December 17, 2010 > Cowboy on horseback lassoes runaway reindeer Cowboy on horseback lassoes runaway reindeer Submitted By AP Wire Service SANTA MARIA, California (AP), Dec 10 - A cowboy on horseback lassoed a runaway reindeer that escaped from a California Christmas tree lot. The 9-year-old reindeer was on the run for 2 1/2 hours Thursday, scampering through busy Santa Maria streets, strawberry fields and residential areas. Rancher Bob Acquistapace, riding a horse and wearing a cowboy hat, boots and spurs, finally got a rope over the reindeer's head at about noon and tied the exhausted animal to a lamppost. The reindeer was eventually loaded into a trailer. The reindeer escaped from the Hopper Bros. Christmas tree lot at the Santa Maria Fairpark. Acquistapace, who is married to a Fairpark employee, happened to be at a nearby ranch with his horse.