Horse on the Run: Rodeo Week Adventure in Colby 🐎

Picture of Runaway Horse from Swartz Veterinary Hospital Facebook page

Rodeo week in Colby is never boring, but this year we got a little extra excitement before the coffee even kicked in.

Thursday night, the Colby Community College Rodeo kicked off with all the barrel-racing, bull-riding action you’d expect. But by Friday morning, one horse decided that running barrels just wasn’t enough running for the weekend.

Instead, dispatch got a call that a horse was *out for a stroll*—right through Colby near J&B Meat Market. Colby Police quickly saddled up the search, asking folks on the west side of town if they’d seen the rogue racer. Swartz Vet even joined in the chase, with Dr. Shaylee Flax helping track down sightings.

And track him down they did. Six miles west of town, the horse was found safe and sound. Dr. Shay told us they loaded him up and took him to Colby Livestock for safe keeping until the owner could be located. Good news-by later that morning, the owner had claimed him, and this four-legged fugitive was back in the arena. In fact, Dr. Shay said he ran barrels at 9 a.m. but who knows how much energy he had after his night time adventures!

Colby Police Officer Jared Lange stopped by the NWKS Radio studios during *The Morning Commute* with Joel Navarro on 100.3 The Ride to share the story. Ironically, right as he was about to ask listeners for help locating the horse, Dr. Shay was already calling in with the good news: the runaway rodeo star was found.

This little adventure is just another reminder that in Northwest Kansas, when the community pulls together-whether it’s a lost horse, a big event, or just lending a hand-things turn out just fine. Hats off to Colby PD, Swartz Vet, and everyone who kept an eye out.

So if you see a horse roaming around town this weekend, don’t worry-it might just be rodeo time in Colby.