It’s a Boy!
July 20, 2021
Report by CWHF
July 20, 2021
Report by CWHF
July 14, 2021
Report by CWHF
A detailed report on Amadeo Jr. from Meg Puckett, Herd Manager, Corolla Wild Horse Fund
July 5, 2021
An update from July 10, 2021, from Herd Manager, Meg Puckett
Junior had a pretty good week! Definitely improved from last week. He got a clean bill of health yesterday at his recheck. Got his teeth done (they look pretty great for an old, wild stallion), got his vaccinations, and also got some friends! He’s learned to lead (with a little positive reinforcement), loves scratches and attention from us, and has figured out all the perks to being domesticated like fresh water, a shelter with a fan, and hay. We are still heartbroken he is no longer on the beach, but at the same time so grateful that he is alive and well. We have no doubt he will continue to thrive on the rescue farm.
Posted July 5, 2021
Report by CWHF
By Jeff Hampton
Virginian-Pilot, June 23, 2021
Two stallions fight each other over territory on the Currituck County Outer Banks north of Corolla. Photo courtesy of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. (Corolla Wild Horse Fund)
Two stallions fight each other over territory on the Currituck County Outer Banks north of Corolla. Photo courtesy of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. (Corolla Wild Horse Fund)
COROLLA, N.C. — Corolla wild stallions are sparring with each other in front of awed summer beach crowds.
They rear up high on their back legs and strike with front hooves, in some cases just a few feet from beachgoers and their folding chairs, canopies and coolers.
Social media posts in recent weeks show video and photos of stallions fighting next to the surf. Others record them chasing defeated foes down the beach — manes and tails flowing.
The videos attract much attention; typically, a few thousand “like” the posts and several hundred comment. Most say seeing wild stallions battle is one of the most thrilling spectacles they have ever seen.
“Absolutely awesome,” wrote one follower.
But what causes these magnificent creatures to come to blows — and why now?
Stallions fight all year, but more people are on the Currituck County beaches during the summer and watch the drama first hand, said Meg Puckett, manager of the herd for the Corolla Wild Horse Fund.
“They will reestablish their boundaries,” she said. “Most of it is for show. It’s very rarely catastrophic.”
No Corolla stallion has died from a fight, she said.
Roughly 100 wild horses live on an 11-mile stretch of the Outer Banks north of Corolla. The horses divide themselves into harems of mares and foals led by a stallion. Each harem roams an area with loosely defined boundaries.
Stallions typically fight over territory and occasionally over a mare, Puckett said. About half the horses are male, so the competition is stiff to lead a group, Puckett said. Fighting can get unpredictable and dangerous for human bystanders. Puckett recommends people keep at least 50 feet away.
Horses fight using different tactics. They typically take on an adversary by striking with their front hoofs, biting their opponent’s neck or kicking with their back legs. Most stallions have marks from the brawls. Some are missing the tips of their ears, Puckett said.
“It’s amazing the scars they have,” she said. “It can get rough.”
At times, a young stallion challenges a veteran without a fight, Puckett said. It’s a form of psychological warfare.
Recently, a young buck followed the harem of an older stallion for months, watching and waiting. The elderly horse tried to keep his mares away from him, but it was no use. The challenger was always close by. The threat of a fight caused the old timer to lose weight and his health declined, Puckett said.
Finally, he gave up his mares to the younger horse. Afterward, he recovered, regained the weight and is doing well, Puckett said.
A stallion named Rambler leads a harem of about 10 mares in an area not far from Corolla. He is often seen by visitors to the beach.
Next to his territory, Acorn leads another large harem. Their clashes are more brotherly quarrels, Puckett said.
“It’s natural behavior that indicates a healthy herd,” she said. “Give them their space.”
Jeff Hampton, 757-446-2090, jeff.hampton@pilotonline.com
OBX Today
May 21, 2021 by Kari Pugh
An anonymous donor had 20 signs made to place along the dunes. [CWHF photo]
As another summer season gets underway, an anonymous donor recently had 20 large signs made warning beachgoers to stay away from the wild horses on the Outer Banks’ northern beaches.
“The “I didn’t see a sign!” excuse has officially become obsolete,” the Corolla Wild Horse Fund said in a Facebook post. “These banners join the signs already in place at the end of the paved road.”
Despite all the signs, a billboard, educational material distributed by rental agencies, warnings plastered on websites and social media and deputies patrolling the beach, every year hundreds of people continue ignoring the warnings to stay away from the Outer Banks endangered herd of Colonial Spanish mustangs.
The law states that everyone must stay at least 50 feet away from the wild horses roaming the beaches of the Currituck Outer Banks. Petting them and feeding them is illegal. Yet all day, every day in the summertime, the Corolla Wild Horse Fund fields calls and messages about people breaking the rules.
Last July, a yearling colt named Danny choked on an apple and died a prolonged and painful death due to people ignoring the rules.
“Danny was killed by humans who had no regard for the safety of the horses. No regard for the health of the horses. No regard for the laws put in place to protect the horses,” the CWHF said at the time.
“It takes a village and our village is dedicated to keeping these precious horses safe!”
Coastland Times
Published 8:46 am Sunday, May 2, 2021
The Corolla Wild Horse fund recently introduced two new foals born to the herd.
“Benjamin, a colt, was born on April 11 and Bridget, a filly, was born on April 23. Both babies have attentive and experienced parents and are doing well! The count for 2021 so far is five – one colt, three fillies, and one yet to be determined,” stated the announcement.
Cuteness aside, 2021 has already gotten off to a dramatic start for the Outer Banks herd.
Spring is officially here, which means plenty of cute new additions to the Outer Banks’ most famous herd of wild horses.
The Corolla Wild Horse Fund (CWHF) revealed on Facebook this week that the Corolla herd has welcomed two new foals so far this year. While the first foal has stuck to the marsh and out of human view, the second, an energetic filly named Billie, is already keeping herd managers on their toes.
Billie (CWHF is going with “B” names this year) was born early Monday morning to father Dean and mom Imp. Drama quickly ensued, however, when the other adult in the harem, Autumn, decided that Billie was hers and would not let Imp near her. Fortunately, Autumn is letting Imp nurse Billie, but officials worry that that could change in an instant.
The family situation is tenuous, to say the least, and a good reminder that people should leave these majestic animals in peace.
“It would be great if this foal and her family were out of the public eye, like Baby 1. But they are not, so we are pleading with everyone to stay away from them,” CWHF wrote alongside photos of Billie on Facebook. “If you love the horses, the best thing you can do for Billie is pretend like she isn’t there. This family needs time to bond and figure their harem dynamics out. And Billie needs to be able to nurse when she can without disruption. It is literally a life-or-death situation.”
According to the Wild Horse Ordinance of Currituck County, feeding the wild horses or getting within 50 feet of them is punishable by law. Cruelty, enticing, harboring, luring, seizing, and failure to report injury are also illegal, among numerous other offenses.
Remember, wild horses are above all, wild. They rely on each other and their instincts to keep them safe, and most have limited interaction with people. Even their dedicated human caretakers know the best approach is a hands-off one, preferring to let them fend for themselves, just as they have for centuries.
For more information on the horses and how to visit the area responsibly, visit CorollaWildHorses.com.
In the meantime, we’re hoping Billie, Imp, and Autumn figure this co-parenting thing out ASAP!
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