On June 29, a 13-hand chestnut mustang got loose from a farm near Liberty Reservoir and has been on the run ever since. The horse has eluded capture by traveling at night and hiding by day. He is not a domesticated horse so his survival skills are fully developed.
There have been many social media posts with potential sightings, suggested capture tactics, and volunteer rescue efforts. Many in our community are understandably eager to see the horse re-captured safely and placed with a kind and knowledgeable caretaker.
The authorities have, however, asked the public not to get involved. Both the Department of Natural Resources and the Humane Society of Carroll County have asked the public not to approach the horse and not to post public sightings on social media. Human interference could force him deeper into hiding.
If you do see the horse, please call one of these numbers:
- Carroll County Animal Control: (410) 848-4810. Staffed 24/7 via telephone prompts to reach an animal control officer on duty.
- Carroll County Sheriff’s Office (Non-Emergency): (410) 386-2900. Use this to report the horse if it is creating an immediate traffic hazard on local roads.
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD DNR): 1-877-620-8367 (Toll-free in MD) or (410) 260-8367.
Call 911 immediately if you see the horse posing a direct threat to drivers.
