To protect, conserve, and responsibly manage the herd of wild Colonial Spanish Mustangs 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.
“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” – Coretta Scott King
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. Learn More
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Kara2021-12-06 15:51:182021-12-20 13:23:09Snaffle Bit Waist or Crossbody Purse
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247Vish2021-11-30 13:26:102022-01-12 19:53:28Hand-Thrown Pottery Mug in Blue/Green Glaze
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247Vish2021-11-09 15:36:202022-01-07 10:49:22Official Corolla Wild Horse Fund Mug In White
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Joe2021-08-27 12:25:522022-01-05 19:56:46The Secret of Corolla
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247Vish2021-07-29 15:12:372022-01-24 08:20:59The Official 2022 Corolla Wild Horse Fund Calendar
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Corolla Wild Horse Fund2021-04-26 12:02:262022-01-07 11:58:15Book – Sebi the Colt, A New Life
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Corolla Wild Horse Fund2020-06-25 17:42:522022-01-08 11:57:06Book – Raymond of the Outer BanksThe 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.
We are very lucky to have been given a wonderful song. Castaño is a song that captures the spirit and the significance of the Corolla wild horses. We feel this song will give hope and continues to help us meet our goals.
The song, video and lyrics are available as a download for $5. Supporters will be given an opportunity to donate more. Your donation will help us continue our crucial work. Thank you for your support!
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Kelly Wilkes2021-09-13 09:22:172021-09-13 09:24:55Sunset Sounds Concert Event Canceled
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Kelly Wilkes2021-07-23 13:38:212021-07-23 13:44:01Meet Brio, Baby Number Eight
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Kelly Wilkes2021-07-12 21:03:302021-07-13 11:06:23Junior’s Rescue and Recovery
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Kelly Wilkes2021-07-01 15:56:262021-07-23 13:41:26Lizzie Update
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Kelly Wilkes2021-06-16 11:09:472021-07-13 11:03:30Lizzie’s Rescue
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Kelly Wilkes2021-05-02 11:13:252021-06-16 11:21:18Two new foals welcomed to Corolla wild horse herd
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Kelly Wilkes2021-04-05 12:29:012021-04-05 12:29:55Corolla Wild Horse Fund Welcomes Spring’s First Foals!
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Kelly Wilkes2021-03-15 13:18:532021-04-12 17:05:09PODCAST: Corolla Wild Horse Fund herd manager Meg Puckett
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Corolla Wild Horse Fund2020-11-13 17:46:172020-11-13 17:46:56Day on the Farm
The snow is melting but we’re hearing rumors about more this weekend! Settle down, Mother Nature! Would you believe that the horses are already starting to shed their winter coats? It doesn’t have anything to do with the temperatures, but rather the light. Longer days mean those coats are starting to blow. Spring is on the way! Allegedly. 😉 Luckily the horses have a LOT of winter hair, so even though they’re starting to shed they are still fully protected from the elements. It will take them until late spring to fully shed out - it’s not a fast process!
Such great photos and so rare to see the horses in the snow. Hoping Mother Nature settles down because I am ready for the snow to stop visiting us.
Wow, that is interesting. Would never have thought it had to do with amount of daylight rather than temperature. Thanks for educating us.
Lina Truong, this is a great page to follow on the Corolla wild horses. ☺️🐴
They’re amazing! Beautiful with the snow too!
Yes determined by daylight hours and their pituitary gland. Just like leaves changing, cause is daylight not the weather. I live in CO and owned horses. Shedding season….not fun!
That's why my hairy dog is shedding like summer! The light😉
Thank God they don't live in the house, can you picture the furballs on your floors?? :)
Awww.....such beautiful babies!!!!! I love how they are laying down in the snow!!!
Ours have started too. Yay for longer days, 🙂😁.
That’s very interesting that shedding is related to light.
Crazy weather! Stay warm ponies!
Absolutely awesome!
Thanks for sharing.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Beautiful horses ❤🐴
Fabulous photos
Beautiful!
Absolutely beautiful!
Beautiful
Some photos of the wild horses in the snow this weekend. Thanks Rich Samuel and Karla Johanna Etheridge for sharing! ❄️
I love snow & to see these horses (that I also love) is breathtaking ! So unusual, they look like they handled it well!
Absolutely beautiful pictures! Thank you so much for sharing ❤️🐴❤️
What a great way to start my day! I hope that everything I see will be equally beautiful…
Love seeing these! What beautiful winter coats 😊
So beautiful, thank you for sharing.
Omg They are beautiful photos!❤️❤️
Absolutely beautiful 😍
Absolutely beautiful
Absolutely beautiful!
I love those thick, fuzzy coats that keep them warm. 🥰
Beautiful horses 🐎🐎🐎🐎💙💙💙💙
They are so beautiful!
Great photos
Beautiful photos.
These are beautiful pics!
Beautiful! I’m guessing they don’t see snow that often. When this happens do they know to dig down the snow to eat and eat the snow for water. Or do you have to put hay out?
I love these so much!
Beautiful pictures
Those are amazingly stunning.
For some reason,I didn't think you had snow down your way! Pretty!
Beautiful pictures!
The photos are Phenomenal !!!
Thank you for sharing!
Beautiful sight!!
So beautiful
➡️ iGive.com allows you to support the Corolla Wild Horse Fund with a percentage of your online shopping! It is free to you and greatly benefits us. Sign up by January 31st and we will receive an extra $5 bonus upon your first purchase.
Don't forget that AmazonSmiles.com also does this. I always make sure I'm signed in this way when making amazon purchases.
Couldn’t have said it better ourselves! Thank you so much for the respect and support. Beautiful photo.This was today under light snow. This little guy, just months old, bravely wanted to know what I was up to. As much as I wanted to engage, I backed away and got back into my car. As soon as I took my first step backward, he stopped, raised his head high, and snorted out his offense at my retreat then walked back into the brush and resumed his lunching. Wild animals must be left wild, even if they approach us. That comfort can result in them having to be removed from the herd or worse, it can kill them should someone feed them something outside their natural diet. Never discount a human's poor decision-making skills. Corolla Wild Horses
finally, someone who isn't entitled and thinks of what's best for the horses. Great post, great job of staying away, and nice picture too
Beautiful! I know someone who has a beach house in corolla on the beach and sometimes the horses trap them in their house bc they are on their property 🤣 but they wait it out till they move and far enough away they can get out. But they do not want to disturb them or anything.sometimes it takes a few hours but they wait🤣 and observe them from inside.
Well said. We have done the same. Why I have a great camera with incredible zoom. Photographing the horses is my favorite past time when we visit. Just my camera gets up close, never us.
Perfectly said! As hard as it is to walk away, it's for their safety as well as your own. Having had horses all my life, it's just natural for me to want to let her sniff and check me out but knowing it's her life at stake I'd have to walk away. But she sure is adorably fuzzy and full of natural baby curiosity. 🥰
I recently watched the latest Spirit movie on Disney and was horrified to see the little girl feeding wild Mustangs WHOLE apples in the movie! My first thought? The Corolla Wild Horses people would be really upset!!
Everyone take notice of this smart individual and follow his lead
So true. Thank you for acknowledging that and expressing it so eloquently
Thank you Bowman, for the beautiful photo & the words of wisdom.
Thanks for your respect, lovely shot!
All that fuzz 🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡- they are curious by nature it is our job to let them be! Great reminder I hope those that need to read this will do so!! We need these youngins to stay healthy and wild ❤️
Good reminder for everyone, thank you for respecting their space. Beautiful photo by the way.
Well said & Beautiful Photo!! Thank you so much for sharing ❤️🐴❤️🐴
Humans do have a tendency to interfere with nature for our own pleasure and not understand the consequences.
Thank you Bowman Gray. For the horses advocacy and the great photo capture.
Thank you. That must have taken great reserve to walk away.
Thank you for being a conscious, and respectful human ❤️
Great Job and news, very nice picture too❤️
Thank you for your respect for these wonderful Wild horses!
Thank you for your caring action💖
Wonderful photo. Thank you for respecting the wildlife 🐎❤
You’re a great person, it would take all my willpower to not approach that cutie and I acknowledge that is not good. Thank you for the beautiful picture and being awesome for these guys. They’re a treasure
Thank you I wish everyone put the beautiful wild animals first and not their own selfishness.
Why do the hooves appear blue?
It’s always so awesome when somebody gets it!
Witch little one is this?? Has anyone found out the gender of Bee..it's driving me nuts 😆 1st foal of 2021 & he/she has kept ppl guessing! Beautiful picture ❤ love how all fuzzy they are ❤🐎
It snowed! ❄️ Got a significant amount at the farm in Grandy. Didn’t measure but it’s “covers their hooves” deep. All the horses (and Raymond) are just fine. We’re already looking forward to it melting but can’t deny it sure is pretty.
They’re so beautiful out in the snow. Glad everyone is safe! Thank you so much for sharing. ❤️🐴❤️🐴
So pretty! My parents are across the sound and sent me pics this morning of the snow! They even took what fell on their outside table/upper deck and made a snowman! Glad all is well! 🐎🐴
Thanks for the snow and horse show! Everyone looks good but brrrrr ❤
Thank You for sharing! Snow ❄️ sure is pretty especially with Wild Horses & Raymond! snOwBX 2022! ❄️🐴🌊🏖❤
Glad everyone is safe! They are beautiful in the snow.
Beautiful,thanks for sharing and taking such good care of (our babies)
They are all beautiful! You take such amazing care of them!
Raymond 🥰 I love the thick furry coats the ponies have on
So Pretty with the horses and handsome Raymond !!😊💕🥰
Snow ponies!
Beautiful Snow Horses ❄🐎 ❄
Looks like you’ve got more snow there than what we have here in SE South Dakota right now.
Handsome Raymond. Enjoying a day in the snow, or maybe not!!
We need a "Lets go Raymond" sticker to help sell and raise money!!!
I love seeing Raymond ❤️
Stay warm and safe. Thanks for the update
Thank you for posting these!!!!
Beautiful horses…
Beautiful pictures!
How are the horses on the beach after the snow?
Hope they stay warm
Ruth Wallace the Corolla horses.
Everybody loves Raymond
Love you Raymond🤗
Beautiful!!
Riptide, it’s way too early in this storm to already have cabin fever. 😂 Junior is such a good sport, and a good role model! He’s in his late teens, whereas Riptide is just a kid - turning 3 this spring. He keeps Junior and Squirt on their toes and they keep him in line and remind him of his manners. So far the weather has just been blustery and wet. Starting to see a little ice on the gates and walkways but the horses at the farm are all cozy in their barns with hay. Supposed to snow starting this afternoon through tonight - we will definitely post plenty of pics when we can! ❄️
Love this! I’m sponsoring Junior so getting to see videos with him in them makes my day!!
I love this clip!! Junior is such a tolerant guy.
Junior!!!! He is my adopted horse! My husband adopted him for me as a Christmas gift. I cannot wait to get down to meet him! I’m delighted to see Junior and the others in this video! ❤️ Thank you, CWHF, for all you do.
Chilly weather making them spunky and ready to play!!❤🐴 Everyone stay safe and warm during the snowy weekend!!
Thank you for this! Hope the storm isn't too rough ❤
Can’t stop smiling when I watch these amazing horses. It’s such a treat to be able to see these videos. Thank you for sharing and, as always, thank you for the love and care you give them!
How fun to watch them. I look forward to seeing the pictures when it snows too! Thank you so much for sharing! Stay safe and warm ❤️🐴❤️🐴
Thank you for taking such good care of these amazing animals!!!!!
Looks like the winter weather is bringing out their frisky-ness.
Love it! They're working up a little body heat! 💙💙
Stay warm! I am in Pa and we have cold temperatures, but sunshine! I can't believe how the south is getting storms and I have green grass!
Gorgeous animals!
Thanks for the weather update and this beautiful and fun video
Live near Asheville NC we have snow want spring
Looking forward to beautiful snow pictures!
Riptide is a big boy, for a baby 🥰💜
How is Raymond?
Love their fluffy coats
Very nice.
Joy
Sal Oilver
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Megan Suzie
Love this
Soaking up the last of the sun before the next winter storm rolls in tomorrow night. Looks like we’ll finally be getting some snow! ❄️ It’s been a few years. The wild horses are well-equipped to handle it, with their thick, insulated coats. They will dig through the snow to get to the grass beneath it, and if their water sources freeze they know to break it with their hooves. Just another day on the beach for these resourceful horses!
thank you for the grass & water source explanation; very interesting🧡
Looks like a painting
we love the wild horses. our favorite place to go on vacation for over 30 years!
You guys are wonderful taking care of these beautiful horses 🐎🐎🐎🐎💙💙💙💙
Bet that would make beautiful pictures
Marley Crawford we should make this a sellable product in the store and on line for sure.
Would love to see pictures of them in the snow!!
Beautiful color
Beautiful! Stay safe ❤️🐴❤️
What a beauty!💕💕
I love fluffy horses.
If only we were that talented!
Beautiful picture!
Soooo beautiful! 😘
Beautiful
Beautiful picture
Beautiful 💕
Beautiful picture 🥰
Beautiful
Beautiful!!
Beautiful!!
❤️Beauty!
more like ice
Awesome
Love you
Have you sent in your submissions for the 2023 CWHF calendar? Time is running out! You can find more info and the entry form here: www.corollawildhorses.com/cwhf-annual-calendar-contest/ Please read the rules carefully - especially the information about photo size and resolution. 📸🐎
How I Love these Beautiful Wild Horses❤️🐴❤️🐴
I don’t see on the form where this can be submitted online. Am I missing it??
Thank you! I just submitted mine. 🙂
Mike Wendy Bulick. You should submit one of the ones you took.
Can the photos be submitted online?
Can this not be done online?
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Megan
Winter has finally arrived in northeastern North Carolina! 🥶
One of the most common causes of colic in horses during the winter is poor water intake. It may seem silly to dump and refill troughs when it’s in the 20s and the wind is howling, but as you can see the horses immediately come up to drink once they have fresh water. We do this every day because an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Then once all the water is done the hoses have to be disconnected and drained, and all the water pumps turned off. It adds a couple hours to our morning chores but it’s definitely worth it.
The wild horses have plenty of fresh water available to them, and while it’s very cold, it’s not frozen so they don’t have any trouble staying hydrated. And of course their thick, woolly coats keep them well insulated and protected from the wind.
Stay warm out there! 🧣🧤
They are beautiful! Thank you so much for all the hard work that keeps all these horses safe and thriving! Stay warm… it’s cold! ❤️🐴❤️🐴
I’m sure you’ve answered this before, and I know they fend for themselves very well, but where does the wild herd drink when puddles freeze over?
Thank you for all of your care & love for those beautiful creatures!🥰❤
Although horses are good at breaking ice, I was doing exactly what you do, all the time. It’s well worth the effort. (I invested in water heaters, but that’s probably not feasible for the wild horse situation, is it?)
Thank you for taking care of the horses 🥰
You’re all awesome! Thank you
i clean my troughs several times a year. Buddy passed due to colic in 2011. i figured out the cause later. and it was water consumption. but it wasn't due to dirty water. he didn't like really cold water. every year from the time he was 16. i watched him out in the pasture in the spring doing all kinds of flexing. and i thought back then is he trying to pee. after he passed i found out that was due to a mild case of colic. but later i bought deicers and put them in the water troughs main so the girls would not colic like he did.
Thank you for all the care and love of these beautiful horses stay warm
Thinking of you all and the horses as this storm rolls through up there
Wow, thanks for a teaching moment. Glad to learn more about the horses.
thank you for your hard work <3
Do you guys give any response to donations? Just wanted to check if you received our donation. I can check my account But usually receive an acknowledgment.
Oh, thank you! I love these horses! 💕
Thank you so much 💕
Thank you for taking the time for yhem
Its been -30 degrees in the mornings up here in Minnesota
Thank y’all for all that you do.
You’re the best!
Thanks for all you do!!
You guys ROCK!
Years ago, we had a water warmer for the trough. It kept the water from freezing.
you all make me smile .... not everything you post is wonderful, but what you do is wonderful and I thank you for all of it.
thank you for all u do
aside from horses getting colic.....every animal needs to drink at least twice a day.....
Labor of love ❤️ thank you!
Updated winter hours for our museum and gift shop in Corolla. You can always call 252-453-8002 if you have questions or need help with something! Horse emergencies can be called in to that number as well, or 252-232-2216 after 5pm and on weekends.
Corolla Wild Horse Fund updated their business hours.
We have some very tragic news to report this evening. This afternoon at around 2:15pm Rabbit, who was born in 2019, was struck by a vehicle and killed. The person who hit her called 911 and CWHF and law enforcement responded immediately. After interviewing the driver and witnesses, and performing a breathalyzer, it was determined that this was indeed a devastating accident. Rabbit galloped down the dunes and directly into the path of the vehicle. We'd like to thank the driver for stopping and calling in to report the accident, and for their cooperation while we worked to figure out exactly what happened.
This should serve as a reminder to everyone that the horses are unpredictable and great care should be taken when driving on the beach. Please be aware of your surroundings at all times and reduce your speed when possible.
We are making this announcement now because there were lots of witnesses and word about the accident is spreading quickly. We do not want rumors to spread or false information to be posted anywhere. However, we are in shock and grieving, and not prepared to entertain much discourse about the incident this evening. Thank you for understanding.
Photo: Rabbit as foal in 2019
Credit: David Dickens/CWHF
News outlets and other media have permission to share with credit.
Our last post of 2021...what a year it's been. It's hard not to get a little reflective on the last day of the year, and I woke up this morning thinking about the horses we lost. This may seem like the opposite of a positive post, but hear me out.
It is inevitable when you are working with animals that there will be death. And no matter the circumstances, it will always be sad. We only have 102 horses in the herd. We know every single one of them. We get attached to them. Every horse is critically important to the long-term health and genetic stability of the breed, and losing one, especially tragically and at a young age, is devastating. The day you stop crying when one dies is the day it's probably time to start thinking about a career change. There is often a perception in animal management and rescue that professionals shouldn't have emotions like this, but we disagree. Emotions mean you care. The difficult part is making sure emotion doesn't overshadow what's right from a husbandry and management standpoint. Finding the right balance is key.
"How do you do it?" is something I get asked all the time. It is a great, great honor to be trusted with the lives of these special horses, and something that is never taken for granted. This is true when they are healthy and thriving, and perhaps even more true when it comes to the end of their lives. To help a horse pass with dignity, to offer as much comfort as you can, to respectfully give them a final resting place, to remember them and their contributions to the herd, to know that you did everything you could, and to learn something from every single death - that is how you do it.
One of the rare good things to come out of the pandemic is the fact that we've had more time to focus on our DNA project and our recordkeeping. Every day our Sanctuary Observers are on the beach taking detailed notes on horse behavior, and in the last couple months we've begun to enter years of this data into spreadsheets that we can use to track movement - down to specific latitude and longitude points. We can plug those data points into GoogleMaps and voilà - Rocky's movements for an entire year! We chart information like types of incidents, specific causes of death or injuries, breeding, odd or interesting behaviors, and more. When a horse dies from drinking polluted water, for example, we can go back and look to see where they'd been and which horses they were with so that we can monitor those horses and take water samples from the areas they're frequenting. All of this information helps us better understand and manage the herd. The more we know about the horses, the more successful we're going to be at protecting them and their habitat.
We have collected DNA samples from nearly half of the wild herd, and hope to finish collecting tissue this winter. We have been able to establish foundation lines going back to the 1970s and this information is proving to be invaluable when it comes to managing the horses. It tells us more about behavior than we'd ever be able to observe ourselves, and it's not anecdotal! Science doesn't lie. We can test for genetic conditions and then manage breeding with contraception, we can pinpoint areas where genetic diversification would be appropriate, we can track breeding behaviors and movement, and it's even helped us get a more accurate age on many of the horses.
And the DNA has given us a new way to cope with loss. Amadeo and Roamer may be gone, but their son and grandson share a field at our rescue farm. Taco died prematurely, but we know that he still has brothers and sisters on the beach who can pass his genetics on. Star, the famous stallion who was tragically hit and killed on Highway 12 in the 1990s has great grandchildren still living wild and free on the beach today. In a very real way, they are still here with us. And because of the work we're doing, these horses will never be forgotten. Their names, photos, registration numbers, and ancestry will forever be recorded so that decades from now, people will know exactly what kind of impact they had. We are putting programs and research in place that will long outlive us, and will save these horses from extinction.
So rest easy Persimmon, Lizzie, Hazel, Hurricane, Rose, and Taco. Your legacy will never, ever be forgotten and the things we learned from you have already helped save others. Generations from now there will be a foal born and we will be able to say "her great, great, great grandmother was a classy old mare named Hazel, and she had the same little star and two socks" and that's what makes the hard days so very worth it.
Happy New Year to all of you, from our family to yours! We are so grateful for your continued support through these very difficult years, for your trust in us, and for your love and advocacy for these horses. Wishing you all the best in 2022!
www.corollawildhorses.com/support-the-corolla-wild-horse-fund
An amazing group of professionals dedicated to our Banker Horses! thanks Meg, Jo and everyone who gives tirelessly every day!❤
I remember seeing Star standing in a field in the very early years, looking so Majestic… it has stayed with me as a moment in time. I have a picture… somewhere! Thank you for loving the horse so well.
Thank you so much for everything that you do to help these beautiful wild horses. Wishing all of you a Safe and Happy New Year ❤️🐴❤️
Fireworks in the area will make horses try anything to get away. So sad bout the loss of the baby last night.
Happy New Year to all of you, and thank you for the incredible and selfless work you're doing to keep this herd going! It is sad to hear of the passing of one of these beautiful creatures, but it's a comfort and joy to know others from their bloodline continue on and thrive. It's a gift to be able to see these horses in person, and a few of my favorite memories over my life of vacationing in the OBX are of these horses. The best was when 4-5 horses walked right behind us as we sat in the sunset surf on the 4x4. We had no where to go but deeper into the water (which we did!), and it was incredible for us, and especially the 5 kids in our group, to see them as up close as we did. 🥂🐎
Thank you all for putting your hearts and souls into preserving these wonderful horses! Happy New Year and god bless you all!
Keeping you all in my prayers for a healthy New Year…..bless you all for the work that you do to keep these beautiful creatures safe👏👏
For some reason I thought there were around 500 in the herd, we do tours regularly and walk the beach where they live. Seeing them is magical. I cannot believe how attentive you are and that you know each horse by sight alone. What an honor to help these wild horses
This made me tear up but is also giving me so much hope for the future. Thank you and all the volunteers and supporters 💞
Thank you for loving the horses. You have one of the best jobs ever and the horses are lucky to have you to care for them.
Thank you for the job you have keeping them safe keep up the good work. Happy New Year🎉
Thank you for all you do to care for Currituck Beaches horses! They are magnificent and just wish there was a way for them to have their beach back. Everytime I ride over there it is to sit and watch them from a distance. Have been doing it for years... Thank you and Happy New Year! Here's to a safer year for our horses!
Thank you for your dedication, love and hard work keeping these beautiful animals safe and healthy! You are an Angel on earth 😇
Thank you for keeping track of all the wild horses. Genetics is so important to maintaining the health of the herd. We enjoy seeing the horses and knowing they are being allowed to remain free and wild. Happy New Year!!
Lizzie lost 7/2021 and her Rabbit lost 1/1/22…
I’m lost for words all the heart and soul you put into these beautiful creatures we all have been blessed with these years, past present and future. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. It’s going to be a wonderful year. 🙏
I am so very thrilled with your love and caring for these gorgeous animals. One question - why are public cars allowed in the areas where the horses are? Why did the local towns change the rules and allow this? Is there no way to keep them in a separate protected area? They are just so precious. ❤️
A great tribute to the heard! Thank you for all the work you all are doing.
This is beautiful. Thank you for all that you do for these wonderful horses. Happy New Year. May 2022 bring much health and success to the herd. 💜💜🐎🐎
Thank you for everything you guys do. Happy, healthy and safe New Years
God bless you for all you do for the horses. Thank you! ❤️
Beautiful tribute, many thanks for your efforts, and Happy New Year. Looking forward to posts and photos of the new crop of foals.
You are amazing. Thanks for caring for these horses and doing all you can to keep them safe and free. 👏👏👏
Thank you for your commitment and loyalty to the Herd! Happy New Year!
I’ll never forget being able to see them in the wild!! And to see Raymond still in the wild. Priceless
One of the best things about 2021 was getting to see so many of you in person! That was definitely a big change from 2020, and a most welcome one.
We resumed our open houses at the farm, hosted a weekly summer camp for local kids, and took horses off the farm to different events and programs. These events are so important because they really connect people to the horses. It allows us the opportunity to educate and promote advocacy and support, and it gives people a chance to get up close and personal with these special horses in a safe, responsible way.
The farm open houses are a wonderful chance for people to see what happens behind the scenes, and chat one-on-one with the staff and volunteers who work with and care for the rescue horses daily. Most of the horses that live on the farm can't be taken off the property for outreach, so it affords people the opportunity to meet their favorite horses that they wouldn't see anywhere else. Summer camp was a brand new experience for us this year, and we had a blast! The kids learned tons about horses, from care and feeding to grooming, tack and equipment, and different breeds and colors. They even got to ride two of our saddle-trained horses - Luna and Vivo.
In 2021 we took horses to all kinds of different programs off the farm. Rita went to the Museum of the Albemarle several times this year, and met hundreds of school children from across northeastern North Carolina. Riptide did his first outreach at the Sanderling Resort in April, and went to visit residents at a nursing home this fall. Some of our adopted horses did outreach too! Felix came to the premiere of The Secret of Corolla, and Noel rocked out at our Sunset Sounds concert series. Hopefully in 2022 we will be able to attend even more events around town!
Your support allows us to continue expanding these programs, and we hope to add even more in 2022! Farm open houses will resume in the spring - keep an eye on our events calendar for details. Hopefully we will see you all again soon!
www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/
Thank you so much for all that all of you do. Such a busy year! I look forward to seeing your event calendar for next year! Wishing all of you a Safe and Happy New Year! ❤️🐴❤️🐴
You guys do such wonderful work! You will be blessed! Happy safe and healthy New Year!
Today's positive memory from 2021 is all about community!
In the early spring, a couple of 4x4 homeowners and wild horse advocates got together and came up with the idea to design, manufacture, and strategically place large, permanent metal signs along the dunes on private property. An anonymous donor covered the cost of more than 20 of these signs, and they were all installed by volunteers. When we say it takes a village, this is exactly what we're talking about! These signs have made a huge impact. They educate those who genuinely don't know the rules, and they take away any excuse people may come up with when they're caught feeding, petting, or harassing the horses. No one can say they didn't see a sign now! The people who coordinated and executed this major project are truly wild horse heroes, as are the homeowners who graciously allowed the signs to be installed on their properties.
Our Community Wild Horse Toolkit is full of resources for rental companies, homeowners, businesses, and anyone else who wants to help spread the word about keeping the horses (and people) safe. You'll find videos and flyers, order forms for different kinds of signs and fridge magnets, banners and buttons for your website, and more. Check it out: www.corollawildhorses.com/community-wild-horse-toolkit/
Education and advocacy are key to keeping the horses wild and free for many more generations to come. Thank you for speaking up for them!
From Kentucky, thank you to every single volunteer who helped this project come to fruition🌟 and especially to the anonymous donor who provided the funding❤️
Thank you to your secret donor, and all the folks who said yes when the horses needed them. 💗
PLEASE, visitors, read and follow what is printed on these signs. Thank you to the community members who worked to set these signs up. ❤️
Can't wait to visit in May and watch the horses from a safe distance.
Wow! That’s absolutely awesome! Thank you so much to the anonymous donor and all the volunteers that help to keep these beautiful Wild Horses safe! Such a beautiful blessing! ❤️🐴❤️🐴
I say it again and again: These horses are a living national treasure.
Bless the folks who did this and a huge thank you to them and the volunteers who helped!
Hoping for a much better summer for the horses!
Thanks to that person. I truly do not understand why this is so hard to follow.
Thank you to the donor’s and volunteers. Keep them Wild and Free from harm. 🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴
Thank you! This is wonderful!!!❤
I'd like to use this post to ask the community if there is an exact place Hwy 12 runs along the beach. I was moved back and forth by the "police" last September and since the tide is always on the move, I just couldn't figure it out. They didn't really seem to know either.
How wonderful.
Thank you Thank you all!
❤️Thank you!
I ❤ this!! 🐴🐎
This is great . Ty
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
We need the same signs out west for the blm to leave the Wild Horses and Burros TFA!!!
Awesome!!
Thank you
Every day this week we'll be posting about something positive that happened in 2021. Yesterday we were talking about the nine healthy foals that were born, and today we're celebrating a rescue success story - saving Junior from choking. (Sorry for the late post - my New Year's resolution is to procrastinate less. 😂 #yeahright)
On June 30, we got a call about a horse that seemed to be in distress. He was running frantically, dropping to the ground and rolling, and seemed to be in pain. There was clearly something very wrong so we gave our vet a heads up, hitched up the trailer, and headed up to the beach. When we arrived on the scene, Junior was right at the base of Penny's Hill, and had gone down and stayed down for several minutes. It was brutally hot, especially on the sand, and we worried that we hadn't made it in time. But he did manage to get back up on his own so we knew we had a chance, and with the help of a vacationing veterinarian, a couple volunteers, and the sheriff's department, we were able to corral Junior and get him up onto the trailer.
Our vet was waiting at the farm when we got back there, and immediately started working to get the obstruction cleared. Thankfully it passed. We got to Junior in the nick of time, and if it hadn't been for the people who called us as soon as they noticed him acting strange he probably wouldn't have survived. He scratched his eyes badly while he was rolling in the sand and he was a bit colicky for the first 24 hours he was at the farm, but we got him through it and after about 48 hours the vet gave Junior the all clear.
Junior is an aged stallion, in his late teens at least. He got his name because he looks exactly like his dad Amadeo, who died in March 2020. And not only does he look like his dad, but he acts like him too. It took some getting used to at first; it was like seeing a ghost out in the pasture! Junior is incredibly laid back and sensible. He's kind and smart, and has been so easy to work with. You only have to teach him something one time, and after that he's got it down. Within the first couple days of having him on the farm, we could catch him, halter and lead him, pick up his feet, and hose him off. Now he shares a field with Riptide, a 2.5 year old colt, and Squirt, an 11 year old gelding. They all get along really well and we can't imagine ever splitting them up. Junior is really personable and enjoys attention, but he doesn't do well when he's surrounded by a lot of people so he will most likely never be an outreach horse like his dad. But that's ok. His only job now is to live out the rest of his days retired and happy.
Junior's story is bittersweet. We lost a stallion from the wild herd because he ate something that was not a part of his natural diet, whether he was fed it on purpose or he got it out of the trash. We grieve his loss from the wild even though we know he is safe and healthy on the farm. When we respond to a medical emergency, it's usually life or death. We try our best to never remove a horse from the wild that could potentially heal and survive on their own, and removal is not a decision we take lightly. Once a horse is taken out of the wild it can never return. The wild herd is not vaccinated so there is always the risk of introducing disease, and once removed, these horses tend to domesticate very quickly especially if they require intensive medical care.
But at the end of the day, he survived and that's the most important thing. Junior has been such a gift during what's been a very difficult year, and we will never take for granted how lucky he is to be alive. You can sponsor Junior and help cover the cost of his care and feeding - visit our website for more details: www.corollawildhorses.com/horse-sponsorships/
This is by far my favorite positive of the year. Junior has been our favorite for years. Every vacation there we look for Junior and literally have 100s of pictures of him. My all time favorite OBX picture is of course, Junior. We had been there the month of May and saw and watched him so many times. My favorite pastime was watching ( from a distance) our boy. I was in tears when you posted just a month later that he had to be removed from the herd. So happy to know 'our boy' is doing well.
I love the idea of highlighting the positive things in what turned out to be a very stressful year! Thank you!
Thank you very caring for these magnificent horses...your work to preserve them is a true passion. 👍
Thank you all very caring for these horses and all That you do 😊God Bless and may you all have A Happy , Healthy and Safe New Year and the rest of the Christmas Season 🙏✝️😊🌟🎅🏻🎄❄️☃️✨🎁😊🥂
I Love Him! When we were there and stayed at a beach house in Carova I wanted to be sure I remembered to sponsor another horse (I had previously sponsored Amadeo) so when I found out this was his son, I decided to become a sponsor for Junior. I get to look at them every day as their pics are on my desk at work. (See pic in reply comment)Thank you for all you do for these beautiful creatures, it was wonderful seeing them every day when we stayed there this past summer ❤
I love reading about the horses! Thanks for posting!
Love these beautiful animals that are so intelligent.
Love the positive stories and photos of these beautiful horses! ❤️🙏🏼
The Corolla horses are so blessed to have you all. I hope visitors continue to watch for distress signs in order to help these beautiful animals.
My husband got me a sponsor membership for Junior ❤ he tried picking the one closest looking to my mustang/Morgan mare
Jr is So beautiful❤
Corolla Wild Horse Fund I'm pretty sure that's Junior on the right - can you verify? (This is from a few years ago - taken with a 500mm lense from a good 70-80 feet away! 🙂 )
Love it
Dennis G. Nielson
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❤❤❤❤❤
Sweet boy!
Can you collect and freeze semen from him to help the breed in the future?
It's been another difficult year for everyone, and the bad news tends to overshadow the good. But we don't want to say to goodbye to 2021 by focusing on the bad, because a lot of really wonderful things happened too! So every day this week we're going to post about something positive that happened this past year.
The overall good health of the herd is definitely reason to celebrate! Of course we suffered some heartbreaking loss, but that's to be expected when you are managing a large population of wild animals. However, in 2021 our losses did not outnumber births! We saw nine healthy foals born over the spring and summer. A couple gave us a run for our money (Billie, who was stolen by a mare who wasn't her mom, Beatrice, who fell into the canal, and Bravo, who was separated from his family right after birth) but all's well that ends well and everyone is thriving now.
Pictured below is Bravo, the last foal born in 2021. His mother is Cora Mae, who is also the mother of Valor and Riptide. In May 2020 we found Valor unable to walk, and ultimately lost her to an infected tendon sheath. Then in August 2020, we had to take Riptide so that we could treat him for pythiosis, a potentially fatal fungal infection. Luckily he survived, but having to take two of Cora Mae's young offspring from her in one year was devastating. When it became apparent that she was pregnant again this year, we were all so excited and overjoyed. Cora was HUGE the last couple months of her pregnancy and the waiting was excruciating!
On September 18, she finally had her colt. He gave us quite a scare the next morning when he was nowhere to be found, but after several hours and with the help of a lot of people, we were able to locate him and get him back to his mom. It's not often that we get to actually bring a horse back to their family after an emergency, and being able to do that for Cora Mae was cathartic for everyone involved.
Billie, Betsy, Benjamin, Beatrice, Bee, Bridget, Bramble, Brio, and Bravo, may you continue to grow and thrive and live the rest of your days wild and free on this beach!
Photo: Kristen Vreeland
www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/
Hoping for a safe and healthy New Year for our wild horses!
So thankful there were more births than losses this year! Have loved reading the stories of adventures these yunguns have had! Many heartfelt thanks to the CWHF and volunteers who work so hard to care for this heard of majestic creatures both in the wild and at the farm!
So grateful for the incredible management and love you give to this beautiful herd. Here’s to a healthy, happy New Year for them…and all that take care of them 😍🙌.
Wonderful to keep us on the positive thoughts! Thank you and Happy New Year!
So thankful dor manager, volunteers, new colts, all wild horses & everyone involved in keeping them safe, well & thriving!!
We were here the end of April right after Bridget was born and were lucky enough to see her several times. Got some great pics and video of her with her Mom. We are back this week for New Year's! Any recent pictures of Bridget? We want to keep an eye out for her ❤️
Thank you for this message that is such a good perspective and one I will carry with me also be so so thankful for our blessings!!! So thankful for all the blessings these amazing animals received in 2021 and I look hopefully to a great 2022
Love these horses & really appreciate you, your staff, volunteers that manage & care for them. Also, for taking the time to update us with posts, videos & pictures! Prayers for 2022 to be a safe, healthy, blessed year!
Blessings & very best wishes in the coming year to the horses & wonderful staff/volunteers alike! Heartfelt thanks & Happy New Year! ❤️🎉
The wonderful herd has you and your crew to thank for protecting and caring for them!!❤️
Such noble and beautiful creatures, please be careful if the rules while viewing them, thanks to those that care for them, you are loved too!
We were there in Oct for the 1st time and I was absolutely amazed! They are so beautiful!! Thank you for all you do!
Hoping the herd stays safe and healthy during 2022. Thanks for all you and your staff do for these treasures.
Love the updates..wow I forgot there were 9! For some reason I thought it was 7..hopefully next year will also bring lots of babies..thank you all for everything you do for these amazing animals ❤ I wish you all a blessed & safe New Year ! Also I have to ask did y'all find out the gender of Bee lol?
Thank you for all that you do -- and for naming the horses too. I love your social media posts. The horses are so much a part of our lives here. I think you could easily sell a catalog with photos, names and notes for every horse. Update it every year too, so that folks know when their guide is out of date. Get the rental owners to promote it to their guests. Sorry, I love the horses and am in marketing. I always have ideas....
We were vacationing from Laurel MS and got to whiteness the rescue of Bravo! Most amazing thing I’ve ever seen!
Wishing all of you a Safe and Happy New Year! Love this post! Thank you so much for all that all of you do to keep these beautiful wild horses safe. ❤️🐴❤️🐴
Love your updates thanks for all you do . Happy New Year
I visited in September for the first time ❤️🐴 Here’s Brio and his Momma and a hitchhiker lol 🐦
Praying for all of those beautiful & precious horses and wishing everyone at CWHF a Happy/ Healthy New Year! ❤️🙏🏼🌻
Those beautiful horses are doing great thanks to your teams deciation. I love the posts you share...Happy New Year!!
Thank you for the love, hard work and dedication.
I love your updates.. your stories!!
Thank you for all that you do! Keeping them wild keeping them free
Wonderful year with up and downs for this family and extended family of horses.
If you are visiting the northern beaches to ring in the New Year, please remember the same rules that apply in July also apply in December! It is illegal to come within 50ft of the wild horses, and feeding is not only illegal but it can - and has - killed. Do not climb the dunes to get closer to the horses. It’s dangerous and you are also trespassing and damaging our very fragile ecology. Please be respectful our homes, our wildlife, and our beach by obeying the laws. They are in place for very important reasons! To report infractions, please call 252-232-2216.
Thank you for your diligence with reminders!
Thank you for all you do to protect these beautiful beings.❤️
There’s snakes in those dunes, people might not respect the laws but they respect Mr Snake.
💯💯💯💯❗️❗️
I'm sure this has been answered before, but are there horse advocates posting themselves -- like a neighbor's watch -- along where the horses are to watch out for trouble?
Merry Christmas, from our herd to yours!
Merry Christmas to all of you as well!
My husband adopted Junior as a gift to me for Christmas. I cannot wait to meet him! Thank you for all you do, CWHF
Merry Christmas to you and all of yours!
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night🎄💖🎄
Merry Christmas to all!
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas!
Happy holidays from my wild boys!
Merry, Merry Christmas!!!!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas! 🎄
Merry Christmas ❣️🎅🏻🎄
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas 🎄❤️
Merry Christmas!!!
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas 🎄🐎!
Merry Christmas 🎄
Merry Christmas!
Hope everyone is more prepared for Christmas than I am! 😂😱 Here are our adjusted hours for the next week:
Merry Christmas to you all from Kentucky🌟
