A horse named Flex, who bolted from the trail in a remote area of Alberta, was successfully found after a dramatic search involving professional trackers, aircraft, and even emotional support from people as far away as Germany.
Flex, a championship endurance horse and close companion to Houston Peschl of Bragg Creek, took off after being stung by a bee while Houston was saddling him. The horse’s sudden flight led to a frantic search that stretched over several days.
Initially, Houston scoured the trails around the West Bragg Creek Day Use area on his bike, but with no sign of Flex, he and his wife turned to social media for help. The response from their horse community and beyond was overwhelming.
“There’s a saying that ‘a stranger is a friend you just haven’t met yet,’ and I felt that was so incredibly true,” Rosalynn Peschl, Houston’s wife, said. “These are friends I haven’t met, yet they have been so pivotal in this whole crazy journey.”
The search intensified when professional tracker Terry Grant, known from the Canadian reality TV series Mantracker, joined the effort on Thursday. Grant, who sympathized with the Peschl’s situation, took time off from work to assist.
“Looking for a horse involves finding the essentials they need—water, good forage, and shade,” Grant explained to CBC News.
The breakthrough came on Friday morning when a small airplane was added to the search. A neighbor and pilot spotted a horse with a saddle in a clearing, showing signs of stress relief like yawning and chewing.
“When I had the halter on him and knew he was secure, we both started crying with relief and joy,” Mrs. Peschl shared about the emotional moment.
Houston had acquired Flex ten years ago after a failed career in racing. Though initially timid and nervous, Houston built a strong bond with him, leading to several endurance championships. Houston considers Flex his best friend, a sentiment clearly mutual.