Horse Ran Off on a Trail Ride? Lessons From Sue's Week in Yellowstone

What to do if your horse ran off on a trail ride

If your horse ran off on a trail ride, stop, make sure every rider is safe, and don't chase him: most spooked horses stop once the fright wears off, often within about a quarter mile, and then graze or drift back toward their herd. Go back to the spot where he bolted with a calm buddy horse and some feed, check open grass, water and the route to the trailer, and tell rangers or landowners right away.

That's the short version. A palomino named Sue just showed why each step matters, and why what's strapped to your horse (and to you) when he leaves can change everything.

Sue's week lost in Yellowstone

Sue is a 15-year-old palomino gelding from Idaho's Teton Valley. On the evening of Friday, Oct. 9, he was on a packing trip out of the Bechler Ranger Station, Yellowstone's most remote entrance in the park's southwest corner, Cowboy State Daily reported.

Near Dunanda Falls, about eight miles from the ranger station, Sue slipped and fell. His rider ended up underneath him, unhurt but without glasses, and Sue got up and ran into the wilderness still saddled and bridled.

• The group searched for about an hour until dark, then rode back in on Saturday, and friends searched again Sunday.
• The family notified Yellowstone Dispatch, offered a $1,000 reward, drove the service roads and visited hunting camps.
• The family believed the rider's phone was in Sue's saddle and hoped it would lead them to him. But its battery was dead, so Find My couldn't help, and the carrier declined to ping it.

Then the good news. Family members found Sue about half a mile from Dunanda Falls after about a week. Cowboy State Daily says it happened on the afternoon of Friday, Oct. 16, and the owner's "Sue found" update ran on Teton Valley Wire on Oct. 17.

Sue was easy to catch and had no apparent injuries. He came home missing a bridle and a little weight. The rider later said the phone turned out not to be on the saddle after all, but it was still lost. Back in Teton Valley, he reportedly ran straight out of the trailer into his pasture.

Why a loose horse still in tack is in extra danger

The family told reporters they weren't too worried about food or water, because the area had plenty of both. Their real fear was the gear, and that's the lesson for every trail rider.

• Reins can loop over a branch or get stepped on. A horse that steps through a rein can panic, fall or hurt his mouth.
• A slipping saddle can roll toward the belly as the cinch loosens, which can trip him or set off another bolt.
• A bit and bridle make grazing and drinking awkward, so he may lose condition faster.
• Getting snagged is the worst case: a horse caught on a tree can't reach water or move away from weather or predators.

So the clock matters more with a tacked-up horse than with one that slipped out of a pasture in a halter. Start the search fast and keep it going.

Where lost horses tend to go

Horses are herd animals and creatures of habit, so their routes are more predictable than they feel in a panic. Guides from EQUUS and Horse Illustrated describe the same patterns:

• Back toward the last spot. That's where he last saw his herd. Sue was found only about half a mile from where he ran off.
• Water. Creeks, rivers and ponds, especially after the first day.
• Grass and open ground. Loose horses prefer meadows and paths over thick timber, and often travel uphill along trails.
• Home base. The trailer, trailhead, camp or barn, if it's within reach.
• Other horses. A neighboring pasture, an outfitter's string or a hunting camp.

Lost horse on the trail: a step-by-step search plan

In the first hour

1. People first. Check every rider for injuries before anything else.
2. Keep the other horses together and quiet. A loose horse that can still see or hear them may come back on his own.
3. Don't chase. Running after him on foot or horseback usually pushes him farther away.
4. Mark the spot. Drop a pin on your phone or note landmarks where he bolted.
5. Call it in. On public land, contact park dispatch or rangers. On private land, call the landowner or sheriff. Call 911 if he could reach a road.

Later that day or the next morning

1. Return to where he bolted, slowly, with a calm buddy horse he knows. Horses often call to or walk up to a familiar horse before you ever see them.
2. Bring feed you can rattle, plus a halter and lead rope.
3. Work the patterns: grass, water, trails and uphill paths, then the trailer.
4. Leave someone at the trailer or camp in case he heads home.
5. Read the ground. Fresh tracks are easiest to follow after rain or snow, especially if he wears shoes.

Day two and beyond

1. Spread the word. Tell rangers, trailhead boards, outfitters and camps. Sue's family made sure everyone entering the Bechler area knew.
2. Make flyers if he isn't found within a day with clear front and side photos, markings and your number.
3. Have brand or microchip numbers ready, and post with lost-horse networks and local riding groups.
4. Don't give up early. Sue turned up after about a week.

When you spot him, approach slowly and quietly with food. If you have no lead, a belt or rope around his neck can get you started. For the full technique, see our guide on how to catch a loose horse.

How to prevent it: halter, ID tags, GPS and your phone

Ride with a halter under the bridle

If the bridle breaks or comes off, as Sue's did, a halter gives anyone a way to catch and lead him. Trainer Julie Goodnight, writing in Horse&Rider, suggests a flat nylon breakaway halter set high on the nose so it doesn't interfere with the bit. Unclip the lead rope while you ride and stash it in a saddlebag rather than leaving it dangling, where a foot could step through it.

Put horse ID tags on your tack

A stranger may find your horse before they find you. Attach a tag with your name, phone number and an emergency contact to the halter, bridle and saddle. A luggage tag works, and an engraved metal tag lasts longer. Brands and microchips help prove ownership later.

Consider a GPS tracker for horses

Trackers come in a few types, and the backcountry is where the differences show.

• Bluetooth tags rely on nearby phones to report their location, so they help little where few people go.
• Cellular GPS trackers report live but need cell coverage.
• Satellite devices work beyond cell range but cost more and need a charged battery.

Fasten the tracker to the halter or breast collar, not a saddlebag that can come off, and charge it before every ride.

Carry your phone on your body

During Sue's search, the family thought the rider's phone was riding away in his saddle, and that phone is still lost. A phone on a runaway horse can't call for help. Keep your phone, ID, a paper map and a small knife in a zipped pocket or a phone holster on your body, so they stay with you if you part ways with your horse.

Never ride the backcountry alone

A partner can ride for help, hold horses and keep a loose horse calm by staying put. Leave your route and return time with someone at home. In Yellowstone, private riders also need a free day-ride permit (or a backcountry permit for overnights) and proof of a negative Coggins test from the past 12 months for each animal.

Add a first aid kit to your saddlebag, and check our safety section and tack and equipment guide for fit tips.

Another Yellowstone horse to watch: Evie

Sue isn't the only horse riders around Yellowstone are thinking about. Evie, a 6-year-old mustang, has been loose near the park's northern boundary since July, and recovery efforts are ongoing.

What to do before your next trail ride

• Tag your tack tonight. Halter, bridle and saddle, with a phone number that will actually be answered.
• Practice catching your horse in a big field, so it's easy when it counts.
• Test your tracker and phone signal at the trailhead before you head out.
• Know who to call: save the park, forest or landowner number in your phone.
• Work on leaving the group calmly if your horse frets away from his friends; our buddy-sour horse guide can help.
• Riding with kids? Review horse safety for kids together, including what to do when a horse gets loose.

Sue's story ended with a horse trotting into his own pasture. A few minutes with tags, a halter and a zipped pocket make that ending more likely for yours.