MISSING EQUINE King`s Charming Lad, Near La Quinta, CA, 92253
NetPosse Report ID # : 926 (879)
Description : Owner/Rider thrown from horse on Mountain Trail when encountered Big Horn Sheep. Horse ran away. KC and I were riding a steep mountain trail in Santa Rosa Mts. wilderness south of La Quinta California. With most of the trail behind us, we encountered three big horn sheep very near the trail when rounding a bend. KC spooked and spun - hard -with front feet downhill off the trail. I fell off and the sheep and I watched KC disappear up the trail. I followed, and KC turned and looked directly at me twice, but did not come back. Since we were on the downside of the mountain, I was concerned that there was not enough day left for me to continue up after KC. Thinking he would turn and go down, I started down the hill. Meanwhile I contacted my wife who called the sheriff. We got a quick response, and when I arrived at the trail end, the sheriff was there and a helicopter overhead. I was not injured. Sheriff deputies, friends, and myself looked until dark by hiking back up trail until we had to turn around.
At first light the next morning, (Saturday) 8 of us hit the trail on horseback. Riders continued exploring trail offshoots until dark. Meanwhile riders fanned out below in the residential and agricultural areas of the East Coachella Valley. No luck on Saturday. At first light on Sunday morning, I was up with a friend in his airplane and spent three hours combing the mountain and the area below. A skilled CHP officer who has 21 years of traffic flying scanned the area at low altitude as well. No Luck. Now I am busy calling horse people and taking out flyers to convenience stores, vets, feed stories, boarding facilities, ranches, etc.,.
KC is a beautiful, personable horse that is hard to resist. He is one who looks up when you come out of the house, and usually starts for the fence to meet you. He will follow you around like a puppy. Not knowing where he is and what his condition is like is very, very hard for our family. People have been just wonderful to help. Most horsemen believe KC is down the mountain and with someone. I want KC back, but more than anything I just want to know he is OK!
PS There is a Mike's Auction in Norco CA that has auction on Saturday. Norco is a big horse center between here and LA.
Area Last Seen : La Quinta, CA, 92253
Date of Incident : 2/4/2011