Flex, a championship endurance horse owned by Houston Peschl from Station Flats, Alberta, went missing after being startled by a bee sting. The disappearance sparked an intense search that spanned several days and involved professional trackers, aircraft, and support from individuals worldwide, including Germany.
Houston and his wife Rosalynn Peschl initially scoured the trails around the West Bragg Creek Day Use trail area on their bikes, but found no trace of Flex. They then turned to social media for help, their plea resonating with many in the horse community who understood their anguish.
Rosalynn Peschl expressed her gratitude for the outpouring of support, stating “There’s a saying that ‘a stranger is a friend you just haven’t met yet,’ and I felt that that was just so incredibly true. These are friends I haven’t met, even though they’ve been so tremendous and pivotal in this whole crazy journey.”
The search operation took a significant turn when Terry Grant, a professional tracker known for his role in six seasons of the Canadian reality TV series Mantracker, joined the effort. He explained to CBC News that finding a horse involves seeking out essentials like water, good forage, and shade.
By Friday, the search efforts escalated further with the involvement of a small airplane. The pilot spotted Flex in a clearing, his saddle still on and exhibiting signs of stress release such as yawning and chewing.
Upon finally securing Flex, Mrs. Peschl expressed her relief to CBC: “By the time I had the halter on him and knew that he was secure, we both just started crying with relief and joy and all of the emotions that have been bubbling under the surface for the last couple of days.”
Houston purchased Flex ten years ago following an unsuccessful stint as a racehorse. Despite his initial timidity around people, Houston managed to forge a strong bond with Flex that led to several endurance championships. Houston considers Flex his best friend.
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