Found: Horse missing since Sept. 20 located

By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com

SANDHILLS GAME LANDS — Bliss, a 5-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse that was reported missing on Sept. 20 after getting separated from owner Jennifer Williams, has been found.

Submitted photo
David Mattocks, Ben Patterson and Grayson McQueen stand with Bliss, missing since Sept. 20. He was found earlier today, Oct. 3.

“He’s in pretty good shape,” said Ollie Greene, who will keep Bliss at her place north of Roberdel until Williams returns from Cocke County, Tenn.

Greene said when Bliss was found early Friday, the saddle was upside down and the girth had rubbed a spot on his back.

“I think he’ll be okay after he gets some rest and a little bit of food,” Greene said, adding that a little bit of medicine for the spot on the back is in the cards as well.

Greene said a lot of people had been looking for the horse, worth an estimated $5,000. The horse was located by David Mattocks, a wildlife technician with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. He posed for a picture with Bliss along with Grayson McQueen and Ben Patterson.

Greene said she’s already been in touch with Williams by phone. Williams was first notified of the horse’s safe return by Janet Wallace at about 9:30 a.m. Mattocks found Bliss near the intersection of A6 Lane and Naked Creek Lane.

“She’s crying her eyeballs out,” Greene said.

And during a satellite ride with members of the Sandhills Trail Ride group that had started at the J. Robert Gordon Field Trial Area, Williams came off Bliss. Another rider stepped towards Bliss to grab hold of his bridle. Bliss was spooked, and ran.

Bliss hadn’t been seen since. Tonight, though, Bliss and Williams will be reunited after she makes the nearly five-hour drive from eastern Tennessee.

“I’m just ecstatic,” Williams said. “I’m jumping out of my shoes right now. I’m so grateful to everybody, for everybody’s help. Today is the best day ever.”

Williams was riding with a small group on Sept. 20 at a rather fast pace when she fell off on a sharp turn. She wasn’t injured. She looked up at Bliss and said, “whoa, boy.”

Williams said Bliss likely would have stayed put but a man come running up to help. That spooked Bliss. Bliss ran.

“He didn’t need catching,” Williams said. “He didn’t mean no harm by it.”