I grew up in the pre-cell phone era. Therefore, I grew up in the “don’t ride by yourself” era. There would be no way of contacting anyone if you got into trouble on a trail by yourself. Not all that long ago, I realized the time had come that I could probably break that rule.
On my very first solo adventure, my horse and I parted ways. We were riding in a familiar, well-maintained park It just so happened to have some woven wire down and covered in vegetation. One of Kaden’s shoes became stuck in the wire.
I dismounted to figure out the problem. He spun quickly, disengaged his shoe, and knocked me onto the ground as he spun. And then, of course, he trotted off. It is NOT a comfortable feeling to be walking around on hundreds of acres, in your riding boots, hollering for your horse. Fortunately, another rider quickly caught him and we were reunited.
NetPosse.com
I recently read a post about someone searching for a lost horse. There were several tips and trick given as to where to look for your missing equine buddy. This particular incident occurred in 2013, and here is a Facebook page excitedly announcing the recovery of the horse. One of the best tips given in that forum post was to check out NetPosse.com.
A couple in Idaho searching for their lost horse founded NetPosse in 1997. (Stolen Horse International is the new name.) It took nearly a year, but eventually, they were reunited with their mare.
The original purpose of the organization was to assist people whose horses were stolen. However, it has broadened into a resource for the distraught owners of all lost, missing, or stolen horses. There is a page to sign up for newsletters that are region-specific. Options for reporting missing horses are available, as well as numerous links detailing stories of currently missing equines. Check it out, it is a valuable resource that deserves a bookmark!
Plan ahead!
And while you are arming yourself with knowledge, be prepared! In the horrific event that your horse goes missing, add an ID MyHorse Emergency Identification tag to your saddle. Alternatively, you can braid into the mane. Wear one on your belt when you ride. Make sure you and your buddy have all necessary emergency information readily available to rescuers. Happy Trails in 2018!
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