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

[Trudie]

My concern with case is that it seems to me that there is no evidence of Tyner being in the area of search, like hat, glove, any items of clothing, footprints, trailer tracks. His horse was there, but was he with him?
Realizing that LE probably has leads we do not know, I just have a sense of possible foul play here.

I do too. That’s why I need to hear more about the trailering in factor.
Sadly, it seems unlikely he’s alive.

 

[Trudie]

Why would he need help to start a new life?
People choose to disappear fir all sorts of reasons and successfully.
Guy in Surrey, BC disappeared for well over a year....everyone worried sick and missing him (including his son) and then: he’s home, alive but the reasoning has never been published.
Some choose to disappear & not to surface.

FTR I don’t believe this is the case with BT but it’s nicer than picturing him in the more depressing possibilities.

Well, If Ben got dropped off, IMO, he’d need help getting back to civilization. Jmo.
I don’t think this will be the case, tho. I think he’s gone.

 

[Steelslady]

~~~But the horse did not find its way home. ~~~

And it’s not strange if BT intentionally left no trace. He left his dogs at home, didn’t let anyone know his itinerary.... to me this could mean he may have not wanted anyone to find him.

The horse didn't ride back by itself?

 

[enelram]

The horse didn't ride back by itself?

His horse was found near a logging operation not at the ranch.

 

[Trudie]

<modsnipped>
Of course we don’t know if Ben suffered from depression but being a cowboy is kind of a lonely job, don’t you think?
Gives one a lot of time to think, which can be a good or bad thing. Jmo

 

[enelram]

<modsnipped>
Of course we don’t know if Ben suffered from depression but being a cowboy is kind of a lonely job, don’t you think?
Gives one a lot of time to think, which can be a good or bad thing. Jmo

Agree. <modsnipped>.
Yes, it is a lonely life which is why we get all the sad, cowboy
songs. Just listen to the words in these songs.

 

[Deleted member 238131]

As of this morning the gofundme effort for BT has reached about 24,000 and the family spokesperson is quoted, "He told the Herald the family plans to use the funds to help volunteer organizations in the search for Tyner, as well as missing person billboards and posters."

The new report claims The search for a missing local cowboy has been suspended, but the investigation into Ben Tyner’s disappearance is set to continue. I know that there are still people out there physically searching but it is still cold and this has hampered their efforts.

 

[Trudie]

RCMP call for backup in Ben Tyner investigation - Merritt Herald

I think this article might be slightly updated.

 

[Steelslady]

~~~But the horse did not find its way home. ~~~

And it’s not strange if BT intentionally left no trace. He left his dogs at home, didn’t let anyone know his itinerary.... to me this could mean he may have not wanted anyone to find him.

Ok so I am now confused. The horse was found by someone and brought back to the ranch, with a broken rein, correct?

Where did the rumor or fact come from that someone drove Ben and his horse to where he was riding?

The broken rein has me thinking the horse got spooked and Ben unfortunately had a bad accident falling off as a result of it.

What else would cause a rein to become broken? Was that rein ever found during one of the searches that might rule out that Ben wasn't on his horse when it broke?

Why would a man who loved his horse I am going to assume, as much as his dogs, take the horse to harm himself, leaving the horse to fend for itself and wander around on it's own? It just doesn't make sense that a man who spent most of his life working on ranches, loving horses, would take the poor animal with him and hope for the best while he harmed himself?

 

[Sillybilly]

Folks,

Do not post screenshots from anywhere other than MSM or LE

Do not bring social media rumor and gossip to Websleuths. The Merritt Grapevine FB group is NOT MSM.

Please leave the FB / social media drama out of this discussion.

Also, Websleuths is fact based. There are no Verified Insiders in this thread, so all members MUST post links to what they state as fact OR must state if it is their opinion (MOO, JMO, IMO). If you are local to the Merritt area, you may give members a general idea about the area, local flavour, etc, but you may not provide local gossip or rumor about the case. Stick to the facts and provide links.

Please read The Rules and post in accordance with them.

The Rules: Social Media - Facebook, Twitter, etc.

The Rules: Etiquette & Information

Thanks.

 

[Portabella]

A true Cowboy's life is not for everyone, you honestly work all the time, and its exhausting work. Then just when you think your day is over you are for example told your on "foal watch" for the night. You have to literally trade out your social life for a life on the ranch. However, in looking Ben seemed to thrive and truly love his life, That is why I called him a Cowboy's cowboy in a past post. I also thought of the self harm aspect in the beginning, but to leave his horse fully tacked, with pending storms, in an area the horse is not used to. (This was his personal horse that he brought to BC with him). Being the horseman that he is I would think he would have rode out bareback, with possibly a halter and rein, but no bit if he planned on not coming back. I don't believe he would leave his horse in peril. If Sue his dog was left at his home, was she left a large amount of food and water, if they said the dog was left a forty pound bag dumped on the floor and a watering station, as well as an open toilet, then I might think self harm, but I cannot help but think that this was an accident. And all we can hope is that he was not harmed so badly that he was fully incapacitated, and that he has survival skills. I still have hope. I just hope the day comes when we get to find out the outcome, we never may know what truly happened. But an outcome gives the family closure. IMHO

 

[zecats]

Ok so I am now confused. The horse was found by someone and brought back to the ranch, with a broken rein, correct?

Where did the rumor or fact come from that someone drove Ben and his horse to where he was riding?

The broken rein has me thinking the horse got spooked and Ben unfortunately had a bad accident falling off as a result of it.

What else would cause a rein to become broken? Was that rein ever found during one of the searches that might rule out that Ben wasn't on his horse when it broke?

Why would a man who loved his horse I am going to assume, as much as his dogs, take the horse to harm himself, leaving the horse to fend for itself and wander around on it's own? It just doesn't make sense that a man who spent most of his life working on ranches, loving horses, would take the poor animal with him and hope for the best while he harmed himself?

There are MSM and LE statements in the thread about your questions. I'll try to clarify for you based on those statements;

Not a rumor about being trailered up. It was a question posted by the man who found the horse and also by LE because of the fact no tracks from the horse were found. Something they were looking into.

The broken rein could have come from the horse being tied to something by one rein and borealis loose (separate reins on this horse) or from him stepping on one dragging on the ground when/if he spooked and ran.

Yes the missing piece of rein was found.

I agree with you about BT not wanting harm to come to his horse. Makes sense that he wouldn't do sometime intentionally and leave his horse to find it's own way home.

Horse was seen by loggers and the actually caught and tethered by Kim Robinson, an early morning hunter. He's the one who called about the horse, who btw did not make it all the way back to the ranch on its own.

Hope this helps.

 

[Trudie]

A true Cowboy's life is not for everyone, you honestly work all the time, and its exhausting work. Then just when you think your day is over you are for example told your on "foal watch" for the night. You have to literally trade out your social life for a life on the ranch. However, in looking Ben seemed to thrive and truly love his life, That is why I called him a Cowboy's cowboy in a past post. I also thought of the self harm aspect in the beginning, but to leave his horse fully tacked, with pending storms, in an area the horse is not used to. (This was his personal horse that he brought to BC with him). Being the horseman that he is I would think he would have rode out bareback, with possibly a halter and rein, but no bit if he planned on not coming back. I don't believe he would leave his horse in peril. If Sue his dog was left at his home, was she left a large amount of food and water, if they said the dog was left a forty pound bag dumped on the floor and a watering station, as well as an open toilet, then I might think self harm, but I cannot help but think that this was an accident. And all we can hope is that he was not harmed so badly that he was fully incapacitated, and that he has survival skills. I still have hope. I just hope the day comes when we get to find out the outcome, we never may know what truly happened. But an outcome gives the family closure. IMHO

Great post! I so agree Ben does seem to be a Cowboy’s Cowboy that truly lived the “Cowboy Way”. I’m also baffled by why he’d leave his horse tacked, if he dismounted willingly. IMO, he would not. I’m not concerned his dogs were left home, they can be a real nuisance, always on....ready to “work”. Perhaps they needed a day off or he didn’t wish to be bothered with them during his ride. Every cowboy I’ve known considers his horse his “partner”, if not his best friend.
Hopefully with the additional LE joining the investigation Ben’s family will get some answers & one day be able to bring Ben home, to WY. This is a very sad story, especially for all of us that own/ride horses & get to only sample the real “Cowboy Life”. Jmo

 

[Steelslady]

There are MSM and LE statements in the thread about your questions. I'll try to clarify for you based on those statements;

Not a rumor about being trailered up. It was a question posted by the man who found the horse and also by LE because of the fact no tracks from the horse were found. Something they were looking into.

The broken rein could have come from the horse being tied to something by one rein and borealis loose (separate reins on this horse) or from him stepping on one dragging on the ground when/if he spooked and ran.

Yes the missing piece of rein was found.

I agree with you about BT not wanting harm to come to his horse. Makes sense that he wouldn't do sometime intentionally and leave his horse to find it's own way home.

Horse was seen by loggers and the actually caught and tethered by Kim Robinson, an early morning hunter. He's the one who called about the horse, who btw did not make it all the way back to the ranch on its own.

Hope this helps.

Thank you for your wonderful answers- this helps.

So they found the rein- did they say where? I find it hard to believe he would tie up his horse and then do self harm. I can't picture a horse and dog lover doing that, I just can't. I've heard many family, friends, etc say that they are their "babies" "furbabies" etc, especially those that don't have children. If anything, they would make sure that they were well taken care of or all set before doing so.

@Portabella also said something that rings true with me- if he had left out a large bag of dog food and a good amount of water for his dogs, then maybe it's possible, but his horse? I just can't imagine from what I have read about this man, that he would abandon his horse like that.

Much appreciated all the information you have provided in this thread. As I mentioned before, horses are beautiful animals, but unfortunately, I do not know much about them in terms of their care, temperament, etc.

 

[zecats]

Thank you for your wonderful answers- this helps.

So they found the rein- did they say where? I find it hard to believe he would tie up his horse and then do self harm. I can't picture a horse and dog lover doing that, I just can't. I've heard many family, friends, etc say that they are their "babies" "furbabies" etc, especially those that don't have children. If anything, they would make sure that they were well taken care of or all set before doing so.

@Portabella also said something that rings true with me- if he had left out a large bag of dog food and a good amount of water for his dogs, then maybe it's possible, but his horse? I just can't imagine from what I have read about this man, that he would abandon his horse like that.

Much appreciated all the information you have provided in this thread. As I mentioned before, horses are beautiful animals, but unfortunately, I do not know much about them in terms of their care, temperament, etc.

Looking for article about missing rein. But this one does mention the horse being found and how it kept stepping on the remaining rein.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/global...mystery-of-missing-merritt-cowboy-search/amp/

 

[Trudie]

Looking for article about missing rein. But this one does mention the horse being found and how it kept stepping on the remaining rein.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/global...mystery-of-missing-merritt-cowboy-search/amp/

The bane of a rider, lol. Especially for those of us with 12’+ reins. Some msm articles are no longer online or have been edited.

https://nationalpost.com/news/canad...ue-american-cowboy-missing-in-b-c-backcountry

This ^ mentions Ben’s bro possibly found a piece of rein.

 

[zecats]

The bane of a rider, lol. Especially for those of us with 12’+ reins. Some msm articles are no longer online or have been edited.

https://nationalpost.com/news/canad...ue-american-cowboy-missing-in-b-c-backcountry

This ^ mentions Ben’s bro possibly found a piece of rein.

Thanks!

 

[watcher9]

It seems amazing that they were able to find the missing rein in all the snow and big area. Was it colored? Could it have been snagged on a bush or branch? What about hoof prints around that area? Hopefully, they expanded the search out from where the rein was found.

 

[watcher9]

The bane of a rider, lol. Especially for those of us with 12’+ reins. Some msm articles are no longer online or have been edited.

https://nationalpost.com/news/canad...ue-american-cowboy-missing-in-b-c-backcountry

This ^ mentions Ben’s bro possibly found a piece of rein.

This may have answered one of my questions. Could Ben's dogs (more than one?) have scented the rein?
BBM

Later in the morning, Richard texted his sister, Judy Sanders, in Kissimmee, Fla., to say that he and Jennifer were surveying the area via helicopter, while Jack was on horseback, accompanied by Ben’s dogs.

 

[Trudie]

This may have answered one of my questions. Could Ben's dogs (more than one?) have scented the rein?
BBM

Later in the morning, Richard texted his sister, Judy Sanders, in Kissimmee, Fla., to say that he and Jennifer were surveying the area via helicopter, while Jack was on horseback, accompanied by Ben’s dogs.

I wonder, too!
I still lean to Ben trailering in. I wish he only needed a “break” from life & is snuggled somewhere warm.
Hoping for a miracle.