” and not one person has been able to look at him without kneeling there alongside him, he just has this sweet nature about him. He is truly a fighter. It doesn’t surprise me now that I’ve spent so much time near him – but it still amazes me given the path that got him here. Windchill is proof in the power of hope – hope that something can be different. Maybe I expect him to be like a person and become angry, bitter, disillusioned. Instead there’s this candle in him that seems to have kept burning, even as it began to fade that night a week ago and all the love all of you have shown him – it’s re-kindled this little guy’s amazing spirit. Windchill really is a story about the faith of strangers and the positive energy they can create. I don’t know. Maybe Windchill is living breathing proof that there is definitely hope for all of us in a world that seems so fast-paced, self-focused and sometimes downright jaded. I know that I look at our world completely differently having now seen it through the eyes of a little colt who has gotten to experience the best you all have to offer. Thank you all so much for what you have given him. We are all so humbled by this. I have to go back out in the barn with another pot of coffee and hot water for Windchill’s ‘staff.’

February 17th, 3pm: Another leap forward! First, we caught a good break in the weather and it’s quite warm today, in the 30′s finally. Amazing to think about – it’s a 60 degree difference over last week and most of this week. With the help of some new volunteers and neighbors we helped Windchill up a little before 1pm. The going was a little rough at first but Windchill seems to understand what we’re doing and he tries desperate to help us but it’s difficult until we get his feet under him. Once he was up he stood for 40 minutes. About 20 minutes or so into his standing and taking some small steps around his stall he began to slump. We figured he was tired – and he was – and began lowering him back to the ground. As soon as he heard the winch beginning to lower him he immediately sprang back to life, refusing to go down and rest. He stood another 20 minutes which included walking around his stall as best he could, nuzzling everyone standing there and munching on hay as well as relieving his bladder – he’s not really able to drain himself fully laying down so it tends to trickle out. Now that’s the first thing he does when he stands and then wonders why we all cheer. We are all simply amazed at the spirit in this little guy. He keeps eating which is good – he should be around 600 to 750 lbs for his size and age – the vet figured he was around 400 or so. Even at 400 he’s a handful to try and get up so thank goodness for all you good people willing to help. A volunteer came over today (Gary) and restrung the chains for the winch, giving it even more stability and some more mobility so Windchill can explore a little more while he’s up. He wants to walk, that’s very clear.

ALL of this is the result of your faith, your well wishes, and your prayers. Windchill is truly the result of the power of believing so don’t even doubt that your emails and thoughts aren’t critical to the little guy in his recovery. Thank you all so much for reaching out.

February 17th, 11am: Sorry for the delay in getting an update up, the day started early and I find I’m getting slower the more tired I get and I think that holds true for everyone involved. We’ve rotated the moms this morning watching over Windchill. Last night late he was in a tired, yet feisty mood. I honestly believe that standing up helped him a bunch, seeing the world for those brief moments from where he should rather than than looking up at it from on the ground. He had a bunch of well-wishers yesterday and eagerly soaked up the attention. He loves his head in people’s laps so he’s quite vocal about that if you’re in there and not holding him correctly in his viewpoint. I think he’s frustrated that he can’t get up without the help of a sling and a bunch of people around him but we’ll take the 30 minutes he was up yesterday. We’re going to have some folks over within an hour or so for his next ‘raising ceremony’.

1am: During his last check, I quietly checked on the little guy. He was so wiped out he didn’t move anything other than his eyes when I stood next to him. The day’s activity was draining as well as got the other youngsters wound up so it took awhile for them to settle back down. They have no idea why the sheriff and his family keep showing up here – we’re telling them it’s because they keep popping the insulators off the electric fences and playing with the tank heaters so they’re busted if they don’t shape up. We’ll see if that works. G’nite Windchill and the rest of you…long day…

Windchill resting