diff --git a/Projects/UOContent.Tests/Tests/Mobiles/AI/PetOrderTests.cs b/Projects/UOContent.Tests/Tests/Mobiles/AI/PetOrderTests.cs
index e0fe22a39..e5d7760ed 100644
--- a/Projects/UOContent.Tests/Tests/Mobiles/AI/PetOrderTests.cs
+++ b/Projects/UOContent.Tests/Tests/Mobiles/AI/PetOrderTests.cs
@@ -176,6 +176,38 @@ public class PetOrderTests : IDisposable
         Assert.Equal(Direction.North, pet.Direction); // frozen -> no wander attempts
     }
 
+    [Fact]
+    public void ReleaseOrder_ClearsTheMaster_AndStartsTheDeleteCountdown()
+    {
+        var (master, pet) = Spawn(new Point3D(1000, 1000, 0), new Point3D(1001, 1000, 0));
+        pet.IsBonded = true;
+        var followers = master.Followers;
+
+        pet.ControlOrder = OrderType.Release;
+
+        Assert.False(pet.Controlled);
+        Assert.Null(pet.ControlMaster);
+        Assert.False(pet.IsBonded);
+        Assert.Equal(followers - pet.ControlSlots, master.Followers);
+        Assert.True(pet.PendingDeleteTimer?.Running);
+        Assert.Equal(pet.Location, pet.Home);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void LoyaltyRelease_ClearsTheMaster_AndStartsTheDeleteCountdown()
+    {
+        var (master, pet) = Spawn(new Point3D(1000, 1000, 0), new Point3D(1001, 1000, 0));
+        var followers = master.Followers;
+
+        // What the loyalty drain calls when loyalty reaches zero.
+        pet.AIObject.DoOrderRelease();
+
+        Assert.False(pet.Controlled);
+        Assert.Null(pet.ControlMaster);
+        Assert.Equal(followers - pet.ControlSlots, master.Followers);
+        Assert.True(pet.PendingDeleteTimer?.Running);
+    }
+
     [Fact]
     public void Release_WithoutSpawner_AnchorsHomeToCurrentLocation()
     {
diff --git a/Projects/UOContent/Engines/Factions/Gumps/HorseBreederGump.cs b/Projects/UOContent/Engines/Factions/Gumps/HorseBreederGump.cs
index 7cd4edc92..8e8bf9308 100644
--- a/Projects/UOContent/Engines/Factions/Gumps/HorseBreederGump.cs
+++ b/Projects/UOContent/Engines/Factions/Gumps/HorseBreederGump.cs
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ public class HorseBreederGump : FactionGump
 
         if (m_From.Followers + horse.ControlSlots > m_From.FollowersMax)
         {
-            // TODO: Message?
+            m_From.SendLocalizedMessage(1049607); // You have too many followers to control that creature.
             horse.Delete();
         }
         else
@@ -79,9 +79,7 @@ public class HorseBreederGump : FactionGump
             else if (pack.ConsumeTotal(typeof(Silver), FactionWarHorse.SilverPrice) &&
                      pack.ConsumeTotal(typeof(Gold), FactionWarHorse.GoldPrice))
             {
-                horse.Controlled = true;
-                horse.ControlMaster = m_From;
-
+                horse.SetControlMaster(m_From);
                 horse.ControlOrder = OrderType.Follow;
                 horse.ControlTarget = m_From;
 
diff --git a/Projects/UOContent/Items/Special/Solen Items/BallOfSummoning.cs b/Projects/UOContent/Items/Special/Solen Items/BallOfSummoning.cs
index 070a802b1..bf0953041 100644
--- a/Projects/UOContent/Items/Special/Solen Items/BallOfSummoning.cs	
+++ b/Projects/UOContent/Items/Special/Solen Items/BallOfSummoning.cs	
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ public partial class BallOfSummoning : Item, TranslocationItem
         {
             pet.SetControlMaster(from);
 
-            if (pet.Summoned)
+            if (pet.SummonMaster != null)
             {
                 pet.SummonMaster = from;
             }
diff --git a/Projects/UOContent/Misc/Notoriety.cs b/Projects/UOContent/Misc/Notoriety.cs
index cb9b1ddcb..4416b09b5 100644
--- a/Projects/UOContent/Misc/Notoriety.cs
+++ b/Projects/UOContent/Misc/Notoriety.cs
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ namespace Server.Misc
             }
 
             if (bcTarg?.Controlled == true
-                || bcTarg?.Summoned == true && bcTarg.SummonMaster != from && bcTarg.SummonMaster.Player)
+                || bcTarg?.Summoned == true && bcTarg.SummonMaster != from && bcTarg.SummonMaster?.Player == true)
             {
                 return false; // Cannot harm other controlled mobiles from players
             }
diff --git a/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/AI/BaseAI/OnSpeech.cs b/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/AI/BaseAI/OnSpeech.cs
index 8ffd39b42..ce9af5bb7 100644
--- a/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/AI/BaseAI/OnSpeech.cs
+++ b/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/AI/BaseAI/OnSpeech.cs
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ public abstract partial class BaseAI
         {
             Mobile.SetControlMaster(e.Mobile);
 
-            if (Mobile.Summoned)
+            if (Mobile.SummonMaster != null)
             {
                 Mobile.SummonMaster = e.Mobile;
             }
diff --git a/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/AI/BaseAI/PetOrderHandlers.cs b/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/AI/BaseAI/PetOrderHandlers.cs
index 862c78649..a132bc896 100644
--- a/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/AI/BaseAI/PetOrderHandlers.cs
+++ b/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/AI/BaseAI/PetOrderHandlers.cs
@@ -261,15 +261,8 @@ public abstract partial class BaseAI
         }
 
         _commandIssuer?.RevealingAction();
-        Mobile.ControlTarget = null;
-        Mobile.FocusMob = null;
-        Mobile.Warmode = false;
-        Mobile.Combatant = null;
         Mobile.PlaySound(Mobile.GetIdleSound());
-        Mobile.BondingBegin = DateTime.MinValue;
-        Mobile.OwnerAbandonTime = DateTime.MinValue;
-        Mobile.IsBonded = false;
-        Mobile.SetControlMaster(null);
+        DoOrderRelease();
         _commandIssuer = null;
     }
 
diff --git a/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/AI/BaseAI/PetOrders.cs b/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/AI/BaseAI/PetOrders.cs
index e6c48850d..e09424328 100644
--- a/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/AI/BaseAI/PetOrders.cs
+++ b/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/AI/BaseAI/PetOrders.cs
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
  * along with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.  *
  ************************************************************************/
 
+using System;
+
 namespace Server.Mobiles;
 
 public abstract partial class BaseAI
@@ -457,10 +459,23 @@ public abstract partial class BaseAI
         return best;
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// The whole release: the master is cleared here, so this runs once, synchronously, from
+    /// the Release order handler or the loyalty drain, never from Obey.
+    /// </summary>
     public virtual bool DoOrderRelease()
     {
         DebugSay("I have been released to the wild.");
 
+        Mobile.ControlTarget = null;
+        Mobile.FocusMob = null;
+        Mobile.Warmode = false;
+        Mobile.Combatant = null;
+        Mobile.BondingBegin = DateTime.MinValue;
+        Mobile.OwnerAbandonTime = DateTime.MinValue;
+        Mobile.IsBonded = false;
+        Mobile.SetControlMaster(null);
+
         var spawner = Mobile.Spawner;
 
         if (spawner != null)
diff --git a/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/AI/BaseAI/TransferItem.cs b/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/AI/BaseAI/TransferItem.cs
index 9efad5a5e..331df533c 100644
--- a/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/AI/BaseAI/TransferItem.cs
+++ b/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/AI/BaseAI/TransferItem.cs
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ internal sealed partial class TransferItem : Item
 
     private void TransferPetOwnership(Mobile from, Mobile to)
     {
-        if (_creature.Summoned)
+        if (_creature.SummonMaster != null)
         {
             _creature.SummonMaster = to;
         }
diff --git a/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/BaseCreature.cs b/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/BaseCreature.cs
index 5ea68cb13..f8dba7bf1 100644
--- a/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/BaseCreature.cs
+++ b/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/BaseCreature.cs
@@ -5923,14 +5923,7 @@ namespace Server.Mobiles
 
                 c.Say(1043255, c.Name); // ~1_NAME~ appears to have decided that is better off without a master!
                 c.Loyalty = BaseCreature.MaxLoyalty;
-                c.IsBonded = false;
-                c.BondingBegin = DateTime.MinValue;
-                c.OwnerAbandonTime = DateTime.MinValue;
-                c.ControlTarget = null;
-                // Release directly: a creature left alone with its AI disabled would
-                // otherwise never release and permanently hold its owner's follower slots.
                 c.AIObject.DoOrderRelease();
-                c.DropBackpack();
             }
 
             while (toRemove.Count > 0)
diff --git a/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/PlayerMobile.cs b/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/PlayerMobile.cs
index d0b1b2c7a..39be0e10a 100644
--- a/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/PlayerMobile.cs
+++ b/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/PlayerMobile.cs
@@ -3602,7 +3602,7 @@ namespace Server.Mobiles
                 {
                     pet.SetControlMaster(this);
 
-                    if (pet.Summoned)
+                    if (pet.SummonMaster != null)
                     {
                         pet.SummonMaster = this;
                     }
diff --git a/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/Vendors/NPC/AnimalTrainer.cs b/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/Vendors/NPC/AnimalTrainer.cs
index 847209869..b3fb4d721 100644
--- a/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/Vendors/NPC/AnimalTrainer.cs
+++ b/Projects/UOContent/Mobiles/Vendors/NPC/AnimalTrainer.cs
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ namespace Server.Mobiles
         {
             pet.SetControlMaster(from);
 
-            if (pet.Summoned)
+            if (pet.SummonMaster != null)
             {
                 pet.SummonMaster = from;
             }
diff --git a/Projects/UOContent/Systems/JailSystem/JailSystem.cs b/Projects/UOContent/Systems/JailSystem/JailSystem.cs
index 8802d0487..8da7319c9 100644
--- a/Projects/UOContent/Systems/JailSystem/JailSystem.cs
+++ b/Projects/UOContent/Systems/JailSystem/JailSystem.cs
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ public class JailSystem : GenericPersistence
                     bc.Internalize();
 
                     bc.SetControlMaster(null);
+                    bc.SummonMaster = null;
 
                     bc.IsStabled = true;
                     bc.StabledBy = from;