Corolla Wild Horse Fund

4 days ago

Sharing an update on Beatrice (if you missed yesterday’s post, read it here: www.facebook.com/share/p/197K5YPtHS/).

Beatrice’s condition has remained stable (and maybe even improved a bit!) since yesterday. She’s been moving around her paddock and has been able to get herself up and down. Her body condition is already starting to look a bit better now that she’s more comfortable, less stressed, and hydrated. She’s been eating lots of grass, and also has free-choice access to several different types of hay. We’d like to get her eating pelleted feed but she’s still not too sure about that. In the meantime, we’ve been supplementing her diet with vitamins and minerals like iron, selenium, b12, and vitamin E. She’s also on a daily medication to help prevent ulcers and upset stomach, along with a steroid. She’s not had a dose of the anti-inflammatory since Wednesday evening and we’ve haven’t seen a decline in her mobility or comfort, which is wonderful!

It’s a pretty miserable day here in northeastern NC - rainy, windy, and chilly, but she’s been standing in her run-in shed and keeping dry. If we notice that she seems cold we can put a waterproof blanket on her, but she’s comfortable for now. She can see the other horses around the farm and is not acting depressed or distressed.

The sores you can see on her shoulder and haunches are pressure sores from when she was down over the last week. They’re the least of her concerns right now, but we’ll get some ointment on them as soon as she’s a little more comfortable being touched. She’s starting to enjoy head scratches!

If you’d like to donate towards Beatrice’s ongoing care, visit our website: www.corollawildhorses.com/one-time-donations/

Also wanted to briefly address a question that’s been coming up - will she go back to the wild if we’re able to successfully treat her? The answer to that is no, once a horse is removed it cannot be returned. This is why removal is always the last resort, and not something that we ever take lightly. Working on a different post that goes into more details about this, so stay tuned!

Thanks so much for the support and for everyone’s kind and encouraging words for Beatrice! We will continue to keep everyone updated. ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

5 days ago

Our museum and gift shop in Corolla will be closed today due to inclement weather. We’ve got wind and rain moving in due to a developing nor’easter and we want to keep our staff off the roads. Sorry for any inconvenience, but safety first!

You can always shop online: www.corollawildhorses.com/cwhf-gift-shop/

The wild horses are just fine - this kind of weather doesn’t bother them at all. They’re enjoying the cooler temps! Butts to the wind. ☔️

Beatrice also did fine at the farm overnight. She’s relaxing in her run-in shed right now. Will post a more detailed update and photo soon. Need another cup of coffee first. 😉 ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund is with NC State 4-H Horse Program.

1 week ago

This week 17 youth competitors and 6 coaches will be representing North Carolina at the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup, and we’d like to wish them the best of luck! This is one of the most prestigious national-level equine events for youth in the United States. Teams compete in a variety of non-riding contests that test expertise, analytical thinking, and public speaking.

This year is extra special for us because two young ladies from Wake County have put together a fantastic presentation on the Banker horses and their place in North Carolina history. Rachel and Morgan, we are so proud of you! Congratulations and good luck! 🍀🐎 ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

2 weeks ago

Two young Banker ponies taking a stroll on the beach earlier today.

It’s going to be another rainy weekend here on the Outer Banks, but we know it could be much worse. Our thoughts are with everyone in the direct path of Hurricane Isaias. 🙏 ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

3 weeks ago

The CWHF rescue farm is home to more than 20 very special horses. Each of them was born in the wild but had to be removed for various reasons, ranging from life-threatening injuries and medical conditions, to severe habituation and behavioral issues that put them and humans in danger. Removing a horse from the wild is a last resort option and one that we do not take lightly, but sometimes it is what’s best for the horse’s wellbeing.

Our farm is a sanctuary for these horses; a place where they can live out the rest of their days with the care and support they need to stay healthy, enriched, and safe.

Caring for this many horses, all at different levels of training, different life stages, and with different past traumas and medical issues can be quite a challenge! Each horse is unique and what works best for one might not work for another. We have to be flexible, good at compromise, and patient. But the one thing that rarely changes is the fact that our horses go through a lot of hay.

In fact, hay is our biggest regular expense at the farm.

Horses are meant to graze most of the day and night (15-17 hours at the least); otherwise, stomach acid can build up and cause ulcers, and other behavioral issues can arise. And in the winter, a full belly is what keeps horses warm. At the farm, we keep hay in front of the rescued horses 24/7, giving them the chance to forage as naturally as possible.

For the horses who don’t have special dietary needs, we feed hay that is low in calories, sugar, and other carbohydrates that we’ve found most closely resembles the type of forage they have available to them in the wild. We put these 700lb bales of hay in slow-feeder nets to make them work a little bit harder for it, mimic grazing behavior, and keep the hay clean and off the ground. During the winter, each pasture of horses goes through 1-2 bales of hay every week.

Now that summer is winding down and the amount of hay we are feeding is going up, we are asking for your help to make sure our hay barn stays full all winter. Hay costs have increased significantly over the last several years, and this winter horse owners up and down the East Coast will be facing shortages due to the drought. We need to be extra vigilant about stocking up and purchasing high quality hay when it becomes available.

Your support makes a world of difference in the rescued horses’ lives - please consider making a donation today, and know that it will go towards keeping them healthy, warm, and happy all winter long. A gift of $108 feeds one horse for a month, and a gift of $2,500 feeds all of the horses at the farm for a month. Every donation makes a difference, and we are so grateful for your generosity!

To donate, visit: www.corollawildhorses.com/one-time-donations/

And don't forget, our fall open house at the farm is taking place on November 7 from 9am-1pm! ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

3 weeks ago

New gate has been hung! Thanks Mark and crew! 💕🌊🐎 ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

4 weeks ago

It has been a “Butts to the Wind” kind of week, that’s for sure! 🌀

Find shirts, can coolers, and more on our website: www.corollawildhorses.com/shop/product-category/bttw-items/

All proceeds benefit CWFH and the horses! ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

4 weeks ago

With our first nor’easter of the Fall season in full swing, it seems that we can officially say farewell to what was an exceedingly hot summer on the Outer Banks. The weather reminds us that with the changing seasons come the ever-evolving challenges faced by both the wild Bankers out on the beach and those that are living at the farm.

This week, we are offering you two distinct opportunities to support the herd – yesterday we talked about filling our hay barn at the farm, and today we’re focusing on the beach.

Habitat preservation is an essential part of our mission. Over the course of the next few years, we are going to bring the story of the horses’ habitat and our efforts to conserve it more and more into focus. As an introduction, we are so excited to unveil our first ever Habitat Preservation Membership. We know how important the habitat is to so many of you; now, you can come alongside us as a steward conserving the wild herd’s home on the beach. This is an opportunity to join this membership level as a founding member – in advance of a much-wider roll out coming in 2027.

To thank you for becoming a founding member, we have a very special package of gifts that will only be available this fall. Each founding member will receive a very special, limited edition, CWHF-logo bottle of bourbon – created in partnership with Weldon Mills Distillery. Each bottle is hand-numbered; only 45 of them exist. These are true collector’s items. In addition to the bottle, each founding member will also receive two CWHF branded glasses, Protect and Preserve t-shirt and sticker, membership poster and decal, and a personalized certificate acknowledging your stewardship.

We are so pleased (and honored!) to announce that our very first Habitat Preservation Member is our very own Kimberlee Hoey. Kimberlee has spent decades supporting CWHF and the Corolla Bankers, both as our long-time board chair and as a resident of the 4x4 beach. Thank you so much, Kimberlee!

To learn more about this special membership opportunity, please visit our website:
www.corollawildhorses.com/habitat-preservation-initiative/habitat-preservation-fund/ ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

4 weeks ago

With what looks like our first Nor’easter of the fall coming in, it seems that we can officially say farewell to what was an exceedingly hot summer on the Outer Banks.

The arrival of fall traditionally means it is time for us to keep one eye on the coming winter and the importance of ensuring we have the necessary hay to feed more than 20 horses on our farm. This year is no different. As with so many things these days, the cost and availability of hay is an ever-increasing challenge. For several years now, you all have ensured that the horses have hay through the winter.

A gift of $108 feeds a horse for a month, and a gift of $2,500 feeds all of the horses at the farm for a month. Every donation makes a difference, and we are so grateful for your support each fall!

To donate, visit:
www.corollawildhorses.com/one-time-donations/ ... See MoreSee Less