The wife of a Montana rodeo coach is facing a life-changing recovery after a terrifying horse accident left her with catastrophic injuries, including the loss of her hand.
Presley Whitaker, the wife of Kyle Whitaker, was seriously injured earlier this week in what the family described as a devastating freak accident involving a horse and rope.
The shocking incident was first shared Monday by the Montana State University Rodeo program, which revealed Presley had been hospitalized after suffering “a bad horse accident.”
At the time, the team said Presley was stable and undergoing surgery but warned she faced “a long road to recovery.”
The following day, Kyle Whitaker shared heartbreaking new details about exactly what happened.
According to Kyle, Presley had a rope become wrapped around her arm during the accident and was violently dragged by a horse.
As she was dragged, Kyle said Presley slammed into a fence, causing horrific injuries that included a broken jaw and the traumatic severing of her hand.
“She got a rope wrapped around her arm and was dragged by a horse,” Kyle explained in a Facebook update.
Doctors reportedly rushed Presley by air ambulance to Salt Lake City in hopes surgeons could reattach her hand.
But according to Kyle, the damage was simply too severe.
He later confirmed doctors were unable to save the hand because of the extent of the injuries.
Presley is expected to remain hospitalized for several more days while doctors continue performing surgeries on her jaw and treating the amputation injuries.
Kyle also revealed the emotional toll the tragedy has taken on the family, saying he still had to explain the devastating news to the couple’s two children, Oakley and Mesa.
“She will need prayers of support and strength as she adjusts to not having her right hand,” he wrote.
“Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement. It’s going to be a tough road, but with all of you in our corner I know we can adjust and still have a good life.”
The heartbreaking accident happened during what should have been a major celebration for the Whitaker family.
Just days earlier, Kyle had been honored as “Big Sky Coach of the Year” after leading years of successful performances with the Bobcats rodeo team.
The MSU Rodeo program praised him for his dedication and leadership, calling it “an incredible honor” that reflected his years of commitment to the team and athletes.
But amid the celebration, the rodeo community quickly shifted its focus toward supporting Presley and her family through the devastating recovery ahead.
The team asked supporters to keep the Whitaker family in their prayers and also shared fundraising efforts to help cover medical expenses.
A GoFundMe page created for the family has already raised thousands of dollars as supporters rally around Presley during her recovery.
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