Missing Horse Rescued After Seven Months in Wyoming

MISSING HORSE FOUND ALIVE AFTER SEVEN MONTHS IN WYOMING MOUNTAINS
Volunteers use raft, snowmobiles and snowcat to rescue horse stranded deep in Wind River Range

By Stolen Horse International, NetPosse.com and AI

DUBOIS, Wyo. (SH/NetPosse/AI) — A horse that had been missing in the rugged Wind River Range for more than seven months was found alive and brought to safety this week after a coordinated effort by volunteers using snowmobiles, a snowcat and other equipment.

Stolen Horse International (NetPosse), a nonprofit dedicated to locating and recovering missing and stolen horses, celebrated Mouse’s safe return. The organization notes that horses can be recovered months or even years after disappearing, regardless of the circumstances of their disappearance.

“Mouse’s story is a powerful reminder that lost horses can be found, and it reinforces why we do this work,” said Debi Metcalfe, president of Stolen Horse International. “We are thrilled that Mouse was located and reunited with his owners.”

Mouse, a quarter horse, disappeared in July 2025 during a back-country packing trip near Moon Lake, according to people involved in the recovery effort. The animal was spotted Jan. 18 by a snowmobiler who recognized him and marked his location with GPS coordinates.

Mouse, a quarter horse, disappeared in July during a backcountry trip near Moon Lake, according to people involved in the recovery effort. Search attempts in the following months were unsuccessful, but the animal was spotted Jan. 18 by a snowmobiler who recognized it in deep snow in the mountains.

The horse’s approximate location was marked using GPS, and volunteers returned in the days that followed to feed and care for Mouse while planning his extraction. Deep snow, estimated at six to seven feet, made travel on foot difficult, prompting the use of specialized machines to reach him.

On Sunday, the rescue team employed what they described as a one-horse open sleigh technique. Mouse was loaded into a whitewater raft, which was then towed by snowmobile across the snow to a waiting snowcat. The groomed vehicle carried the horse the rest of the way out of the backcountry.

Mouse stepped right into the raft and lay down, according to one rescuer, who noted the horse appeared exhausted but calm. The group reached the edge of the high country by mid-afternoon, and the reunion with Mouse’s owners was emotional.

Rescuers said Mouse was in surprisingly good condition considering the long ordeal and had survived by finding food, water and sheltered bedding areas in the mountains.

Organizers praised the collaborative effort, saying the rescue would not have been possible without volunteers, local outfitters and specialized equipment.

Mouse is now back with his owners, who plan to continue monitoring his recovery.

If you have a missing horse, report it to Stolen Horse International, NetPosse— hope is never lost, and every horse has a chance to come home.

Resources:

Cowboy State Daily: https://cowboystatedaily.com/2026/01/27/long-lost-horse-found-and-rescued-after-seven-months-in-wind-river-mountains

Mouse’s Journey Home: https://mousesjourney.my.canva.site/ 

Union Pass Rentals: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1534391490979928 

This article was generated with the assistance of AI