OUR MISSION
To protect, conserve, and responsibly manage the herd of Corolla wild horses (Bankers) roaming freely on the northernmost Currituck Outer Banks, and to promote the continued preservation of this land as a permanent sanctuary for horses designated as the State Horse and defined as a cultural treasure by the state of North Carolina.
By sponsoring Virginia Dare, your commitment will help cover her care, including feed, hay, supplements, medicine, regular farrier service, veterinary care, pasture maintenance, and so much more. Sponsoring Virginia or any of the horses that reside on the CWHF farm is an exciting and highly personalized way to support the Fund and its mission.
- Limited edition print painted by Virginia Dare
- Exclusive digital download of the new song “Queen of the Pack” written about Virginia Dare, from singer-songwriter Janet Martin
- Embossed presentation folder with glossy photo of Virginia Dare
- Official certificate in sponsor’s name
- Educational materials about Virginia Dare and the Corolla Wild Horse Fund
- Quarterly updates via email address provided
The Secret of Corolla is the story about the Wild Colonial Spanish Horses found on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and how they have made those islands their home.
It’s a story of perseverance. Not just by the horses, but also by the people who call this very special place their home.
Through devastating hurricanes, swarms of biting flies and mosquitos, and the constant pressure from developing the islands into prime beach vacation property, these horses, and the people they share the islands with have found a way to live together in a most uncommon accord. They have created an incredibly remarkable and uniquely wondrous place.
CWHF Community Cares Partner is how we acknowledge, highlight, and thank local businesses and individuals who embrace the CWHF, our mission and support us diligently. These partnerships are vital to our cause. Together we create shared visions and projects benefiting the horses. We offer goodwill and support to each other while working together to keep our beloved Banker mustangs wild and free.
Junior is home and doing well!
Junior’s Emergency Surgery
We are so proud of Meg, our Director of Herd Management!
Blossom is doing great!
Corolla Wild Horse Fund Announces Appointment of New Chief Executive Officer
Your support in action – seven interconnected paddocks
Rest Easy, Cora Mae. Your Legacy Lives On.
Rest Free, Thicket.
Welcome, Drifiter!
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For the past 30 years, the Corolla Wild Horse Fund has depended on tax-deductible donations like yours to honor our commitment to the preservation of this herd, one horse at a time.
Your support is vital to the existence of the Fund.
The Fund is vital to the future of the Bankers.
Together, we can help them thrive for generations to come.
Become a member today: www.corollawildhorses.com/memberships/
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- likes love 213
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- Comments: 3
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
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I am member already! I will Send donation. I know it’s Busy time of year… New ponies etc….
In town for Spring Break? Come see us in Corolla! We’re in the historic village right next to the chapel. ... See MoreSee Less
5 CommentsComment on Facebook
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Do you have the schedule for april 2024. Do you let people see Raymond. We fell in love with him when he was in the herd. We are coming the third week of April to the first part of may. We are really happy that you give updates and pictures of raymond and the care for all the horses
Wish you would have posted those sooner we were there yesterday and the welcome center said you were there😄😄❤️
We always say that the more we know about the horses, the better equipped we are to properly manage and protect them. This is true for the public too! We can’t expect people to be invested in the horses’ future without an understanding as to why our work is so important, and why the horses are worth saving.
Education takes many forms - farm open houses, outreach with rescued horses, talks and lectures, workshops for tour drivers, social media and PSAs, school programming, and so much more. We believe that education should be free and widely available, which is where your ongoing support comes in. Your donations, memberships, and sponsorships allow us to continuously expand our education and advocacy efforts in new and exciting ways. From signs and billboards to feeding our ambassador horses at the farm, your contributions make a huge impact!
Get involved today: www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/
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1 CommentComment on Facebook
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Your support saves lives! While we strive to keep every horse wild and free for its entire life, sometimes that’s not possible. In the case of life-threatening illness or injury, we will provide care and support for horses that need it.
The wild horses sustain all kinds of injuries and issues in the course of normal, day-to-day life that we will monitor but not intervene to treat. So when we do decide to remove a horse from the herd due to a medical issue, it’s always something very severe that requires extensive treatment. Often these horses require hospitalization and months of rehabilitation, and some even require medication or other support for the rest of their lives. And of course we also have the horses at the farm to care for, most of which are with us because of long-term medical issues or advanced age.
We are so lucky to have your support when it comes to the big emergencies, and also the daily care of the rescued horses. They are an important part of our off-site educational and research programs, but most importantly they are deserving of the care and sanctuary that the farm provides.
Get involved today: www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/
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3 CommentsComment on Facebook
Meg has done wonders!
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The Banker horses are considered critically endangered by equine geneticists and organizations like the Equus Survival Trust and the Livestock Conservancy. WIth only a couple hundred of these horses left in the world, they are facing extinction without purposeful, responsible breed management.
Half of the world’s breeding population of Banker horses live right here on the beaches of Currituck County - what an incredible and special honor! It’s up to all of us to be stewards for the breed, and treat them with the respect they deserve.
We can’t take for granted that they will be here forever, and we all must fight every day for their continued survival. Your ongoing support allows us to monitor the herd and practice responsible management, protect their natural habitat, learn more about their genetics through our work with DNA, and develop off-site breed conservation efforts.
Become a member today and be a part of this legacy: www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/
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5 CommentsComment on Facebook
This breaks my heart, had no idea they were endangered. One of the highlights of my life was being able to go and see them in person, such a beautiful experience being in their presence, but being careful to give them their distance and being respectful of the regulations in place to protect them. I do hope we can help the Corolla Horse breed EXIST for a very long time. 🩵🩵🩵
Corolla Wild Horse Fund we rarely see pictures of or hear about Gus. He used to hang with an older mare if remember correctly her name was Tahka (mispelled). Has he ever acquired more mares or sired any foals. He was brought in to add some genetic diversity.
are you still letting them foals or are you wtopping that
More signs! Today we’d like to thank Charlie, Jennifer, and Frankie at the Food Lion in Corolla for letting us put these in the produce section near the apples and carrots.
When we say apple and carrots kill wild horses, we mean that literally. In 2020 we lost yearling colt Danny after he choked on an apple that he was fed, and in 2021 we had to remove Junior from the wild when the same thing happened to him. Luckily Junior survived, but what a sad and preventable thing to lose his freedom over. Feeding also habituates the horses and can cause aggression, which has also led to removal.
Please follow the rules so that both you and the horses stay safe!
You can find more educational resources in our Community Toolkit: www.corollawildhorses.com/community-wild-horse-toolkit/
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60 CommentsComment on Facebook
The Banker horses are unique from any other breed in the world because of the adaptations they have developed over the years to survive on these barrier islands. It’s not a very hospitable place for a horse, but they have learned how to weather storms, survive on very few calories, drink brackish water, and in more recent years live among increased development and human interactions. They are what they are because of where they live, and it’s vital that we protect their wild habitat so they do not lose those adaptations that make them unique.
Habitat is more than just food and water. It is every single part of the environment that the horses encounter during the course of their normal lives. Nowadays the habitat includes more houses, more traffic, more people - more challenges than ever. It’s up to all of us to protect the habitat and make it as safe as possible for the horses. This includes keeping your property free of dangerous trash, fencing, and debris, it means following the rules and not getting too close to the horses, and it means taking an active role in our land preservation efforts. You can learn more about that here: www.corollawildhorses.com/land-preservation-initiative/
Becoming a member is another great way to provide sustaining support for this important work! Get involved today: www.corollawildhorses.com/memberships/
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7 CommentsComment on Facebook
Thank you for all that you do! We love 🩷our wild horses🐴
Development should be stopped! There are already too many homes on what should be state park land for the horses and to be preserved for generations to come.
One of the most special things I’ve seen is the horse tour. The locals hate the tourists but our dollars help pay for the bankers’ care.
In a herd of only about 100 horses, every single individual matters.
The Bankers are a highly-threatened, critically endangered breed and the conservation of those rare and invaluable genetics are at the forefront of all the work that we do. Not only do we have to maintain a population of horses in the wild, we need to ensure that they are genetically healthy and will continue to thrive here for generations to come. We maintain individual files on each horse, and these records include identification photos, foaling history for mares, a log of injuries or illnesses, DNA, associations, and any other relevant management information. Each horse is assigned a registration number and kept track of from birth to death. Our staff is on the beach seven days a week observing the horses. They record latitude and longitude coordinates for tracking and habitat use purposes, behaviors like fighting, grazing, or breeding, weather conditions, and more.
The more we know about how these horses spend their days, the better equipped we will be to save them.
You can be a part of this important work by becoming a member today! There are lots of ways to get involved - learn more: www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/
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7 CommentsComment on Facebook
Greatful they are safe and have continued support 💗
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Thank you for all the team does for these horses.
The Banker horses are what’s known as a landrace breed. This means that they are unique from any other breed of horse in the world due to the adaptations they’ve developed over the last several hundred years that allow them to survive on the barrier islands of North Carolina. Breed conservation is key to their long term survival. These genes do not, and cannot, exist anywhere else because the horses are intrinsically tied to our coastal landscape, culture, and history.
We are tasked with the tricky job of preserving these genetics while at the same time not interfering with the natural course of their lives. Luckily there is a lot of breed conservation work that can happen without being intrusive. In 2020 we undertook an ambitious project to collect DNA from every wild Corolla horse, along with any that have been removed from the herd and are currently living in captivity. From this we can build ancestries, learn more about herd dynamics, movement, and breeding behavior, test for genetic diseases, and build a breed database that will help other managers far into the future.
The farm also provides opportunities for breed conservation. While we have yet to breed any of the captive Bankers, we have plans to do so in the future. We’ve also begun collecting and storing semen from our stallions so that should something happen to them, their genes will be preserved for many years to come.
Your continued support is vital to the Bankers’ survival - join us today! www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/
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18 CommentsComment on Facebook
A labor of love.
Thank you for your dedication. We appreciate all of you
Thank you for all your work and dedication to these beautiful horses ❤🐴
Blossom, who was rescued in October after tearing a ligament in her front leg, has been doing really well. Her latest check-up indicated that the leg has healed and fused as much as it’s going to, and all things considered she is remarkably sound. Since this coincided with Junior coming home from the hospital and needing the medical stall/paddock we started considering other living arrangements for her.
We knew that Blossom and Raymond had lived together in the wild, and since they’re about the same age, in about the same physical shape, and have the same dietary requirements we thought…it’s worth a try, right?
Raymond, despite his reputation, is pretty defensive and uncomfortable around other animals, and very sensitive to changes in his environment and routine. In the five years he’s lived with us we’ve never been able to find another animal he was happy sharing space with; he stops eating and gets very touchy and unhappy. Raymond’s paddock can be split in half, so we closed the gate and put Blossom on the other side so they could be next to each other but still separated by a fence. That went pretty smoothly. Raymond hid from her to begin with, but then got brave and came out to stand next to her at the gate. However, by the next day we noticed that Raymond had stopped eating. At first we thought it was because of Blossom but then we realized it was because we’d moved his hay from its regular spot. So after we fixed that, he went back to eating like normal. Have we mentioned how neurotic he is? 😅💜
After about a week of everyone behaving normally and seemingly comfortable with things, we took a deep breath and opened the gate. Because they are both very old and not in the best physical shape the theatrics were kept to a minimum. They made a few faces at each other, pretended to kick out a few times, and that was it. They settled in and started eating hay next to each other and the rest is history!
They both still seem very happy after a couple weeks of cohabitating. Blossom likes having someone to boss around and Raymond enjoys feeling like he’s in charge of something again. It’s been a great confidence boost for him. They definitely still keep to their own space a lot of the time, but we’ve caught them napping together and eating out of the same pile of hay a few times too.
We’re so glad that these two could be successfully reunited. It’s great for their emotional well-being and it makes husbandry a bit easier for us. The other option we were considering for Blossom was putting her with her daughter June, but if we fed June the type and amount of hay her mother needs she would explode! So this works out best for everyone. We’ve dubbed their little pasture the old folks home, and we know everyone will be looking forward to seeing them in person at open houses this summer. They sure are cute together!
Blossom and Raymond both require special care in their old age, and you can help offset the cost of that by sponsoring them. Your support helps us buy the hay, grain, and daily meds they need, provide specialized hoof trimming, and any other veterinary needs that arise.
Sponsor Raymond or Blossom (or both!): www.corollawildhorses.com/horse-sponsorships/
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98 CommentsComment on Facebook
Quick update on Junior. He continues to do really well as he recovers from colic surgery!
www.corollawildhorses.com/one-time-donation-juniors-medical-costs/
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39 CommentsComment on Facebook
He comes from strong stock! So good to see how well he’s doing. Looking forward to seeing everyone in May!
It’s great to see him out and about! Continue to get well Junior!
Great to see him out and about. Also having a good appetite!!
With only a couple hundred left in the world, the Bankers are recognized as a critically threatened, endangered breed. DNA research has confirmed that the Bankers are indeed direct descendants of the horses originally brought to North America by the Spanish and other settlers and explorers in the 1500s. They have remained isolated on our barrier islands for hundreds of years, preserving their genetics and earning them a place in the very fibers of our culture and history here in North Carolina.
As the herd faces more modern threats to their survival - encroachment, environmental changes due to climate change, a decreased herd size, etc. - the role that CWHF plays in their survival has become increasingly important. We must balance habitat preservation, breed conservation, and accessibility (we want people to be able to come see them - safely and respectfully!) to ensure that a thriving wild herd remains here for many more generations. We must also provide a safe haven for those that must be removed from the wild herd due to the challenges listed above. It is important to remain positive about the future while still acknowledging the very real dangers the herd faces.
We cannot do this work without you! Please consider becoming a member today - memberships provide the largest and most reliable form of support for CWHF. From herd management to education and outreach, land preservation, emergency veterinary care, and everything in between, you can be sure that your commitment makes a huge impact, and directly benefits the horses.
www.corollawildhorses.com/memberships/
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5 CommentsComment on Facebook
They are a living National Treasure.
Now if only we could prove the mustangs out west had special DNA so they could also be protected.
They are precious please people help them keep thriving
Our volunteers were busy in Corolla today placing signs at local businesses. As one volunteer put it, this is our "know before you go!" campaign. Anyone who drives through town before getting to the 4x4 won't be able to say they didn't know the rules, that's for sure!
If you'd like a sign for your home or business, please reach out to us at 252-453-8002 or email info@corollawildhorses.com and we will get one to you. Also be sure to check out our Community Toolkit for more resources: www.corollawildhorses.com/community-wild-horse-toolkit/
Huge thank you to the local businesses who took signs today! And don't worry, we aren't finished. More going out tomorrow!
Uncle Ike's Sandbar & Grill
acebook.com/10278249011" rel="nofollow noopener">Corolla Classic Vacations
Corolla Frozen Yogurt and Ice Cream
acebook.com/58882654361" rel="nofollow noopener">Outer Banks - Brindley Beach
acebook.com/180557278693491" rel="nofollow noopener">Inn at Corolla Light
ACE Hardware Corolla
Super Wings
Farmer's Daughter
Corolla Surf Shop
Mustang Sally's
Corolla Beauty Company
The Cotton Gin
Kitty Hawk Surf Co.
Okinawa Sushi & Grill
First Light Breakfast & Burgers
Kitty Hawk Kites
Food Lion Corolla
Twiddy & Co
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38 CommentsComment on Facebook
We just purchased a home on the 4x4 beach that will be a seasonal rental. I would love one of these for the house (we live on a corner so great visibility too for others driving by). We are also making a nice book for the renters with beach rules and horse rules. We understand not everyone who comes to the 4x4 beach will know the rules, but at least everyone coming here will ❤️
Aaaaaaaaa-mazing! All of our volunteers are the best people out there. I thank you from my family to yours. We appreciate everything you do for our horses. 🐎 Ride on!!
Love the new sign!!! Praying that they work ❤️
This mission of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund is “to protect, conserve, and responsibly manage the herd of Corolla wild horses (Bankers) roaming freely on the northernmost Currituck Outer Banks, and to promote the continued preservation of this land as a permanent sanctuary for horses designated as the State Horse and defined as a cultural treasure by the state of North Carolina.”
Our mission is at the center of all of the work we do, from habitat preservation to breed conservation, education and advocacy, and working with other stakeholders to make sure the horses stay healthy, safe, and wild. It takes a village, and we rely on your support in a variety of ways to make this all possible! Memberships are a vital form of funding for CWHF, but perhaps just as importantly it is a way for you to stay connected to the work that we’re doing.
Join our team today and become a part of this groundbreaking effort to protect, preserve, and responsibly manage this historic herd: www.corollawildhorses.com/memberships/
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11 CommentsComment on Facebook
Thank you for your hard work, devotion and love for the wild ponies. I’ve looked forward to “visiting” them at least once a year for over 30 years and have introduced them to our children and grands. They always show up and put a smile on my face, whether it’s along the beach area or strays at a rental home where they shouldn’t be. Wonderful memories. Keep them free and safe.
preservation of this land as a permanent sanctuary for horses?? with all of that development, not likely. they need a real sanctuary, away from people and houses and cars...
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Every new foal is a historic win for breed conservation! Now it's up to all of us to make sure Eros stays safe, wild, and free for the rest of his life.
Learn more about our habitat preservation initiative: www.corollawildhorses.com/land-preservation-initiative/
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Critically endangered horse species gets a newborn, keeping herd numbers in check
COROLLA, N.C. (WAVY) — It is a win for wild horse conservation as herd managers along the Outer Banks celebrate a new pony. The newborn, Eros, is a Banker Horse, a critically endangered species wit...10 CommentsComment on Facebook
Today kicks off our annual March Membership Drive! We invite you to join us this month as we highlight the work that we do to advance our mission of protecting and preserving the wild Banker horses of Corolla.
We are a grassroots organization and the majority of our funding comes from donors like you. Your support is critical to our mission! Memberships, horse sponsorships, one-time donations, merchandise sales from our gift shop, and attendance at our farm open houses make up the majority of our funding. Every single dollar makes an incredible difference! There are lots of ways to get involved at any level, and you can be sure that your donation goes directly towards the care and management of the horses.
Learn more: www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/
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6 CommentsComment on Facebook
One last reminder to get your calendar contest entries in! More info 👇🏻Time is running out to submit photos for the 2025 CWHF calendar contest! The contest is open to all amateur photographers and closes March 15.
For more information and the entry form, visit our website: www.corollawildhorses.com/calendarcontest/
Please read the rules and submission guidelines carefully! Be sure your photos are high enough resolution, are horizontal in orientation, and not overly edited or cropped. 📸🐎
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8 CommentsComment on Facebook
Besides being the itchiest horse in North Carolina, Junior is continuing to do really well as he recovers from colic surgery. 🥰
www.corollawildhorses.com/one-time-donation-juniors-medical-costs/
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28 CommentsComment on Facebook
Looking good Junior! So VERY happy you are healing. Enjoy your special meals and lots of scratches.
So sweet 💕Jr. is loving it, thank you for brushing him 🙂
This is the cutest thing I've seen all day
We are so pleased to let everyone know that Junior came home from the hospital on Monday! He is doing remarkably well, and settling into his new routine at the farm. Our vet was over to check on him this morning and was happy with the way everything looks - his incision/sutures are in great shape and healing nicely, he’s eating and drinking like he should, he’s bright and alert, and all the internal stuff seems to be working properly.
Junior is being extremely reasonable and level-headed about being on stall rest and he’s also adjusting just fine to the fact that he can no longer eat regular hay. This is a relief, since prior to surgery Junior’s favorite thing in the world was his hay. Instead he is getting five small meals of senior feed throughout the day/night along with soaked hay pellets. We’d like to say a special thank-you to Christina with Triple Crown Feed for helping us figure out the best way to feed Junior (based on our veterinarian’s recommendations, of course!) to assure he’s getting the right nutrition and that mealtimes are enriching too.
He is allowed to go on several short walks throughout the day to eat some grass, which he really enjoys. After a month of stall rest he’ll be able to go out in a small paddock on his own, and then after a month of that he can have access to a larger pasture. The contraption you see wrapped around his middle is to help support his abdomen and prevent hernias; he has to wear it for another six weeks and we think if you asked him he would say it’s the worst part about all of this! It’s very itchy. But he’s taking it in stride, just like everything else.
We are so grateful for your support over the last two weeks, from everyone who reached out to check in on our staff and offer prayers and positive energy for Junior’s recovery, our colleagues and partners across the country who have been so kind to share their experience and advice (and sometimes just an understanding ear to vent to), our veterinarians and all of the caregivers at the hospital, and everyone who made a donation towards Junior’s veterinary bills.
Junior still has a long way to go before he is fully recovered from surgery and he will require very specialized care for the rest of his life but so far he’s telling us it’s nothing he can’t handle. We are committed to being there for him every step of the way and will continue to keep everyone posted on his progress.
www.corollawildhorses.com/one-time-donation-juniors-medical-costs/
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81 CommentsComment on Facebook
Thank you for all you do for the wild horses of the Outer Banks! Gail💕
So happy for him ❤️
Great news!