Steamboat Springs — Thirteen-year-old Colton Wheeler has not spent the Routt County Fair the way he would have liked.

Colton prepared all year long to show off his horse and a steer this week at the fair, but instead of competing he has been in a hospital bed recovering from injuries he sustained in being trampled by a cow Saturday night.

Colton was rushed to Yampa Valley Medical Center from the fairgrounds in Hayden after he was attacked by the cow just after 8:30 p.m.

The young man was helping out at the fair during the open horse show when the incident occurred. Colton was opening a gate for the cow when it came at him.

“The cow ran at me,” Colton said Tuesday from his hospital bed. “She trampled me.”

Injuries he suffered include a partially deflated lung and a lacerated kidney.

Since being admitted into the hospital, Colton is recovering quickly from the injuries and is even up and walking, said his parents, Doug and Dorinda Wheeler.

“He suffered no serious damage to his organs,” Dorinda Wheeler said. “His liver has also stopped bleeding.”

The Wheelers said they’re optimistic Colton will be discharged from the hospital today.

The attack was scary for the Wheelers.

“There were about 30 people at the open horse show,” Dorinda Wheeler said. “Colton opened the gate for the cow to be moved, and she got ornery.

“Everyone saw him get trampled. It was horrifying.”