November 4, 2009

Searchers in Texas are scouring a flood-affected wooded area in the hunt for a cowboy who became separated from his horse.

Gene Roberts, 45, was with two other men herding cattle on Sunday near the Trinity River, which was in rising flood at the time.

The men were moving cattle to higher ground for safety.

Roberts left his companions to re-gather a cattlebeast which had separated from the others and has not been seen since.

His palomino horse was found on Monday caught in underbrush, with water up to its neck.

The terrain being searched is heavily wooded and described as treacherous.

While normally dry, water from the flooded river has gone through the area at depths of up to two metres.