Owner reunited with horse that fell through ice on Big Wood Lake in Wisconsin

Owner reunites with horse rescued from ice

GRANTSBURG, Wis. -- Girl dads like Eric McKinley get it--his daughter, Hope, is happiest around her horse, Wilson.

"It's kind of hard to explain--it's just something between us that's unbreakable and it's hard to put into words, like, you can only just feel it," said Hope McKinley.

Hope McKinley was at veterinary school in Montana when she got word her horse wandered 6 miles and fell through ice at Big Woodlake. Hope McKinley

MORE: Wisconsin friends team up to save horse who fell through the ice

Hope was due home anyway for Christmas, but the trip back from veterinary school in Montana couldn't come soon enough after she got word that Wilson escaped from home, wandered six miles and fell through the ice of Big Wood Lake in Grantsburg, Wisconsin.

It took four hours for a team of friends, neighbors and a tow truck driver to rescue the 1,200-pound Mustang without any heavy machinery. The ice was only four inches thick.

It took four hours for a team of friends, neighbors and a tow truck driver to rescue the 1,200-pound Mustang without any heavy machinery. Katelyn Quimby

"I was kind of speechless honestly," said Hope McKinley. "He was just scared, away from home."

Wilson's vet on Friday gave Hope a lot of good news--his swelling is down, Wilson's muscles are moving again, the only lingering issue is a cut above the eye from the ice.

What are the doctor's orders moving forward? More rest, more love, more treats--and that's just fine with Hope. The best Christmas gift is just being in Wilson's presence.

Jonah Kaplan

Jonah Kaplan is WCCO and CBS News Minnesota's investigative reporter and has built a strong reputation for his balanced and in-depth coverage of high-impact issues including the economy, immigration, education, public safety, and the military, among others.

Twitter Facebook