Corolla Wild Horse Fund

23 hours ago

While we strive to keep every horse wild and free for its entire life, sometimes that’s not possible. Removal from the wild is always the last resort, but in cases of life-threatening illness or injury, or habituation that becomes dangerous for the horse and/or humans, we will sometimes have to make the heartbreaking but necessary decision to intervene. This is not something we take lightly, but fortunately when it does happen we are well-equipped to provide whatever care the horse may require.

In 2018 CWHF purchased a 30-acre farm on the Currituck mainland that has become a permanent sanctuary for these formerly wild horses. Since the purchase, we have been slowly but steadily turning it into a facility that is set up for these horses’ very specific needs. We’ve been replacing the three-rail pasture fencing with something more substantial and safer and we installed a perimeter fence around the entire property, we’ve built multiple intake and veterinary stalls and paddocks, we’ve turned the farmhouse into office space as well as a museum and gift shop for days when we’re open to the public…the list goes on!

Once a horse comes to live at the farm it is cared for like any other domestic horse would be. This includes routine veterinary care, hoof trimming, grooming, and more. This coming Monday we have an appointment with our veterinarian for vaccinations, dental exams, and a few other odds and ends (including trimming Topnotch’s hooves!). The horses are vaccinated twice a year, in the fall and in the spring. One core vaccine that protects against seven different diseases costs about $70 per horse. If you join CWHF as a member at the $75 level you will be covering the cost of Kitty Hawk’s (pictured) spring vaccines!

Join today and you’ll be able to make an additional donation and receive our first ever annual CWHF member t-shirt: www.corollawildhorses.com/memberships/

The farm is first and foremost a sanctuary for the more than twenty horses who currently call it home, but it’s also an important part of our ongoing research into genetics, habitat, and breed conservation and it’s a space for education where we host school groups, day camps, and the public during our weekly summer open houses. Your continued support is what makes all of this possible. ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

4 days ago

Today we remember with honor and gratitude all those who served and sacrificed to protect our freedoms. 🇺🇸 ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

6 days ago

The season has officially started! A reminder if you’re visiting the 4x4 beaches this weekend and all summer long:

It is illegal to intentionally come within 50ft of the horses, and this applies when you are inside a vehicle too. If a horse approaches you, move away from it. Not only are the horses dangerous, but encouraging this kind of behavior can lead to habituation that could result in the horse’s removal from the wild. Feeding kills. Apples and carrots are not part of their natural diet and can cause fatal choke and colic. Don’t be the reason a horse loses its freedom, or even worse, its life.

Foals are adorable and everyone wants to get a good photo, but crowding and stressing harems with foals can lead to all kinds of potentially life-threatening issues. Foals can get separated from their mothers, stressed horses can become aggressive towards you and each other, and foals can become exhausted and dehydrated from constantly moving around. Please keep your distance and do not put undue pressure on these youngsters.

If you’re 50ft away that means you aren’t feeding the horses, habituating them, or putting yourself in danger of being kicked by an irritated mare. Everything is great! It’s really easy to do and you’ll have just as much fun, we promise. If you see someone breaking the law or behaving in a dangerous manner, please immediately call 252-453-3633 so that law enforcement can be dispatched and CWHF notified.

Currituck County Wild Horse Ordinance: www.corollawildhorses.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/wild-horse-ordinance.pdf

Learn about driving on the beach BEFORE you hit the sand: currituckcountync.gov/beach-parking/

To reach law enforcement and/or CWHF 24/7: 252-453-3633

We hope everyone has a fun - and SAFE! - Memorial Day weekend! ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 week ago

The Banker horses are what’s known as a landrace breed. This means that they are unique from any other breed of horse in the world due to the adaptations they’ve developed over the last several hundred years that allow them to survive on the barrier islands of North Carolina. Breed conservation is key to their long term survival. These genes do not, and cannot, exist anywhere else because the horses are intrinsically tied to our coastal landscape, culture, and history.

The preservation of genetics and history is one of the cornerstones of our mission.

Currituck County and CWHF entered into a management agreement in 1994, and a Management Plan was soon developed by an advisory board composed of representatives from the county, CWHF, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the NC Department of Environmental Quality. Action 1G of this plan calls for CWHF to “provide an annual report of lineage and genetics to the advisory board” and herd managers began collecting DNA samples as early as 1995. Samples have been collected over the decades as time, resources, and technology have allowed. Most notably in 2007, when 37 samples were taken from horses living in the herd at that time, many of which are still alive today. Then in 2020 we undertook an ambitious project to collect DNA from every remaining wild Corolla horse, along with any that have been removed from the herd and are currently living in captivity. We have about 200 samples on file - and counting.

From this we can build ancestries and pedigrees, learn more about herd dynamics, movement and breeding behavior, we can test for genetic diseases, and build a breed database that will help other herd managers far into the future.

Your membership provides ongoing, sustaining support for this important work. It costs $60 to process one sample; your $300/year membership will cover the processing fees for five DNA samples! The specialized darts we use to collect samples are about $10 each, and there are various other tools and supplies required too, not to mention postage. Every single dollar makes an impact and ensures that we will be able to continue protecting and preserving this breed for many generations to come!

Join us today and become a part of this groundbreaking work: www.corollawildhorses.com/memberships/ ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

2 weeks ago

If you’ve visited the farm lately you’ve probably noticed the truck door hanging on the front of the barn. Her name was Salty. When her engine finally blew a few years ago (she was held together with duct tape and baling twine but she got the job done!) we took the door off before calling the scrap man. She was a part of our team and she saved a lot of horses; we couldn’t send all of her off to the junkyard!

Our vehicles are a critically important part of the work that we do.

CWHF has a fleet of SUVs that are on the beach 7 days a week as our staff monitors the herd, collects data, and responds to emergencies. There is tremendous wear and tear on these trucks due to the harsh environment and rough driving conditions; their lifespan is usually about three years. It’s imperative that these vehicles are reliable, safe, and in good working order. Without them, our field work would not be possible.

In addition to these SUVs, we have a heavy duty pickup that is used to haul the trailer up and down the beach for emergencies, two horse trailers, and a tractor at the farm. Something is constantly needing work, inspection, fueling up, new tires…the list goes on! Vehicle maintenance is a full-time job around here but it’s important that we stay on top of things so we are always ready to roll and respond to whatever comes up.

A membership at the $500 level will help fuel our fleet for a week during the summer season. It will allow us to gas up our trucks and get out on the beach to protect and monitor the herd and educate visitors. It will get Riptide to Duck and Nags Head for outreach events that expose new people to the horses and our mission. It will keep our tractor running so that we can feed the horses at the rescue farm.

Your sustaining support is what makes this work possible! Get involved today: www.corollawildhorses.com/memberships/ ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

3 weeks ago

Happy Mother’s Day 💕💐 ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

3 weeks ago

For our membership drive this year we are highlighting some of the many ways your donations support the work that we do. We talk regularly about boots-on-the-ground herd management, both in the wild and at the farm, but there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes to make all of it possible. There are lots of moving parts!

We always say that the more we know about the horses, the better equipped we are to properly manage and protect them. This is true for the public too! We can’t expect people to be invested in the horses’ future without an understanding as to why our work is so important, and why the horses are worth saving.

Education takes many forms - farm open houses, outreach with rescued horses, talks and lectures, workshops for tour drivers, social media and PSAs, school programming, signs, fridge magnets, and so much more. We believe that education should be free and widely available, which is where your ongoing support comes in. Your donations, memberships, and sponsorships allow us to continuously expand our education and advocacy efforts in new and exciting ways.

From signs and billboards to feeding our ambassador horses at the farm, your contributions make a huge impact! Become a member today and you’ll also have the opportunity to make an additional donation to receive the first ever CWHF member t-shirt: www.corollawildhorses.com/memberships/

One of the most visible aspects of our public education efforts are the many signs around Corolla and the 4x4 alerting people to the rules and regulations regarding the horses. Many of these signs were made possible due to partnerships with other folks in our community (like the awesome signs on top of the gas pumps you see in this photo!) but CWHF also provides signs and other educational materials to property owners free of charge.

After we lost a yearling colt to choking on an apple in 2020 we designed and ordered hundreds of yard signs that were distributed and placed around the 4x4. We spend about $1000 every year on these signs, replacing those that are damaged or missing, and providing them to any new residents and property owners who may want them. These signs have made a huge difference; we receive far fewer reports of people petting or feeding horses than we did prior to 2020, and the sheriff’s department has noticed a difference as well. “I didn’t know!” is not an excuse anymore, and these signs help deputies enforce their “no tolerance” policy.

Imagine the impact your support will have if you join us at the $1000 membership level! Every single one of those signs would be tangible proof of your love for the wild Bankers of Corolla.

www.corollawildhorses.com/memberships/ ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

3 weeks ago

Greetings everyone! I am thrilled to announce the launch of our 2026 Membership Drive and invite you to join our very special mission here at the Corolla Wild Horse Fund.

As a member of the CWHF, you play a central role in the delivery of our mission to protect and preserve the wild Banker horses. Your membership directly fuels programs across our mission – at the farm, on the beach, education, and more – and will truly make a lasting difference. If you’ve already joined as a member, know that we are grateful for your support and have something exciting to share with you too!

Join today: www.corollawildhorses.com/memberships/

Over the course of the next several weeks, watch your email and Facebook/Instagram feeds. We will be sharing the precise impact that can be had at each membership level.

For those of you who decide to become members (or are already a member in 2026), we have something very special and unique for you. Every member will have the opportunity to make an additional donation and receive an exclusive 2026 Corolla Wild Horse Fund Member t-shirt, designed for us by local OBX artist One Groovy Gal. These shirts will not be sold in our retail outlets or online - they are available only to members. Let the world know that you are a member of the herd!

You can join as a new member or renew your membership for 2026 to receive your exclusive link to purchase your t-shirt; the link will be provided in your email confirmation following your membership donation. If you have already made your membership donation for 2026, you should have already received an email with the link.

Questions? Please reach out to us via email at info@corollawildhorses.com or call our office during business hours at 252-453-8002.

Together, we are able to accomplish even more. Thank you for believing in our work and for your passionate support of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund.

Sincerely,
Chris Winter
CWHF President and CEO ... See MoreSee Less