CANADA Canada - Ben Tyner, 32, cowboy, his horse returned w/o him, Merritt, British Columbia, 26 Jan 2019

[cutter99]

I think it needs to be emphasized that when a search is suspended, it is not because SAR decided they just didn’t feel like going out and searching that particular day.

Searches are suspended to 1) keep the people searching safe from bad weather, potentially dangerous situations, etc., and 2) to not waste resources critical to SAR. They might stop searching in order to reorganize based on information already gained through the search.

Many people who participate in SAR are volunteers. Not only volunteers, but volunteers who rely on donations and fundraising to keep their SAR operational.

Sadly, the reality of Ben being alive out there has rapidly dwindled every day he is missing. Experienced SAR people know this and have chosen not to risk the safety and lives of others knowing this. I have much respect and admiration for their willingness to risk their lives for those of others.

 

[Hatfield]

Ben heading out on his own doesn't surprise me. He is a seasoned "Cowboy". I do not believe the weather was that adverse when he set out but it certainly became adverse days later. Cowboys I know tend to be independent or "loners". It was Ben's day off and he had no reason to invite or take anyone along imo. I honestly, and I hate to admit this and say it out loud, do not think he has survived what he may have "encountered or experienced" in the last approx 11 days. I pray I am wrong and I do pray for his safety, I so want to have this mystery solved with a happy ending but I just do not feel that is going to be the case.

One of the articles that someone posted here said that part of the problem trying to track him was because of ongoing logging in the area as well as wild horses. With regard to logging, I think the article indicated that some areas he may have traveled had been logged over since he went missing. That worries me, especially if he were laying incapacitated or injured. Some have mentioned that they hope he made it to some remote cabin "out there" to either hunker down or heal but I have not heard any mention of, nor seen, any remote cabin in the area. Also, I think given the extensive search, that any cabin anywhere near the area he went missing has been or was searched because like minds think alike.

I personally do not feel foul play was involved but I do agree that a case for foul play can certainly be made. I think he had an accident. I think the elements are, and were, against him and I hope he is recovered, if not located alive, so that questions may be answered as to his disappearance.

JMO
Just read through a lot of posts on this case to catch up.

I agree that the most likely thing that happened is he was thrown by the horse because the horse may have reared up and got afraid of something. I've been on a horse that reared up unexpectedly and it is sudden and if you are not ready for it then you can easily get thrown off backwards or off to the side.

In the winter there are less things that can spook a horse because things like snakes are usually not out. But other living wild animals may approach him and his horse out of curiosity or if they were hungry they may approach. Which could have scared his horse. Even other wild horses in a pack may have approached.

If anyone has ever been out to a cattle farm or horse farm then you know what I mean. When you pull up in a vehicle or walk up to the fence of corralled horses then some or all the horses will typically approach you because they think you are there to give them feed.

In the wild if any animal was really hungry they may have approached him and his horse. Which in turn may have spooked his horse to rear back on the hind legs and could have thrown him. So if he fell wrong then he may have hurt his leg or head where he could not travel well on foot.

Another easy thing that may have went wrong is the horse stumbled and fell on its own. That happens more frequently than people realize. They are usually sure footed but they can stumble. Especially in rough terrain.

But the important thing too is even if he was uninjured then depending on how far in the wildnerness he was then trying to walk back out on foot may be awfully difficult since his supplies were with the horse. So no matter how he got separated from the horse, he was still in dire straits due to the cold weather. He would need shelter and water immediately and then as the days passed he would need to try to find some food of some sort.

I hope there are still people searching for him because people have been known to survive amazing predicaments and I hope they keep looking for another couple weeks at least. He may have gotten lucky to find a stream and some shelter that could keep him alive for a lot longer than expected.

Prayers for him and any friends or family he has.

 

[zecats]

JMO
Just read through a lot of posts on this case to catch up.

I agree that the most likely thing that happened is he was thrown by the horse because the horse may have reared up and got afraid of something. I've been on a horse that reared up unexpectedly and it is sudden and if you are not ready for it then you can easily get thrown off backwards or off to the side.

In the winter there are less things that can spook a horse because things like snakes are usually not out. But other living wild animals may approach him and his horse out of curiosity or if they were hungry they may approach. Which could have scared his horse. Even other wild horses in a pack may have approached.

If anyone has ever been out to a cattle farm or horse farm then you know what I mean. When you pull up in a vehicle or walk up to the fence of corralled horses then some or all the horses will typically approach you because they think you are there to give them feed.

In the wild if any animal was really hungry they may have approached him and his horse. Which in turn may have spooked his horse to rear back on the hind legs and could have thrown him. So if he fell wrong then he may have hurt his leg or head where he could not travel well on foot.

Another easy thing that may have went wrong is the horse stumbled and fell on its own. That happens more frequently than people realize. They are usually sure footed but they can stumble. Especially in rough terrain.

But the important thing too is even if he was uninjured then depending on how far in the wildnerness he was then trying to walk back out on foot may be awfully difficult since his supplies were with the horse. So no matter how he got separated from the horse, he was still in dire straits due to the cold weather. He would need shelter and water immediately and then as the days passed he would need to try to find some food of some sort.

I hope there are still people searching for him because people have been known to survive amazing predicaments and I hope they keep looking for another couple weeks at least. He may have gotten lucky to find a stream and some shelter that could keep him alive for a lot longer than expected.

Prayers for him and any friends or family he has.

Who knows how far out he actually rode and how far he would have to walk to find safety or to return to the ranch. The official Facebook page makes mention of one Ben's feet having been injured because of the horse stepping on it last August. Not sure if that would still hinder his walking ability, but it's something to consider.

MISSING: BEN TYNER

 

[Trudie]

Ben heading out on his own doesn't surprise me. He is a seasoned "Cowboy". I do not believe the weather was that adverse when he set out but it certainly became adverse days later. Cowboys I know tend to be independent or "loners". It was Ben's day off and he had no reason to invite or take anyone along imo. I honestly, and I hate to admit this and say it out loud, do not think he has survived what he may have "encountered or experienced" in the last approx 11 days. I pray I am wrong and I do pray for his safety, I so want to have this mystery solved with a happy ending but I just do not feel that is going to be the case.

One of the articles that someone posted here said that part of the problem trying to track him was because of ongoing logging in the area as well as wild horses. With regard to logging, I think the article indicated that some areas he may have traveled had been logged over since he went missing. That worries me, especially if he were laying incapacitated or injured. Some have mentioned that they hope he made it to some remote cabin "out there" to either hunker down or heal but I have not heard any mention of, nor seen, any remote cabin in the area. Also, I think given the extensive search, that any cabin anywhere near the area he went missing has been or was searched because like minds think alike.

I personally do not feel foul play was involved but I do agree that a case for foul play can certainly be made. I think he had an accident. I think the elements are, and were, against him and I hope he is recovered, if not located alive, so that questions may be answered as to his disappearance.

I agree, he must be found.
I’m not concerned he left his dog home. I’m assuming he has a border/Aussie or healer, all can be a nuisance & no matter how well trained, the opportunity for them to get kicked or butted is huge. On large acreage, they can be hard to control. I wondered about the wild horses, I had an encounter (riding mare) with a small herd of wild horses & the stud horse wouldn’t leave us alone. Ben was riding a gelding & was likely aware of the horses, probably avoiding them.
Sadly, with the passing of each day, things are not favorable, imo.

 

[Trudie]

If they could get a helicopter in that's plausible. By regulation, planes have to be 500 feet above the ground in rural areas (in the US anyway, Canada probably has similar law) Having done SAR as a pilot it's almost impossible to spot a human from 500 feet in wooded terrain unless they've got a flare or a fire.

Thanks Grace.
As mentioned previously, his horse had full tack, I assume the saddle bags held any provisions Ben packed for his ride. So, I doubt he had a flare.
Hatfield: I’ve had them rear up and fall back on me, lose footing & fall on their side (not good for my leg...OUCH), so yea, all things are possible.
Ze: tysm for info about his foot, I missed that.
Fingers crossed. If I lived in the area, no matter the weather, I’d be out there.
All I can do is pray for him.

 

[zecats]

Thanks Grace.
As mentioned previously, his horse had full tack, I assume the saddle bags held any provisions Ben packed for his ride. So, I doubt he had a flare.
Hatfield: I’ve had them rear up and fall back on me, lose footing & fall on their side (not good for my leg...OUCH), so yea, all things are possible.
Ze: tysm for info about his foot, I missed that.
Fingers crossed. If I lived in the area, no matter the weather, I’d be out there.
All I can do is pray for him.

So sad to have to agree, reluctantly. I just don't know what else to think is possible. It's been 11 days and no sign of him, not a word, no sudden "here I am" appearance. Anything is always possible, as I've learned on here at WS. I want to believe in the "Is there a cabin or a shelter out there somewhere?" idea. I can't imagine those wouldn't have been checked if they do, indeed, exist.

And no sign of him, IMO, means they haven't found the exact spot where something is to be found. Reminds me of a quote from another missing man on WS (Paul Miller-missing from JTNP since last July). "If you can't find something (someone),you're not looking in the right place." There must be some evidence out there somewhere to indicate what happened. JMO

Heartbreaking.

 

[Hatfield]

So sad to have to agree, reluctantly. I just don't know what else to think is possible. It's been 11 days and no sign of him, not a word, no sudden "here I am" appearance. Anything is always possible, as I've learned on here at WS. I want to believe in the "Is there a cabin or a shelter out there somewhere?" idea. I can't imagine those wouldn't have been checked if they do, indeed, exist.

And no sign of him, IMO, means they haven't found the exact spot where something is to be found. Reminds me of a quote from another missing man on WS (Paul Miller-missing from JTNP since last July). "If you can't find something (someone),you're not looking in the right place." There must be some evidence out there somewhere to indicate what happened. JMO

Heartbreaking.

Similarly, I remember one of our SARs also saying that even when you find nothing then that is a positive because you now know where he is not, so keep looking elsewhere.

 

[Equestrian]

For those looking for detailed maps of the area, I believe this app gives detailed maps, in addition to other information:
Hunt Buddy BC | A Better Way to Read the Regulations

 

[Songbird1973]

good point that should be cleared up, imo.
The thought that Ben went out looking for stray cows was a guess
by representatives of the ranch early on. A guess. No one knew
why or where he was going. There is no information about his
reason for riding out the day he left.

It really wasn't a guess. Most news articles clearly state that the idea that Ben was in the Swakum Ridge area searching for strays came from other area ranchers. This article says that the reason the ranchers thought that, is because he had done it before.

Discovery of riderless horse prompts search for missing B.C. 'cowboy'

"They're concentrating search efforts on the hills northwest of Merritt after learning Tyner often used his day off to search that area for cattle belonging to the ranch."

 

[Hatfield]

It really wasn't a guess. Most news articles clearly state that the idea that Ben was in the Swakum Ridge area searching for strays came from other area ranchers. This article says that the reason the ranchers thought that, is because he had done it before.

Discovery of riderless horse prompts search for missing B.C. 'cowboy'

"They're concentrating search efforts on the hills northwest of Merritt after learning Tyner often used his day off to search that area for cattle belonging to the ranch."

Searching for strays makes perfect sense. Maybe its a way to make extra money because I wonder if he would get a money bonus if he found a stray. The owner of the cattle surely would benefit from having all the cows where they belong so I would guess the owners may have a small monetary reward program in place for any of the ranch hands that choose to look for strays on their own time.

 

[Trudie]

Another thing, even if there’s not an organized SAR, nothing prevent men like KR from looking! I’m sure there’s many cowboys looking for their western bro.

 

[Gracie55]

Almost have to think he was injured upon parting company with the horse. Take your pick of scenarios. Accidents on horseback are all too frequent whether the horse's behavior is the cause or not. The terrain sounds beautiful but beauty can be a disguise for danger. Riding alone out there? I guess they do it but sounds risky to me.
I doubt any structures wouldn't have been checked. Any sheltered land features?
So. Got to think outside the boxes. He may be in a different location than they've been searching in thing because of the wild horse tracks. If the wild horses were nearby his horse could've felt the call of the wild and traveled with the band a ways. My horse spooked right out from under me once when a pasture mate decided to lark around and he made a sudden bolt to follow her. Riding bareback was dumb but I didn't have time to saddle up and just wanted to let my (I thought) dependable gelding carry me around a few minutes before other obligations had to be met. Note to self: Never do that again. Point being horse might've been tempted to devilmemtvwhere wild horses were encountered.
Can the trackers follow the trail of this wild band? They likely retrace their paths in search of forage. Maybe his horse made a bolt for freedom
I hope searchers will be back out after rethinking things, if the weather has cleared.
Prayers for all involved.

 

[Trudie]

Almost have to think he was injured upon parting company with the horse. Take your pick of scenarios. Accidents on horseback are all too frequent whether the horse's behavior is the cause or not. The terrain sounds beautiful but beauty can be a disguise for danger. Riding alone out there? I guess they do it but sounds risky to me.
I doubt any structures wouldn't have been checked. Any sheltered land features?
So. Got to think outside the boxes. He may be in a different location than they've been searching in thing because of the wild horse tracks. If the wild horses were nearby his horse could've felt the call of the wild and traveled with the band a ways. My horse spooked right out from under me once when a pasture mate decided to lark around and he made a sudden bolt to follow her. Riding bareback was dumb but I didn't have time to saddle up and just wanted to let my (I thought) dependable gelding carry me around a few minutes before other obligations had to be met. Note to self: Never do that again. Point being horse might've been tempted to devilmemtvwhere wild horses were encountered.
Can the trackers follow the trail of this wild band? They likely retrace their paths in search of forage. Maybe his horse made a bolt for freedom
I hope searchers will be back out after rethinking things, if the weather has cleared.
Prayers for all involved.

I did just catch a snippet on HLN, a couple in northern Cali survived a week in the snow. That’s encouraging. They had a vehicle & food. Big dif’. By now, if Ben is alive, he’s probably delusional. Too many days w/o food.

Each time I check the news, I expect an update.

Idk as far as structures, were they all accessible & checked?

 

[Trudie]

Search For Missing Wyoming Cowboy Suspended
We don't know what his destination was,” Dunsmore said. “We believe he rode in from the ranch where he works, but we're having trouble locating tracks because of all the wildlife in the area and other wild horse herds."
Part of the work we’ve been trying to do is piece together a timeline and piece together information about how Ben was transported — was he transported by a trailer — and we don’t have any confirmation of that at all,” search-and-rescue incident commander Paul Berry said. “Nothing has been identified at this point to indicate Ben or any of his footprints or any sign of Ben in relation to the horse.”




Nothing new in link. Only bringing it forward.
I’m very confused, how do authorities remain uncertain if he trailered horse in or not? Did he “ride” in or did he “trailer” in?
If trailered in, did an employee drop him off?
Is this clear to anyone?
Idk.....I’m not ruling out foul play. Too many unanswered questions.,

If anyone can clear the transportation issue up, please do so.
Cuz, I just don’t get it.
If trailered, I assume Ben kept his horse near his residence, so truck/trailer would load him there. Or, did he ride to a dif’ residence on the farm & have an employee haul him? Or, did he tack up & ride away?

 

[Songbird1973]

I looked at your map and it's close but off .... the horse was found near the power lines (you have circled in red) and the home ranch is Nicola proper (right beside Nicola Lake) but the map of SAR and RCMP overlay should be nudged up more to the north and dragged to the east. I'm not sure if I'm making sense, so sorry if clear as mud. They were really focussing on Swakum Mountain but the wrong side of it. This is where I've heard that they really should have focussed more up and over the other side of Swakum, as well as to the west....towards Revelle Lake, Helmer Lake, pipeline area.

I really want to make this map accurate but I need more help. Which side of Swakum Mtn. direction wise was searched, and which side do some people think should have been sesrched? I'm confused because if the search was on Swakum Mtn., how should they have searched "towards Revelle Lake, Helmer Lake" when they appear to be on opposite sides of the mountain?

 

[Trudie]

I really want to make this map accurate but I need more help. Which side of Swakum Mtn. direction wise was searched, and which side do some people think should have been sesrched? I'm confused because if the search was on Swakum Mtn., how should they have searched "towards Revelle Lake, Helmer Lake" when they appear to be on opposite sides of the mountain?

I’m not able to help. I can get lost going to my mailbox. Sorry. Good questions & good job.

Here’s a concern I have:

When a new manager is brought in at any company, there’s resentment, fear & opposition. We’ve all experienced management turn over. We wonder, ‘will he like me, will I get fired, will he change the way I do things, does he have a friend he’d like to give my job to’, type things. I don’t care where we work, it’s normal to be concerned. NR has made significant changes, the crew must be on edge.
Ben has been with NR appx 3 months. Long enough to assess operations & his crew. Wonder if things were cohesive? As a new manager, I’m guessing he found things that could be done better & differently.
Did someone want him gone?
Sometimes, these “cowboy crimes” can easily look like something other than what they are. Jmo

 

[zecats]

Similarly, I remember one of our SARs also saying that even when you find nothing then that is a positive because you now know where he is not, so keep looking elsewhere.

That may be the quote I was remembering. It makes sense. It was from an SAR team member when searching for another missing person in JTNP, and I related it in Paul's thread. Thanks for reminding me @Hatfield

 

[Hatfield]

Search For Missing Wyoming Cowboy Suspended
We don't know what his destination was,” Dunsmore said. “We believe he rode in from the ranch where he works, but we're having trouble locating tracks because of all the wildlife in the area and other wild horse herds."
Part of the work we’ve been trying to do is piece together a timeline and piece together information about how Ben was transported — was he transported by a trailer — and we don’t have any confirmation of that at all,” search-and-rescue incident commander Paul Berry said. “Nothing has been identified at this point to indicate Ben or any of his footprints or any sign of Ben in relation to the horse.”




Nothing new in link. Only bringing it forward.
I’m very confused, how do authorities remain uncertain if he trailered horse in or not? Did he “ride” in or did he “trailer” in?
If trailered in, did an employee drop him off?
Is this clear to anyone?
Idk.....I’m not ruling out foul play. Too many unanswered questions.,

If anyone can clear the transportation issue up, please do so.
Cuz, I just don’t get it.
If trailered, I assume Ben kept his horse near his residence, so truck/trailer would load him there. Or, did he ride to a dif’ residence on the farm & have an employee haul him? Or, did he tack up & ride away?

Thanks for sharing this as this sure brings up another possibility altogether doesnt it.

Glad to hear the SAR commander is trying to get the facts right about how he would have gotten to the area.

Gosh why are these cases always so hard. There is always a wrench thrown in. Ugggg.

 

[Trudie]

Thanks for sharing this as this sure brings up another possibility altogether doesnt it.

Glad to hear the SAR commander is trying to get the facts right about how he would have gotten to the area.

Gosh why are these cases always so hard. There is always a wrench thrown in. Ugggg.

I’m thinking of WS thread on Connie Johnson, the camp cook, missing in ID. She has never been found. How sad.
Missing cowboy/girl cases are so perplexing due to the massive land.
Back in the fall, I dropped an expensive pair of sunglasses during a ride on 1k acre farm. The next day, it took me 8 hours to find them & I knew exactly where I had been. Now, had I sent friends to search, they’d still be looking.

 

[enelram]

Search For Missing Wyoming Cowboy Suspended
We don't know what his destination was,” Dunsmore said. “We believe he rode in from the ranch where he works, but we're having trouble locating tracks because of all the wildlife in the area and other wild horse herds."
Part of the work we’ve been trying to do is piece together a timeline and piece together information about how Ben was transported — was he transported by a trailer — and we don’t have any confirmation of that at all,” search-and-rescue incident commander Paul Berry said. “Nothing has been identified at this point to indicate Ben or any of his footprints or any sign of Ben in relation to the horse.”




Nothing new in link. Only bringing it forward.
I’m very confused, how do authorities remain uncertain if he trailered horse in or not? Did he “ride” in or did he “trailer” in?
If trailered in, did an employee drop him off?
Is this clear to anyone?
Idk.....I’m not ruling out foul play. Too many unanswered questions.,

If anyone can clear the transportation issue up, please do so.
Cuz, I just don’t get it.
If trailered, I assume Ben kept his horse near his residence, so truck/trailer would load him there. Or, did he ride to a dif’ residence on the farm & have an employee haul him? Or, did he tack up & ride away?

Good post and great questions. i'll repeat what I said earlier that
has me convinced now that he met up with someone picking
him off out in the wilderness.
The very first articles I read were clear no one had any idea what happened to Ben. Nothing on when he left, why he left, where he was going or where he was now in relation to the ranch. No tracks. No clue.
I feel bad for the citizens of that area that no one can trace where
a person is after a disappearance. Or what happened to them.
Did they immediately start backtracking the found horse? Or
did they wait til the next day and by then the logging company had already scraped the road Ben's horse came in on. The road
scraping did happen according to some articles.
Did someone accidently (or on purpose) take the snowmobile
out over Ben's departing tracks and cover them up? Otherwise
why no departing tracks?
I'm not in the camp that thinks Ben fell off his horse. No way.
This was a guy that had lived in his saddle for years. He was tall and very long legged and on a short horse. Long legged riders on
short horses have excellent grasp on staying on, even a rearing, bucking or tripped and falling down horse. Even a huge spook wouldn't unseat him, IMO.
As experienced as he was riding out in the bush and backcountry
I think an outside catastrophe struck him, likely a bullet that
totally incapacitated him. Or possibly a starving cougar that surprised him while he was dismounted. Cougars have attacked and killed several healthy, fit joggers in western states.
I just can't come up with any other scenario at this time. MOO.