CATSKILL — A miniature horse is in stable condition after being hit by a train early Wednesday morning. 

The Greene County Sheriff’s Office received a call shortly before 5 a.m. that a horse was on the tracks just south of the village of Catskill. When deputies arrived, they found the miniature horse, Teddy, had been struck in his left hindquarters by a train and was going into shock. His companion, another miniature horse named Duke, remains at large.

With the help of a local horse rescue organization, Teddy was transported to Rhinebeck Equine, where he is expected to undergo treatment for approximately two weeks.

“Horses hit by trains usually don’t survive,” Unbridled Sanctuary Founder Susan Kayne said. “It’s a miracle he survived.”

It was not immediately clear how Teddy ended up on the train tracks, but police were able to locate his owner, who relinquished the miniature horse to Unbridled Sanctuary so he could receive life-saving treatment. Kayne estimates Teddy’s care will cost about $7,500.

Miniature horses typically stand between 34 and 38 inches tall at the shoulder and usually weigh between 150 and 350 pounds. Teddy took the brunt of the impact on his left hindquarters, which was cut up so much his hip bone was practically exposed, Kayne said. He also sustained a fractured rib and a fractured vertebra.

“The injuries are pretty extensive, but he can certainly recover from them with the right care,” Kayne said. “We got him there just in time.”

Kayne commended law enforcement for keeping Teddy comfortable and calm throughout the ordeal.

“It was a Herculean effort on their part,” she said.

Greene County Sheriff’s Capt. Joel Rowell said the initial call for help came from a train passing through the area, but was unsure whether the caller was on the train that struck Teddy or another train. It was not immediately known which company owned the train that struck Teddy. The investigation is ongoing, Rowell said.

As long as Teddy continues to heal, Kayne expects he will be discharged in about two weeks and then come to live at the sanctuary in Greenville. 

“He’s a very lucky little horse,” Kayne said. “I’m so glad we could help.”