The wife of Montana State University's rodeo team coach has lost her hand in a freak accident after she was dragged by a horse into a fence.
Presley Whitaker, the wife of the Bobcats coach Kyle Whitaker, was left with severe injuries on Tuesday.
In a Facebook post, Kyle Whitaker, 49, said his wife got tangled in a rope and was dragged by the horse until she slammed into a fence.
'(Presley) broke her jaw and severed her hand,' the post said. 'She was flown to Salt Lake City last night and they attempted to reattach her hand, but there was too much damage done already.'
The mother of five will remain hospitalized to have surgery on her jaw and additional work on the amputation.
'She will need prayers of support and strength as she adjusts to not having her right hand,' Whitaker said.
'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 rodeo coach added that he and Presley have not told their two youngest daughters, Oakley and Mesa, about the gruesome injury as he asked for 'prayers of guidance for how to break this' to them.
Presley Whitaker, the wife of Montana State University rodeo team coach Kyle Whitaker, lost her hand in a freak accident when a horse dragged her by a rope into a fence
The mother-of-five lost her hand and broke her jaw in the 'gruesome' incident, her husband said and she remains hospitalized following multiple surgeries
Whitaker shared the news on the same day that he was named Big Sky Coach of the Year, following a highly successful season with the Montana State Bobcats.
He said that he was not with Presley when she suffered her horrific injuries but thanked his team for donating private jets to race him and her mother to Salt Lake to be with her.
'We have the most generous supporters and it truly is a big family here,' he wrote.
He described the freak accident as a 'gruesome scene' in his post.
The Montana State Bobcats added in a statement that the Whitaker family is 'in need of prayers' following the accident.
'She is stable and in surgery but is looking at a long road to recovery. Our Bobcat family immediately jumped in to support and help the Whitaker family during this time but please keep them in their prayers,' the team said.
'We are reminded to be thankful for the immense support we have through Bobcat Nation, and to treasure every minute, once again.'
The rodeo coach added that he and Presley have not told their two youngest daughters Oakley and Mesa about the gruesome injury, as he asked for 'prayers of guidance for how to break' the news to them
A fundraiser set up for the Whitakers says that more injuries may be uncovered as the swelling subsides
A GoFundMe set up by Presley's friend Allexa Schumacher has raised over $6,000 in the day since the accident.
Schumacher said that beyond her broken jaw and severed hand, Presley's recovery is complicated by 'injuries still unknown due to swelling.'
'In the coming days/weeks she will undergo more surgeries to fix the damage done,' she wrote in the fundraiser.
'Presley’s husband Kyle and her mom Sherry are in Utah with her now. Her dad will be joining soon.
'At this time it is unknown how long her family will be away from their home so the expenses will add up fast as everyone has to travel in.'