In the fall of 2023 two horses visiting our area became lost in the Big South Fork National Recreation area after being stung and frightened on a trail by a nest of yellow jackets. The horses were never found. They could have run for miles, they could have been injured in rough terrain, they could have gone into a ravine or fallen off a rock ledge.
Since this is my home riding area, many of us spent many hours on horseback and on foot looking for these horses, so we were all super-aware that the same thing could happen to our horses in similar circumstances. Many people invested in trackers and expensive tools and apps to find their horses if they became lost.
I opted to purchase EquestriSafe fetlock bands for my horses. I know that both of my geldings are very experienced trail horses who know how to take care of themselves on the trail. The fetlock bands are bright and visible so that someone might spot them. They are also both social horses who would most likely try to find other horses or even farms or hikers with or without dogs if they were able to. With the fetlock bands, even if they had lost their tack, a finder could easily contact me.
Thank God that my horses have not been separated from me since I purchased the bands!! But I also purchased fetlock bands for several of my rider friends’ horses as Christmas gifts.
One other funny comment——
We travel to a large equestrian resort in Florida for part of the winter. Last year we shared a barn with a team of Dutch Warmbloods who compete in Combined Driving. Their owner is a Canadian from Quebec who spoke very little English. I kept the fetlock bands on my horses because, although there was good perimeter fencing on the grounds, you never know when a horse could escape his paddock or stall and be wandering. When our French Canadian friend saw the bands on my horses, he comically asked, “Have your horses recently been released from prison?” “No, they’re not ankle bracelets because they’re on probation!” Ha, ha!!
Regina Broughton
Jamestown, TN
8/31/2024
