Humans on foot and horseback spent their Memorial Day, and the following day, desperately searching for a missing horse in the Whaleyville area.

The equine, which is about 12 years old and answers to the name of “Bella,” got spooked by someone starting a golf cart Monday morning in the vicinity of Cypress Chapel and Greenway roads, said David Prim, who boards the horse in his stable.

Bella’s owner, Donijo Atkins, was riding the horse when the horse spooked, threw Atkins and ran into the woods, Prim said. Atkins survived the fall without serious injury, but the horse has not been seen since about noon Monday, despite the best efforts of everyone who has been helping.

Prim said he had been walking through the woods all day both Monday and Tuesday looking for the horse, as well as searching at night with lights. Others were searching on horseback, and a tracker was brought in to help as well.

“We’ve got everybody looking every place we can think of,” Prim said. “We don’t even know where to look now because we haven’t seen her in so long.”

He was concerned about the horse’s safety because the area where she disappeared is between the busy Routes 32 and 13, where the roads are narrow, the speeds are high and a black horse would be especially difficult to spot at night.

“We just ask people to drive carefully in the area,” Prim said.

Bella is a black thoroughbred with a white stripe and star on her forehead. She should have a Western saddle, bridle, halter and lead rope attached.

Anyone who spots Bella is urged to call the police department’s non-emergency dispatch line at 923-2350, ext. 0 or Animal Control at 514-7855. Anyone who is not familiar with the horse should not approach her, as she may be frightened after her long stay in the woods.