
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.
SPONSORSHIP INCLUDES:
- 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
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.

Remembering Raymond

Fatal Wild Horse Incident

Elvis has arrived!

It’s a Girl!

Hello, Ezra!

Raymond has a companion, again.

Junior is home and doing well!

Junior’s Emergency Surgery

Fly Over the 4×4
Facebook Feed
There are just a few hours left to get your ticket(s) for a chance to win this one-of-a-kind pottery piece made with horsehair from Blossom, Amadeo, and their son Junior!
www.corollawildhorses.com/shop/raffle/
Middleton Clay Project shared this clip with us where you can see their process of burning the horsehair onto the pot resulting in a completely unique piece.
Raffle closes today (2/14) at 5:00 PM EST!
We will process the entries and contact the winner on Monday February 17th. Once we've communicated with the winner, we will make an announcement on our social media accounts.
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- likes love wow 233
- Shares: 15
- Comments: 4
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
Hoping this beautiful piece makes its way to my home in Michigan!
What beautiful pictures thank you for sharing them with me
Fingers crossed! Toes too!
Our Valentine’s Day raffle ends tomorrow at noon, so grab your tickets now if you haven’t already! 💘 You’ll be entered to win a one-of-a-kind pot made out of local clay and infused with hair from Amadeo, Blossom, and their son Junior. Generously donated by Middleton Clay Project - all proceeds benefit CWHF!
Link to purchase tickets in the comments ⬇️
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3 CommentsComment on Facebook
Get tickets: www.corollawildhorses.com/shop/raffle/
What day will you be announcing the winner?
Love the photo of Junior and Blossom! So sweet.
Brio and Arrow having some fun together at the farm. Visit our website to learn how you can sponsor one of the rescued Banker horses in our care - link in the comments. ... See MoreSee Less
23 CommentsComment on Facebook
I loved visiting the farm and hope to come again this year
Do y'all ever adopt them out to families? I'm curious cuz I'm considering getting a horse
Our Valentine's Day raffle ends this Friday, and right now you've got a 1 in 1000 chance of winning this special pot - not bad odds!
This one-of-a-kind horsehair put was made by Middleton Clay Project with local Currituck clay and is infused with hair from Amadeo, Blossom, and their son Junior. There will never be another one like it, so don't miss out on your chance to own a piece of history. All proceeds benefit CWHF.
Link to purchase tickets is in the comments.
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2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Purchase tickets: www.corollawildhorses.com/shop/raffle/
I emailed you guys a few weeks ago for purchases & donations! For raffles and a few horsehair pieces I want. No response.
We’ve been spending a lot of time this winter working on our DNA project, and to date we have 166 records on file - 122 partial pedigrees and 44 full pedigrees. A full pedigree means that we’ve identified both the sire (father) and dam (mother) of a horse and it has been verified by the geneticist. In order to be verified we have to find both the mother and father, and they have to match up with the offspring together. Often we’ll have a list of horses that qualify as either the father or mother individually, but not when paired together. There are a lot of pieces to the puzzle!
We have decades of photographs on file that help us narrow down who might be related to who, but even then you can’t assume anything until the DNA confirms it. This is always true with sires - there’s no way to know for sure who a horse’s father is without DNA. A stallion may breed a mare and then she gets stolen, so you can’t assume the stallion she’s with when the foal is born is the father. Maternal relationships are a little easier but not always, and today we came across a great example of that.
Bonita is one of the 44 full pedigrees we have on file - her parents have been verified to be Taka and Tyrone/Buddy (some of the horses have multiple names). We actually have photos of Taka giving birth to Bonita, so we were always pretty sure she was her dam but you never know - horses have similar markings, they change colors as they grow, etc. etc. Once we identified Tyrone/Buddy as a possible sire, we sent it off to the lab for verification and got confirmation that they were indeed Bonita’s parents. Both of them are still wild (though quite old) and Bonita now lives at the rescue farm.
While scrolling through some old files this morning we came across a photo of Bonita nursing from a mare that is definitely not Taka. If we’d seen this photo before we had their DNA samples on file we probably would have assumed that the bay mare was her mother. This is a pretty extreme example - not many mares will let a yearling that isn’t their offspring nurse from them, though it obviously does happen sometimes. But it’s a good reminder that what you see in a photograph isn’t always the full picture. Another good example is the third photo in this post. You’d probably assume that Rabbit was Thelma’s foal, but she was not. Her mom is standing behind them, and Rabbit was just having a sweet moment with her “aunt” Thelma.
This is why using science to determine genetics is so important! The photographs and other archival records are incredibly important and have helped us tremendously in identifying many of these possible relationships, but at the end of the day only the DNA can say for sure who is related to who. We are still working on collecting samples from the wild herd and have a long way to go before our database is full of verified pedigrees, but we’ve been making great strides these past few months. It’s really starting to come together, and we’re excited to share more and more with you as we continue to establish the ancestry and lineages of this endangered herd.
www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/
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33 CommentsComment on Facebook
How do you collect the dna from the horses if you are not allowed to touch or approach them?
Soooo - stupid question - do you swab a mouth, snag a hair follicle, or draw blood to get your samples?
Sensitive question - is there ever a worry about "inbreeding"
We took advantage of the nice weather yesterday! ☀️
Most of the horses at the farm can’t be in heavy work due to age or physical limitations, but they still need to get out of the pastures and get some exercise on a regular basis. We utilize the trails in the back of our property often - even the horses that can’t be ridden love to go on nature walks. They get to move around, see things they don’t normally see, and visit with other horses they don’t share pastures with. It’s great enrichment for everyone!
Sponsor a rescued Banker horse living on our farm: www.corollawildhorses.com/horse-sponsorships/
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8 CommentsComment on Facebook
This is so exciting! Like a field trip for them! No pun intended 😊
They love it! What a beautiful farm for these very intelligent Banker horses.
How fun for them. A change of scenery is always good.
It rained overnight and everyone had a good roll in the mud - even Brio over at the farm! Rolling is a form of self-grooming. It loosens up dried sweat along with dead skin and hair, and helps relieve itchiness. In the summertime the mud creates a barrier against biting flies and can even help keep the horses cool. Spa day, Banker horse style!
www.corollawildhorses.org
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11 CommentsComment on Facebook
Thank you for always teaching us. I love to learn why they do what they do.
Great info!
Fascinating. I just love them. ❤️
Have you gotten your tickets for this year’s Valentines Day Raffle? This one-of-a-kind pot made by Middleton Clay Project is infused with hair from Blossom (pictured), Amadeo, and their son Junior.
All proceeds benefit CWHF!
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit our website: www.corollawildhorses.com/shop/raffle/
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0 CommentsComment on Facebook
We’ve finally thawed out - it was 25 degrees warmer today than it was last Tuesday. The snow was pretty but this is more our speed. 😎 🏖️
www.corollawildhorses.org
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1 CommentComment on Facebook
Beautiful🥰
This season’s raffle is special and close to our hearts as it celebrates one of the most important things in life – family. Middleton Clay Project has created a beautiful handmade pot infused with horsehair from Amadeo, Blossom, and their son Junior. Of the three, Blossom remains living at the CWHF’s farm on the mainland. Both Amadeo and Junior are no longer with us, but their memory lives on in this one-of-a-kind piece Michael Middleton has generously donated for this raffle.
Get your tickets here: www.corollawildhorses.com/shop/raffle/
Each raffle ticket is $7. Add this item to your cart to purchase your ticket(s) and continue to the checkout. Your order number will be entered into the raffle multiple times, equaling the quantity of your purchased ticket. Tickets can be purchased until 12 pm February 14th. The winner will be drawn and announced on CWHF social media channels after we communicate with the winner!
Good luck, and thank you for your support!
Pot generously donated by our friends at Middleton Clay Project: www.middletonclayproject.com/
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3 CommentsComment on Facebook
Corolla Wild Horse Fund Sorry if I missed the details, but if the person who wins isn’t local, can it be shipped?
It’s gorgeous
Beautiful!
Some more pictures from the farm today. The sun came out this afternoon but it didn’t warm up enough for anything to melt. All of the horses were really enjoying the snow!
It’s important for horses to have plenty of hay (or other forage) to eat when it’s cold like this. As the fiber ferments in their hindgut it creates a built-in heat source that keeps them warm even on snowy days like today.
We rely on your generous support to keep the rescued Banker horses in our care happy and healthy all year long. You can sponsor a horse, buy a bale of hay, become a member, or simply make a one-time donation - it all make a huge impact!
⬇️
www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/
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43 CommentsComment on Facebook
Hi! These pictures are wonderful. Could we add a couple of them to our January 21-22, 2025 Winter Storm Facebook album?
Where is Riptide? I just love seeing them healthy and happy 😊 ❤️❄️
I gave my yearly donation in Raymond's name. I want it to continue. Do I need to do anything?
Snow pics from Corolla and the 4x4!
The wild horses are mostly laying low and staying out of the wind but a few have been out and about this morning. The snow on their backs means they are warm - their thick winter coats are not letting their body heat escape.
Sure is beautiful! ❄️
www.corollawildhorses.org
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77 CommentsComment on Facebook
Any recent photo's of Drake?
Are they ok with all that snow! I’m worrried
Thank god y’all took em, cause I ain’t going down my steps for love nor $
Riptide says good morning from a very snowy Grandy, NC! ❄️❄️❄️ We’ll post more photos once we’ve thawed out a bit.
www.corollawildhorses.org
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346 CommentsComment on Facebook
Gorgeous! Enjoy every minute of it and thank you for caring for all the animals in this cold.
Awwww how sweet. He’s probably thinking it’s some pretty cold sand
Wow, it must be amazing to see this in person.
Brio is very excited to experience his first ever big snow! ❄️❄️❄️ Our museum and store in Corolla will be closed tomorrow and Thursday due to the weather. Stay safe and warm!
www.corollawildhorses.org
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25 CommentsComment on Facebook
So excited to see Brio. I made a sponsorship donation for Brio, in honor of my granddaughters!
Enjoy and stay safe out there as well. It's been snowing here of and on for days. Hope to see you this summer!
Brio is very special! ❤️❄️
Calling all amateur photographers - the 2026 calendar contest is open for submissions! More information and the entry form can be found on our website: www.corollawildhorses.com/calendarcontest/
Deadline for entries is March 15.
Grab a 2025 calendar if you haven't already: www.corollawildhorses.com/shop/2025calendar/
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16 CommentsComment on Facebook
Can these be pics taken from any time like several years ago?
Any idea when 2025 calendars might be back in stock?
Do we need to remove watermarks?
We wanted to take a moment to share this message from Chris with all of you:
Wow! Sometimes thank you does not feel big enough; this just might be one of those times. We had an absolutely incredible year-end campaign and have been blown away by your generous support in 2024. We are truly humbled to serve a mission of which all of you are so passionate. We feel your support; we treasure that each and everyone of you is part of this extraordinary community.
On behalf of the Staff and Board of Directors of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund, know that our gratitude carries us in to 2025 filled with optimism. We look forward to seeing you on the beach, in Corolla and at the farm in Grandy! Our hope is for all of you to have a wonderful 2025.
In gratitude,
Chris Winter
Chief Executive Officer
www.corollawildhorses.org
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14 CommentsComment on Facebook
It’s easy to support a group I believe in, a group that goes above and beyond in their passion, commitment and hard work, a group of remarkable people. THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!!!!! 🙏🙏The state and county step up in helping protect these magnificent animals
Thanks for all you do.
The horses look extra fluffy when it’s really cold because their thick winter hair stands up on end to trap body heat and insulate them from the outside air. A nap in the sun is a good way to stay warm too! Horses are most comfortable during cooler weather, so even though this cold snap may feel pretty brutal to us they really don’t mind it at all. 🧣
www.corollawildhorses.org
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32 CommentsComment on Facebook
Beautiful
Thank you for sharing. Such majestic creatures
Do you ever judge how cold a winter is going to be by how fluffy the horses get? Kinda like a wooly catapillar!
No snow for us today - just lots of rain! ☔️
www.corollawildhorses.org
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5 CommentsComment on Facebook
Brio, Arrow, Wildfire, and Squirt must have partied pretty hard last night! 🍾🎉😉
Happy New Year!
www.corollawildhorses.org
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21 CommentsComment on Facebook
 heading that way for a few days in April, is the barn open for visitors on a daily basis
Happy New Year! They look very content catching some warm rays of the sun!!! ❤️🙏🏼❤️
Basking in the sun, on a chilly day, sounds like the perfect way to start a new year.
On the night Junior died I remember looking up at the sky and being awestruck by how beautiful it was. One of the worst days of my life, but the stars were still bright and twinkling, just as they had been the night he was born and as they were every other night for the next twenty years of his life. It was the same sky that all of his ancestors - countless generations of Banker horses, had lived under.
Those stars welcomed Elsa to the world the week before Junior died, and they were the stars that lit the night sky when we buried her just two days later. Stars that Flint spent forty extraordinary years under, stars that would witness the worst (and also the best) of humanity the night Bullwinkle was killed, stars that Raymond brayed beneath, stars that blanketed the sky when Moxie lived in the shadow of the lighthouse, and later on Dews Island.
They were the same stars that guided ships with hulls full of ponies across a dark, vast ocean hundreds of years ago.
There’s a lot of comfort and beauty to be found in these inevitabilities. The sun will rise, the tides will shift, horses will be born and horses will die, and if we’re lucky we get to continue being a part of this incredible cycle of life - even on the worst of days.
If there is one thing that 2024 taught us, it’s that life does go on.
Of course, none of this happens in a vacuum. Herd management takes a lot of work and resources, even when the approach is as hands-off as possible. There’s a balance to be found between letting nature take its course and protecting a highly-endangered breed. From daily observations and data collection, habitat preservation, DNA research, and public education to new fencing at the rescue farm and continuing education for our staff, it all comes together to ensure the future is secure for the Corolla Bankers.
None of this would be possible without your continued support. We are so grateful and humbled by your trust in us to carry out this mission and to always do what’s best for the horses. We leaned heavily on that support this year. Every kind note slipped into an envelope with a donation check, every tearful hug and memory shared at an open house, every thoughtful Facebook comment - it kept us going. Thank you.
So, as this year comes to a close let us remember those we lost while looking forward to those who are yet to be born. The world will keep turning.
Rest easy Elsa, Luna, Junior, Moxie, Bullwinkle, Mocha, Flint, Raymond, Mimosa, Sea King, and our sweet barn cat Luna. Your legacies are truly a blessing.
Wishing all of you the very best in the New Year. ✨
***********
Our year-end fundraiser is almost over, but if you make a donation today it will still have double the impact thanks to a very generous $40,000 match - www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/
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68 CommentsComment on Facebook
Thank you for care you give each and every one of the banker horses, in the wild, at the rescue farm and keeping track of the adopted ones. It can be so heartbreaking but also the most joyful. You are the best.
Thank you so much for including our sweet Mimosa in your beautiful tribute. She lived the first 13 or so years wild and free before she came to Virginia. The day she arrived - it had been raining all morning - but there was a rainbow in the sky when she came off the trailer. She was a true ambassador for the breed. She loved everyone and gave rides to all the children. She taught me so much and changed the way I interacte with and care for my other horses. I have tears in my eyes but a huge spot in my heart filled with love for that mare - Mimosa.
I don’t know your name as the author of this post, but you have shared your poetry, and it is beautiful. I will make a donation and as I do, please make a silent promise that you will write a book. 🙏
Corolla Wild Horse Fund
1130E Corolla Village Road
Corolla, NC 27927
(252) 453-8002
MUSEUM & GIFT SHOP
Seasonally Closed in January and February
Visit by appointment only.
Mon-Fri, 11 am – 3 pm
For appointment call: 252-453-8002