It is certainly a different concern if one showed up with tack on. That happened to a friend of mine... and the 'horse' was a donkey with bridle and bareback pad on. Luckily there was no mystery, the donkey trotted up with the frustrated kid running along behind. A grain bucket was all it took to reunite them, and they went on their way.
LOL that sounds like one of my riding adventures!
One time we were driving down a road and I noticed a horse standing. It wasn't till we were a little way past that I realized what I had seen. The horse was standing with all four legs in a cattle guard.
I told Mack to go back. The horse was standing quiet. We didn't know what it would do when we went up to it. We had no tack with us. Mack took off his belt and I walked slowly up to it. Luckily she just stood there as I put the belt around her neck. Mack held her while I went to the house. No one was home.
We tried backing her back into her pasture but she then did start jumping around and came out on the wrong side. We couldn't find a gate, so we took some fence down. Put her back in, put the fence back up, and went on our way. I'll bet the people never realized what she did:)
Becky
A little sorrel mare ended up in my yard, with saddle and bridle. The bit, O ring snaffle was broke. The one ring had pulled apart. I was just about to put her in the barn, and call someone, when this gentleman walks up the driveway. He had blood all over his face. He had been riding in the woods, the bit broke, and she took off. I offered to call for help, but the only thing he requested was another bit. I gave him a long shank snaffle,and he was on his way. The next day, he returned the bit, as I found it on my porch. Never did find out how he made out with the head cut.