Ken Berkland Finds Missing Horse
'Mo' Is Back Home, and OK, After Search
By Ryan Schlehuber

Mo, who had been missing since October 4 near Trout Lake, was found by a hunter October 28. Although weak after losing weight, the horse has now recovered and is home in Walloon Lake. (Photograph courtesy of Sue Lyons)

The search for Mo, the missing horse that was advertised in The St. Ignace News, ended after a hunter found him alive but weak Sunday, October 28, only a halfmile from where he escaped in the Trout Lake area October 4.

Bruce Bergman of Moran, a retired farrier who is familiar with the horse owned by Sue Lyons of Walloon Lake, said Mo was found by Ken Berkland of Rudyard in a swampy area on high ground near the camp. Mrs. Lyons and friends were enjoying a week-long horse riding excursion the week of October 4, until Mo escaped.

The horse somehow escaped while tied to a post, Mr. Bergman said.

Mr. Bergman suspects Mo was chased by wolves while he was missing, since he was skittish when his owners tried to retrieve him.

"He's okay," said Mr. Bergman. "He lost a little weight, but he's doing fine."

Mrs. Lyons said, had it been another couple of days, Mo probably would not have survived.

"I was so dysfunctional while he was missing that whole month," said Mrs. Lyons, who went along with a small team of friends to retrieve the 13-year-old Anglo- Arab horse. "We met the hunter who found him and then we walked through the swamp to get to Mo. We walked past a second ridge and there he was, the handsome boy, standing there with his wonderful Mo look."

Mo was treated by Mr. Bergman's niece, a veterinarian, who was accompanying Mrs. Lyons on the excursion. Mrs. Lyons said he has now regained his weight, owing to being treated with special feed, and is home in Walloon Lake playing with other horses.

"We had about 10 people looking for him each day he was missing, we handed out posters and fliers, and I've had many phone calls," said Mr. Bergman. "I really thank everyone that helped and those people that were concerned for the horse."

Mr. Berkland, the helpful hunter, was rewarded with a $500 check from Mrs. Lyons.