03/01/08, 7:55am…Windchill has passed away…

It is with broken hearts that we say this…last night between 9pm and midnight, February 29th, 2008, one of the bravest souls we have ever had the honor of knowing crossed over the rainbow bridge. He passed quietly in his sleep, surrounded by his two sisters, Kisses and Sunday, at the only real home he had ever known.

There are no words to describe the loss and emptiness that we feel.

Earlier in the evening he had his weekly check up and blood work done, with normal temperature, normal heart rate, and lots of weight gain since his last check up.

The experts warned us from the beginning not to get our hopes up, because the odds were just overwhelmingly stacked against him. We never told Windchill that. We accepted each day with him as a gift, we watched his progress in awe – as did the entire nation. This little horse became a beacon of hope for so many who had lost their faith in humanity. He taught us that no matter what happens in your life, no matter how unfair, you can still have faith and you can find love to carry you to a better place. He found the good in the world.

After cremation, he will be brought home for a proper burial. Once the tears have eased up and we can think clearly again, we will be starting a foundation in his honor. His brave fight will not have been in vain.

Kathi Davis, Jeff Tucker and Windchill’s care team

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This is the the re-written draft that was posted the morning of March 1st, 2008. My original post was so tortured and heart-broken that  Kathi re-wrote it in the middle of the night.