CEDAR CITY, Utah -- A sanctuary in Colorado stepped up to help a young horse recover after it was found frozen to the ground in southern Utah.
Dream Catcher Therapy Center in Olathe, Colo. lent the Cedar City rescue a $4,300 sling that will help "Elsa" the horse stand, said Paula Isenbarg, board member for Dust Devil's Horse Sanctuary.
The cost of shipping, approximately $760, was covered by the international renowned horse trainer, Pat Parelli, who now focuses on raising the level of horsemanship.
The sling arrived in Cedar City Friday.
Isenbarg said veterinarians are optimistic of Elsa's progression but she still has a long way to go.
"She suffered a severe physical insult," Isenbarg said.
Isenbarg said Elsa's best chance of survival is getting in the sling.
"She needs to be on her feet a lot more and she's just not strong enough to do it," she said.
The young horse and its mother were found last week, and they were malnourished. Both animals are in recovery at Dust Devil Ranch Horse Sanctuary.
The horse had to be pried off the frozen ground, and officials said the animals were so malnourished that on a scale of one to 10 they scored a one. They said the horse was so weak it couldn't lift its head.
The owner of the horses faces animal cruelty charges.
Related story: Southern Utah officers rescue horses from freezing conditions
