Corolla Wild Horse Fund

12 hours ago

We'd like to thank everyone for their generous support this #GivingTuesday! Your donations will help us provide quality hay to the horses at the rescue farm through the winter months. Be sure to scroll down and watch the live video from the farm if you missed it this morning. And there's still time to give - every dollar truly makes a difference in these horses' lives.

Hay for a Day: www.corollawildhorses.com/hay-for-a-day/

Sponsor a rescue horse: www.corollawildhorses.com/horse-sponsorships/

Make a one time donation: www.corollawildhorses.com/one-time-donations/

And don't forget that we're having a holiday open house at the farm on December 10 - come see the horses you are helping today and meet the staff who take care of them. The CWHF gift shop will be open and fully stocked, and we'll have local artisans on-site too. ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

23 hours ago

It’s #GivingTuesday and this year we are raising money for hay that will keep the horses on the rescue farm fed through the winter.

While our goal is to keep every horse wild and free for the entirety of its life, sometimes that’s not possible. If a horse has to be removed from the wild due to sickness, injury, or any other reason, it will find permanent sanctuary at the CWHF rescue farm on the mainland. Every horse is unique, and we strive to give them each a life tailored to their specific needs and personalities. Many of the horses on the farm have medical conditions that require ongoing care, are older and have special dietary needs, or have behavioral issues that must be worked around. We work very hard to make sure each horse is happy, enriched, and healthy based on that individual horse’s needs.

Banker horses are well known for being very easy keepers and it’s important not to overfeed them once domesticated. That can be very challenging! In the wild these horses have adapted to survive on very rough forage with very few calories. It’s important that horses are able to graze 24/7 - empty stomachs can develop ulcers and cause other health issues, and grazing is also important for their emotional well-being. Because the horses at the farm aren’t able to walk miles a day grazing like their wild relatives, it’s up to us to provide them with forage that keeps them healthy and stimulated.

We feed an organic brome grass hay that we’ve tested to make sure it has the appropriate sugars, calories, and other nutrients, and is as similar as possible to what they eat in the wild. Most of the rescued horses are fed hay in nets, which mimics natural foraging behavior and slows their consumption down (helping to keep their weight in check). Older horses, young horses, and those recovering from illness are normally fed free-choice hay, not in a net, to make eating a little easier. We’ve found that feeding a high quality hay keeps these horses healthier and happier than adding extra calories through grain or other supplements, and in the long run reduces vet bills.

The cost of hay, like everything else, has gone up significantly over the last several years. However, the health and happiness of these horses is not something we will ever skimp on. Your support will allow us to continue providing the best care possible for Raymond, Brio, and all of the other horses who call our farm home. Every single dollar makes a difference, and any donation you make today will go directly into our hay fund for the winter.

Donating through Facebook is safe, and 100% of the proceeds come directly to CWHF with no fees taken out. Just click on the button below to get started.

You can make a contribution via Hay For a Day: www.corollawildhorses.com/hay-for-a-day/

Or a one-time donation for the amount of your choosing: www.corollawildhorses.com/one-time-donations/

Checks can be mailed to CWHF, PO Box 361, Corolla NC 27927 - be sure to include a note that it’s for GivingTuesday.

Don’t forget that we are hosting a Holiday Open House at the farm on December 10. Come meet the horses you are helping today! More info: fb.me/e/37lMnlU9h

Thank you for your continued support - you are making an incredible difference in these horses’ lives! We are so very grateful. ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 day ago

Tomorrow is #GivingTuesday! Tune in here at 10am when we'll be live from the rescue farm. We'll check in with June, Brio, Raymond, and the rest of the herd so that you can see what a positive impact your continued support has on the lives of these horses. 🐎🫶

www.corollawildhorses.org ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

6 days ago

Happy Thanksgiving from our herd to yours! 🧡

A special thank-you today to our staff and volunteers who are out making sure all of the horses - wild and at the farm - are being cared for and kept safe before sitting down to celebrate with their own families. We are so very grateful for our wonderful team!

www.corollawildhorses.org ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

7 days ago

Save the date! 📝 Next week is #GivingTuesday and we will be raising money for hay for the horses at the rescue farm. The wild horses don't need our help staying fed through the winter, but those on the farm rely on us to provide them with high-quality forage to keep their bellies full and bodies warm through the cold months.

Tune in on the morning of November 29 when we'll go live from the farm to talk about how we care for the horses there, and why your support is so critical to our mission.

Get a head start on the giving: www.corollawildhorses.com/hay-for-a-day/

See you Tuesday! 🐎🌾 ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

2 weeks ago

Raymond wants to know if you’ve ordered your limited edition Michaelmiddletonceramics ornament yet?? It’s him this year! 🤩 Each one of these unique ornaments is made with native Currituck clay and infused with strands of Raymond’s hair. Once these are gone no more will be made, so don’t wait!

Order online: www.corollawildhorses.com/shop/mike-mttleton-christmass-oromants/

Or come visit us at the shop in Corolla and browse our selection of CWHF shirts and hats, books, photography and pottery, and more. If you’re ordering online be sure to do it before December 15 for Christmas delivery. 🎁 ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

3 weeks ago

Thank you for your service and sacrifice, Veterans. 🇺🇸 ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

4 weeks ago

We’d like to thank everyone who supported our 2022 Fall Fundraiser! It was a huge success, and helps ensure that we will be able to continue to provide the best care and management possible for the wild horses of Corolla.

Mark your calendars for December 10, and come visit the farm in Grandy during our holiday open house. See your support in action - meet the horses that call the farm home, talk with the folks who care for them and their wild counterparts, and do a little shopping too!

Thank you again for your donations, shares, words of encouragement, and ongoing advocacy for these special horses. 🐎

www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/ ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 month ago

Our goal is to keep each and every horse wild for the entirety of its life. They are hardy and adaptable, and able to recover from injuries most domestic horses would not. If we intervened every time a horse had a bad bite wound, twisted an ankle in a fight, or lost an eye, over time the herd would lose those adaptations that allow them to survive life in the wild and the change to the herd would be irrevocable.

It's important that when we do decide to remove a horse, it's because that horse is suffering from something that will ultimately lead to its death if immediate, intensive veterinary care is not provided. We will not leave a horse in the wild to suffer needlessly; if it is determined by our vets that the horse will not recover on its own and/or if the horse cannot move to eat, drink, or behave normally, then we will intervene. And unfortunately there are also times when a horse has to be removed because of dangerous habitual behavior such as approaching people for food. This is rare, but does happen. Removal is permanent and is always a last resort, and we try to avoid it at all costs. But if we do have to take a horse out of the wild, it has permanent, safe sanctuary with us at the CWHF farm on the mainland.

(You can learn a little more about rescue and removal from this post: www.corollawildhorses.com/care-and-management-removing-a-horse-from-the-wild-or-not/)

It's because of your continued support that we can provide the best long-term care for these horses, and ensure that their lives are comfortable and enriched. Many of the horses on the farm are older and deserve a quiet place to live out their lives. Some have dangerous behavioral issues (through no fault of their own!) that require expert handling and an accommodating vet. We have several bonded pairs that we will never have to split up because we have the resources to care for them and keep them together. A couple horses are great ambassadors for their breed and we use them often for outreach and education. Many of them have medical conditions that require daily maintenance and regular veterinary attention in order to keep them comfortable. We are dedicated to providing these horses with the best care possible, all tailored to their specific needs and personalities.

Your support not only helps us care for the horses, but also make improvements to the farm that keep them comfortable and allow us to do our jobs more safely and efficiently. This summer, after years of planning, we finally completed the installation of a perimeter fence around the entire property. The peace of mind it's provided us is immeasurable. Last spring we repaired our ditches and culverts to reduce flooding on our property and neighboring properties. We've installed water hydrants at each pasture so that we don't have frozen spigots in the winter. When Raymond came to live with us, we did a total makeover on his barn and now have a secure place for intake and medical treatment, complete with bright fluorescent lights, electrical outlets, reinforced walls, and a tall, sturdy fence. We've installed gates between the pastures so we can easily rotate horses, move hay, and provide them with extra space. The list goes on!

If you've come to visit the farm at one of our open houses, share your memories and photos in the comments! We really love hearing from you and it's wonderful to see how these horses have touched so many lives. It means a lot to us to be able to share them with the public and we look forward to adding more events to the calendar as our resources continue to grow. And speaking of calendars, mark yours now for December 10 - we are going to be hosting a holiday open house at the farm. Details will be posted ASAP.

There are many ways to support the work that we're doing at the farm. Here are a few:

Sponsor a horse: www.corollawildhorses.com/horse-sponsorships/

Become a member: www.corollawildhorses.com/memberships/

Hay For A Day: www.corollawildhorses.com/hay-for-a-day/

Make a one time donation: www.corollawildhorses.com/one-time-donations/

You can also make a donation directly through Facebook - 100% of the money raised comes to CWHF with no fees taken out. Thank you, and we hope to see you at an open house soon! ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 month ago

We can't expect people to dedicate themselves to keeping the horses safe if they don't understand WHY it's so important.

Education is key!

Our farm on the mainland is first and foremost a sanctuary for horses that have to be removed from the wild, but it's also a place where people can come to hear their stories, talk to those of us who care for the herd, and learn about why it's so important that we all work together to protect the Banker horses. The horses at the farm serve as ambassadors for their breed, and for their relatives in the wild. Some even travel off the farm for community events, school programs, and other outreach - helping to spread the word about why these horses are so worth saving.

Support our work: www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/

Help us educate: www.corollawildhorses.com/community-wild-horse-toolkit/ ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 month ago

It's not enough to simply maintain a population of horses in the wild - we have to actively manage breeding and genetics to ensure the long term health and sustainability of the Bankers.

In 2020 we undertook a massive project to collect DNA samples from each and every horse. This is done via dart gun, using darts specially designed for this purpose. We collect a very small tissue sample that is then sent to the lab at Texas A&M, and from there we receive a report that gives us the unique genetic makeup of each horse. We can match relationships, construct ancestries, check for inbreeding, and even do further testing to look for genetic diseases.

Our goal is to create a DNA database that includes every Banker horse, establishes major family lines, and will be a resource for purposeful breeding for many, many generations to come.

This work also preserves history that would otherwise be lost. We've been able to reconstruct some family lines all the way back to the 1970s - many of the Dews Island mares are directly related to the famous stallion Star who was hit and killed in the 90s, and whose death was the catalyst for the creation of CWHF. Pretty neat!

You can be a part of this project by making a donation today. Just $20 will purchase a 3-pack of darts. A gift of $50 will cover the cost of one DNA report. Every dollar truly makes a difference!

🧬 www.corollawildhorses.com/one-time-donations/ ... See MoreSee Less