Blog - Latest News

Corolla Wildhorse Fund announces arrival of new foal

October 7, 2020/by Corolla Wild Horse Fund

September 24, 2020

(CorollaWildhorseFund/photocredit: Catherine Maryott)

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

UPDATE: It’s a girl – Alejandra!

(We will not be disclosing location or the names of the parents just yet. This family needs time to bond in quiet safety. If you are lucky enough to see them please give them plenty of space.)

Corolla Wildhorse Fund made the big announcement on their Facebook page:

We have a new foal! We have been hoping we might get a few fall babies. Not 100% sure of the sex of this little one yet so no name to announce but we couldn’t keep this good news to ourselves for very long. Right after these pics were taken the family went back into the woods. All seem to be in great shape! Visit their website to learn more or to support the horses.

Latest News

Junior is home and doing well!February 29, 2024 - 7:47 am
Junior’s Emergency SurgeryFebruary 20, 2024 - 10:19 am
We are so proud of Meg, our Director of Herd Management!November 21, 2023 - 10:17 am
Blossom is doing great!October 27, 2023 - 12:19 pm
Corolla Wild Horse Fund Announces Appointment of New Chief Executive OfficerAugust 10, 2023 - 4:21 pm

Facebook Feed

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

2 days ago

It’s been all hands on deck this week as we’ve been getting ready for the Spring Open House at the farm! Grass is mowed, hooves are trimmed, horses are brushed, store is stocked! We are looking forward to seeing everyone and getting the 2024 season off to a great start.

We’ve got lots of great new merchandise this year, including original art painted by the horses themselves. Middleton Clay Project will be here with horsehair pottery and author Jeff Hampton will be signing copies of his book Corolla’s Wild Horses. There will also be a screening of the documentary The Secret of Corolla at 11am followed by a Q&A with CWHF staff.

Gates open Saturday at 10am and it looks like the weather is going to be decent. Hope to see you here! More details: www.facebook.com/share/4ZxKKrF7n1TzRg5W/?mibextid=9l3rBW ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

View Comments

likes love wow 482
Shares: 52
Comments: 10

10 CommentsComment on Facebook

I will be there Saturday! I can sign and personalize my Raymond books for anyone. 😊 And you get to see Raymond too! 🥰

How can I watch the documentary from here in Western NC?

RAYMOND, you are such a handsome boy ❤️

View more comments

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

4 days ago

Don't forget our Spring Open House is this Saturday from 10am-2pm. Details below 👇 Hope to see you there! ... See MoreSee Less

This content isn't available right now

When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.

View on Facebook

View Comments

likes love 95
Shares: 0
Comments: 4

4 CommentsComment on Facebook

Wish I lived closer!

I might be home for that

Be there! Reservations made!

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

5 days ago

... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

View Comments

likes love 63
Shares: 4
Comments: 0

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

Corolla Wild Horse Fund shared a memory.

7 days ago

... See MoreSee Less

1 Year Ago

www.facebook.com

View on Facebook

View Comments

likes love 326
Shares: 6
Comments: 13

13 CommentsComment on Facebook

I LOVE this article! So informative. I especially liked the daily report and the photos are spectacular! Such beautiful horses. Thanks for reposting!!

88-89’ timeframe I lived in one of upstairs apartments on the right just before the lighthouse. Leaving early for work one morning there was a horse licking the dew off the hood of my car. Wish I could screen shot the pic that’s clear as then from my memory.

This is wonderful ❤️ I remember those old days and the unending development. Thank you for this. (I would love to share it)

View more comments

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 week ago

Love this photo one of our staff got today of Eros and his “grandma” Taka. She is one of the oldest mares in the herd and has had a lot of foals herself over the years. Learning how to navigate herd dynamics and be good mannered with other horses is an incredibly important part of every foal’s development, and older horses like Taka are crucial to this process. It takes a village!

www.corollawildhorses.org ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

View Comments

likes love 1870
Shares: 177
Comments: 38

38 CommentsComment on Facebook

Is Eros the only foal so far this year?? He was born pretty early in the year I think 🤔

So beautiful. I pray for the bankers always🙏 So wish people would be extra careful when visiting “their home”. Thanks for sharing the photos and all the history behind the herd.

Is it possible that Gus is the sire of Eros?

View more comments

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 week ago

Spring is here! And that means summer is right around the corner. 🏖️

Check out our Community Toolkit for all kinds of resources you can use to help us spread the word about keeping the horses (and people) safe during the busy season. Yard signs, videos, flyers, fridge clings, and more for your business, website, or rental home!

➡️ www.corollawildhorses.com/community-wild-horse-toolkit/ ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

View Comments

likes love 898
Shares: 96
Comments: 15

15 CommentsComment on Facebook

Thank you for all you do for these horses. Praying for an uneventful summer for them!

Thank you for all you do to keep them safe ❤️

Love these gorgeous horses

View more comments

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

2 weeks ago

Eclipse report from Grandy. As with most things, the horses are completely unbothered. 😉 ... See MoreSee Less

Play

View on Facebook

View Comments

likes love haha 437
Shares: 23
Comments: 12

12 CommentsComment on Facebook

Junior looks fabulous, looks like he's doing well 👌

❤️ looking amazing Junior ❤️

Junior knows best.

View more comments

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

3 weeks ago

This is Cyclone, born in 2022 just a few months after his sire Hurricane died. As far as we know he is one of the last of Hurricane’s offspring left in the wild so his genetics are extremely valuable.

Cyclone is at the age now where he is becoming more and more independent, hanging out with other bachelors and learning how to be a grownup stallion. These horses mature slowly, and it will probably be another four or more years before Cyclone is experienced enough to form a band of mares of his own. In the meantime, it is critically important that we do everything we can to make sure Cyclone is able to continue growing up in a healthy environment, free from human interaction, and as naturally as possible.

Your support allows us to make that possible for Cyclone in a variety of ways. It means that we can have staff on the 4x4 seven days a week monitoring the herd and collecting data on movement, harem dynamics, grazing patterns, and more. It helps us with habitat preservation, ensuring that Cyclone and his future offspring will have viable, open space to live on for generations to come. And it helps us increase our advocacy efforts, allowing us to educate more and more visitors in all kinds of different ways.

Join us today and become a part of this very important work! www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/ ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

View Comments

likes love sad 1035
Shares: 117
Comments: 15

15 CommentsComment on Facebook

Do all the ponies have names?

It’s really sad that so much new building / construction is allowed up in their area. It is only going to get worse. Owners rent out the houses to pay for the construction of. Renters do not heed rules,, You lost how many horses last year alone?!?! Wish the horses could be moved over to the virginia false cape side a national park where they would be protected. They wanna go so badly,, drop the fence let them go.

He is one beautiful animal!

View more comments

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

3 weeks ago

For the past 30 years, the Corolla Wild Horse Fund has depended on tax-deductible donations like yours to honor our commitment to the preservation of this herd, one horse at a time.

Your support is vital to the existence of the Fund.

The Fund is vital to the future of the Bankers.

Together, we can help them thrive for generations to come.

Become a member today: www.corollawildhorses.com/memberships/ ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

View Comments

likes love 268
Shares: 32
Comments: 5

5 CommentsComment on Facebook

I am member already! I will Send donation. I know it’s Busy time of year… New ponies etc….

❤❤❤❤❤

View more comments

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

3 weeks ago

In town for Spring Break? Come see us in Corolla! We’re in the historic village right next to the chapel. ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

View Comments

likes love 245
Shares: 24
Comments: 10

10 CommentsComment on Facebook

We will be in town the week of 4/1. Will your hours be similar?

Handsome Dewey

❤❤❤❤❤

View more comments

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

4 weeks ago

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, 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!

Get involved today: www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/ ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

View Comments

likes love 222
Shares: 24
Comments: 1

1 CommentComment on Facebook

👏👏

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 month ago

Your support saves lives! While we strive to keep every horse wild and free for its entire life, sometimes that’s not possible. In the case of life-threatening illness or injury, we will provide care and support for horses that need it.

The wild horses sustain all kinds of injuries and issues in the course of normal, day-to-day life that we will monitor but not intervene to treat. So when we do decide to remove a horse from the herd due to a medical issue, it’s always something very severe that requires extensive treatment. Often these horses require hospitalization and months of rehabilitation, and some even require medication or other support for the rest of their lives. And of course we also have the horses at the farm to care for, most of which are with us because of long-term medical issues or advanced age.

We are so lucky to have your support when it comes to the big emergencies, and also the daily care of the rescued horses. They are an important part of our off-site educational and research programs, but most importantly they are deserving of the care and sanctuary that the farm provides.

Get involved today: www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/ ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

View Comments

likes love 294
Shares: 36
Comments: 5

5 CommentsComment on Facebook

Meg has done wonders!

❤❤

View more comments

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 month ago

The Banker horses are considered critically endangered by equine geneticists and organizations like the Equus Survival Trust and the Livestock Conservancy. WIth only a couple hundred of these horses left in the world, they are facing extinction without purposeful, responsible breed management.

Half of the world’s breeding population of Banker horses live right here on the beaches of Currituck County - what an incredible and special honor! It’s up to all of us to be stewards for the breed, and treat them with the respect they deserve.

We can’t take for granted that they will be here forever, and we all must fight every day for their continued survival. Your ongoing support allows us to monitor the herd and practice responsible management, protect their natural habitat, learn more about their genetics through our work with DNA, and develop off-site breed conservation efforts.

Become a member today and be a part of this legacy: www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/ ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

View Comments

likes love wow sad 386
Shares: 85
Comments: 7

7 CommentsComment on Facebook

This breaks my heart, had no idea they were endangered. One of the highlights of my life was being able to go and see them in person, such a beautiful experience being in their presence, but being careful to give them their distance and being respectful of the regulations in place to protect them. I do hope we can help the Corolla Horse breed EXIST for a very long time. 🩵🩵🩵

Corolla Wild Horse Fund we rarely see pictures of or hear about Gus. He used to hang with an older mare if remember correctly her name was Tahka (mispelled). Has he ever acquired more mares or sired any foals. He was brought in to add some genetic diversity.

are you still letting them foals or are you wtopping that

View more comments

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 month ago

More signs! Today we’d like to thank Charlie, Jennifer, and Frankie at the Food Lion in Corolla for letting us put these in the produce section near the apples and carrots.

When we say apple and carrots kill wild horses, we mean that literally. In 2020 we lost yearling colt Danny after he choked on an apple that he was fed, and in 2021 we had to remove Junior from the wild when the same thing happened to him. Luckily Junior survived, but what a sad and preventable thing to lose his freedom over. Feeding also habituates the horses and can cause aggression, which has also led to removal.

Please follow the rules so that both you and the horses stay safe!

You can find more educational resources in our Community Toolkit: www.corollawildhorses.com/community-wild-horse-toolkit/ ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

View Comments

likes love wow sad 874
Shares: 204
Comments: 63

63 CommentsComment on Facebook

Great idea!!

Fantastic idea!!!

This is just great!

View more comments

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 month ago

The Banker horses are unique from any other breed in the world because of the adaptations they have developed over the years to survive on these barrier islands. It’s not a very hospitable place for a horse, but they have learned how to weather storms, survive on very few calories, drink brackish water, and in more recent years live among increased development and human interactions. They are what they are because of where they live, and it’s vital that we protect their wild habitat so they do not lose those adaptations that make them unique.

Habitat is more than just food and water. It is every single part of the environment that the horses encounter during the course of their normal lives. Nowadays the habitat includes more houses, more traffic, more people - more challenges than ever. It’s up to all of us to protect the habitat and make it as safe as possible for the horses. This includes keeping your property free of dangerous trash, fencing, and debris, it means following the rules and not getting too close to the horses, and it means taking an active role in our land preservation efforts. You can learn more about that here: www.corollawildhorses.com/land-preservation-initiative/

Becoming a member is another great way to provide sustaining support for this important work! Get involved today: www.corollawildhorses.com/memberships/ ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

View Comments

likes love sad 534
Shares: 81
Comments: 9

9 CommentsComment on Facebook

Thank you for all that you do! We love 🩷our wild horses🐴

Development should be stopped! There are already too many homes on what should be state park land for the horses and to be preserved for generations to come.

One of the most special things I’ve seen is the horse tour. The locals hate the tourists but our dollars help pay for the bankers’ care.

View more comments

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 month ago

In a herd of only about 100 horses, every single individual matters.

The Bankers are a highly-threatened, critically endangered breed and the conservation of those rare and invaluable genetics are at the forefront of all the work that we do. Not only do we have to maintain a population of horses in the wild, we need to ensure that they are genetically healthy and will continue to thrive here for generations to come. We maintain individual files on each horse, and these records include identification photos, foaling history for mares, a log of injuries or illnesses, DNA, associations, and any other relevant management information. Each horse is assigned a registration number and kept track of from birth to death. Our staff is on the beach seven days a week observing the horses. They record latitude and longitude coordinates for tracking and habitat use purposes, behaviors like fighting, grazing, or breeding, weather conditions, and more.

The more we know about how these horses spend their days, the better equipped we will be to save them.

You can be a part of this important work by becoming a member today! There are lots of ways to get involved - learn more: www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/ ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

View Comments

likes love 545
Shares: 92
Comments: 8

8 CommentsComment on Facebook

Greatful they are safe and have continued support 💗

❤❤❤❤❤

Thank you for all the team does for these horses.

View more comments

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 month 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.

We are tasked with the tricky job of preserving these genetics while at the same time not interfering with the natural course of their lives. Luckily there is a lot of breed conservation work that can happen without being intrusive. In 2020 we undertook an ambitious project to collect DNA from every wild Corolla horse, along with any that have been removed from the herd and are currently living in captivity. From this we can build ancestries, learn more about herd dynamics, movement, and breeding behavior, test for genetic diseases, and build a breed database that will help other managers far into the future.

The farm also provides opportunities for breed conservation. While we have yet to breed any of the captive Bankers, we have plans to do so in the future. We’ve also begun collecting and storing semen from our stallions so that should something happen to them, their genes will be preserved for many years to come.

Your continued support is vital to the Bankers’ survival - join us today! www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/ ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

View Comments

likes love 1049
Shares: 166
Comments: 19

19 CommentsComment on Facebook

Thank you for all your work and dedication to these beautiful horses ❤🐴

What wonderful dedication to care for, protect, and preserve this breed❣ It takes very special individuals dedicating their life to the preservation of these magnificent horses.

This is fascinating. I would love to visit from the UK sometime.

View more comments

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 month ago

Blossom, who was rescued in October after tearing a ligament in her front leg, has been doing really well. Her latest check-up indicated that the leg has healed and fused as much as it’s going to, and all things considered she is remarkably sound. Since this coincided with Junior coming home from the hospital and needing the medical stall/paddock we started considering other living arrangements for her.

We knew that Blossom and Raymond had lived together in the wild, and since they’re about the same age, in about the same physical shape, and have the same dietary requirements we thought…it’s worth a try, right?

Raymond, despite his reputation, is pretty defensive and uncomfortable around other animals, and very sensitive to changes in his environment and routine. In the five years he’s lived with us we’ve never been able to find another animal he was happy sharing space with; he stops eating and gets very touchy and unhappy. Raymond’s paddock can be split in half, so we closed the gate and put Blossom on the other side so they could be next to each other but still separated by a fence. That went pretty smoothly. Raymond hid from her to begin with, but then got brave and came out to stand next to her at the gate. However, by the next day we noticed that Raymond had stopped eating. At first we thought it was because of Blossom but then we realized it was because we’d moved his hay from its regular spot. So after we fixed that, he went back to eating like normal. Have we mentioned how neurotic he is? 😅💜

After about a week of everyone behaving normally and seemingly comfortable with things, we took a deep breath and opened the gate. Because they are both very old and not in the best physical shape the theatrics were kept to a minimum. They made a few faces at each other, pretended to kick out a few times, and that was it. They settled in and started eating hay next to each other and the rest is history!

They both still seem very happy after a couple weeks of cohabitating. Blossom likes having someone to boss around and Raymond enjoys feeling like he’s in charge of something again. It’s been a great confidence boost for him. They definitely still keep to their own space a lot of the time, but we’ve caught them napping together and eating out of the same pile of hay a few times too.

We’re so glad that these two could be successfully reunited. It’s great for their emotional well-being and it makes husbandry a bit easier for us. The other option we were considering for Blossom was putting her with her daughter June, but if we fed June the type and amount of hay her mother needs she would explode! So this works out best for everyone. We’ve dubbed their little pasture the old folks home, and we know everyone will be looking forward to seeing them in person at open houses this summer. They sure are cute together!

Blossom and Raymond both require special care in their old age, and you can help offset the cost of that by sponsoring them. Your support helps us buy the hay, grain, and daily meds they need, provide specialized hoof trimming, and any other veterinary needs that arise.

Sponsor Raymond or Blossom (or both!): www.corollawildhorses.com/horse-sponsorships/ ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

View Comments

likes love wow 2323
Shares: 140
Comments: 98

98 CommentsComment on Facebook

Raymond displays such amazing social skills!

This is so amazing!

thanks for all this history and sharing their room-mate situation.

View more comments

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 month ago

Quick update on Junior. He continues to do really well as he recovers from colic surgery!

www.corollawildhorses.com/one-time-donation-juniors-medical-costs/ ... See MoreSee Less

Play

View on Facebook

View Comments

likes love haha 797
Shares: 33
Comments: 40

40 CommentsComment on Facebook

He comes from strong stock! So good to see how well he’s doing. Looking forward to seeing everyone in May!

It’s great to see him out and about! Continue to get well Junior!

Great to see him out and about. Also having a good appetite!!

View more comments

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 month ago

With only a couple hundred left in the world, the Bankers are recognized as a critically threatened, endangered breed. DNA research has confirmed that the Bankers are indeed direct descendants of the horses originally brought to North America by the Spanish and other settlers and explorers in the 1500s. They have remained isolated on our barrier islands for hundreds of years, preserving their genetics and earning them a place in the very fibers of our culture and history here in North Carolina.

As the herd faces more modern threats to their survival - encroachment, environmental changes due to climate change, a decreased herd size, etc. - the role that CWHF plays in their survival has become increasingly important. We must balance habitat preservation, breed conservation, and accessibility (we want people to be able to come see them - safely and respectfully!) to ensure that a thriving wild herd remains here for many more generations. We must also provide a safe haven for those that must be removed from the wild herd due to the challenges listed above. It is important to remain positive about the future while still acknowledging the very real dangers the herd faces.

We cannot do this work without you! Please consider becoming a member today - memberships provide the largest and most reliable form of support for CWHF. From herd management to education and outreach, land preservation, emergency veterinary care, and everything in between, you can be sure that your commitment makes a huge impact, and directly benefits the horses.

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