Horse released from hospital after being injured in Alexander Mountain Fire evacuation

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — A horse injured while being evacuated from the Alexander Mountain Fire was released from the hospital Thursday after being inside for nearly two months.

Seven-year-old Hawke was being evacuated from Sylvan Dale Ranch when he seriously injured two legs.

“We had to evacuate about 90 horses that day,” said Michael Guthrie, the horse operations foreman at Sylvan Dale. “Accidents happen, and that’s quite literally what it was, unfortunately he fell through the floor of a trailer.”

Guthrie said the incident was incredibly traumatic. He’s visited Hawke regularly at the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital and was finally able to pick him up on Friday.

“It’s a really good day for us, just to see him as mobile as he is and leaving,” Guthrie said.

Heartsong Equine Rehabilitation has offered to handle Hawke’s rehab free of charge.

“It’s just something that we wanted to do to give back to the community and to Hawke,” said Nicole Linke, who runs the rehabilitation center. “We want to see him thrive.”

Linke said the rehab will probably take eight to 10 weeks before he can return to the ranch. They’ve started a Facebook group to share the progress.

The community has also started a fundraiser to cover some of the costs.