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October 14, 2019/by Corolla Wild Horse Fund

Latest News

Introducing FollyApril 11, 2025 - 10:45 am
Riptide Goes to Raleigh!April 9, 2025 - 10:48 am
Announcing the first foal of 2025March 21, 2025 - 2:39 pm
Remembering RaymondNovember 6, 2024 - 1:20 pm
Fatal Wild Horse IncidentJuly 29, 2024 - 6:52 pm

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10 hours ago

Join us for a ride around the rescue farm for an update on the formerly wild Banker horses who live here.

Come to an open house: Mustang Mornings at the Farm

Sponsor a rescued horse: www.corollawildhorses.com/horse-sponsorships/ ... See MoreSee Less

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2 days ago

Education and Research

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 to the wild herd. 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. We have been working on creating a breed standard for the Banker horses, which consists of taking measurements of all the formerly wild horses to help us come up with an average standard for size and body proportions.

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, summer camps, 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 helping us feed our ambassador horses at the farm, your contributions make a huge impact!

Tomorrow afternoon we will be doing a live video from the farm to check in with all of the rescued horses in our care. Be sure to tune in or watch it later whenever you have time!

Get involved and become invested in these horses’ future with us: www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/ ... See MoreSee Less

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2 days ago

Grace, Emma, and Ocean Pearl had a great time at Museum of the Albemarle this morning sharing the story of Betsy Dowdy with second graders from Grandy Primary. We love being able to talk to local students about this incredible history that happened right here in their own backyard! 🐎 ... See MoreSee Less

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3 days ago

We are not being hyperbolic when we say that stress and crowding can kill foals. The rules and guidelines that we are constantly begging people to follow are in place for a reason and they apply to everyone - tourists, residents, day trippers, and everyone in between. No photograph or any amount of social media clout is worth more than a foal's life. Please give these horses their space and respect the fact that they are wild animals.ATTN: Foal separated from her mom following disturbance by visitors

🐎 Visitors and boaters are advised to stay several hundred yards away from the foal’s social group 🐎

Please read the full post for a happy ending. On the afternoon of Saturday, May 10th a group of four horses, including a mom and 6 day-old foal, were grazing along the shores of Deep Creek, Rachel Carson Reserve. The presence of motorboats close to the shore, paddlers in Deep Creek, and people on foot caused stress for the male horse (stallion) and he quickly herded the foal’s mother across Deep Creek and to the west, leaving the foal behind on the east bank.

Over the next few hours, the stallion continued to herd the remaining group members to the west further away from the foal, who was alone and whinnying for her mother. Herd manager Paula Gillikin and volunteer Miriam Sutton were onsite to ensure visitors were aware not to approach the horses, to ensure a better chance of reunification. The foal stood on an oyster rock for a few hours with the tide rising when Gillikin made the decision to move the foal by boat back to its mother, as young foals need to nurse multiple times per hour. Plus, sundown would’ve made a reunion more difficult.

About 6pm, foal and mom were reunited! Based on this event, we ask that visitors on foot and boaters (even in Taylor’s Creek) give the foal’s social group several hundred yards of space. We realize visitors and boaters are excited about seeing the new baby, but we need your help to ensure it can survive. ... See MoreSee Less

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4 days ago

Calm before the storm. ⛈️

We’re supposed to get between 1-3” of rain over the next day or two - not as much as other parts of the southeast, but definitely enough to cause some minor flooding in low spots. Nothing the wild horses can’t handle, though! In fact, it will be a welcome relief from the heat and flies, and will be great for the grass and other vegetation the horses eat.

www.corollawildhorses.org ... See MoreSee Less

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5 days ago

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

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Corolla Wild Horse Fund is at Betsy dowdy Equine Center.

1 week ago

Louie and Blossom engaging in mutual grooming this afternoon. Horses groom each other as a way to strengthen their bonds, establish and maintain social hierarchy, and of course scratch those itches they can’t reach themselves. Studies have shown it even lowers their heart rates! You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. ☺️ ... See MoreSee Less

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1 week 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! The farm is first and foremost a sanctuary for the 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.

In the coming days we’ll be introducing you to the residents of the farm, talking more about daily operations, how we train and take care of the horses, on-going projects, and letting you know about all the ways you can be a part of this life-saving work. Stay tuned!

Support the horses: www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/ ... See MoreSee Less

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1 week ago

What's in a Name?

The Corolla Wild Horse Fund has been monitoring and managing the wild horses for nearly 40 years. From the very beginning we have kept track of each individual horse as time, technology, and resources have allowed. And since the very beginning, these horses have been given names.

The primary reason for naming the horses is that it makes it much easier for our staff to communicate with each other about them. It’s far easier to remember “Caroline” than “Mare 162168.” (Every horse has a registration number in addition to a name.) Whether or not it is best practice to name wild animals (either in a zoo or sanctuary setting or in their wild habitat) has been a topic of debate for many decades, and there are valid points to be made on both sides of the argument. Historically for CWHF, naming has been what works best for us from a herd management perspective, and we’ve also found that naming helps people feel more connected to the horses, which in turn can garner more support for their protection. However, there is a very delicate balance that must be maintained so that the horses do not become anthropomorphized (attributed with human characteristics and behaviors) and so that people do not forget that they are truly wild animals.

A lot has changed in forty years.

There are far more permanent residents living in the off-road area now, there are more property owners from all over the world, we are seeing more and more visitors each season, and social media now reaches further and has more of an impact than we could have ever imagined, even a decade ago. The science behind good husbandry is ever-evolving and it’s critically important that we remain open to change, be adaptable, and be honest with ourselves and the public when it comes to what’s best for the horses. In the last couple years we have noticed a concerning trend of anthropomorphization and familiarity with individual horses that delegitimizes their wildness, makes herd management difficult, and puts the horses in danger of habituation.

So this brings us to foaling season - very exciting for us, but for the horses it’s a very unstable, vulnerable time when life is literally hanging in the balance. What happens in the first few hours, days, and weeks of a foal’s life can determine whether that foal will survive its first six months, its first year, and then on into adulthood. Mares’ lives can hang in the balance too. Pregnancy and birth are difficult, nursing a foal requires a lot of calories and energy, going into foal heat attracts competing stallions who can be very aggressive…the list goes on. These are the natural parts of their lives that they are physically and instinctually equipped to handle and even then there is no guarantee that mares and foals will survive. Every single wild foal that makes it to adulthood is truly a miracle. When we add stress caused by humans to this, things become even more precarious.

You may have noticed in the last couple years that we have not been announcing foal births immediately. This is because we have noticed another concerning trend of people going out of their way to seek out pregnant mares and newborn foals like it’s an Easter egg hunt. People want to be the first to find them, the first to know the name, and the first to post photographs on social media. And believe us - we get it. It takes a lot of restraint on our part not to shout the arrival of new foals from the rooftops. But is that really in their best interest? Is it in the best interest of the mare who has hunkered down deep in the marsh to protect her newborn foal? We don’t think so, and we believe that she has a right to her privacy and a right to her wildness. This isn’t to say we aren’t aware of these foals, and that we aren’t monitoring them from a distance as best we can until their mothers decide to bring them into more accessible (to humans) areas. Our vet is updated on every new birth and discussions are had about the condition of the foal, the condition of the mother, background on the mare’s foaling history, and any other relevant information. As with any of the horses, we would intervene in the case of life-threatening illness or injury under the direction of our vet, but our goal is to always be as unobtrusive as possible and respect the fact that these are wild horses who have done a pretty good job of surviving here on their own for hundreds of years.

Is it a perfect science? No. But we learn from past experiences, we adapt to change, we work very hard to keep our emotions out of it, and we call on other experts for support and advice when needed.

The first two foals to come out in public this year were Finola and Folly, and as we have always done in the past, we posted about them and shared their names. In the last couple weeks we’ve taken a step back, had some really great conversations among ourselves and other colleagues in the field, and realized that we need to practice what we’re preaching. Moving forward we will not be sharing the names of foals and we will use more discretion when sharing the names of adult horses as well. This beautiful colt made his public debut earlier in the week after spending the first month of his life deep in the marsh with his first-time mother and the rest of the harem. He is healthy and sound, growing as he should, and developing all the skills he’ll need to survive in the wild.

What more could we ask for? Here’s to a long, wonderful life for this colt - wild and free. ... See MoreSee Less

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1 week ago

Photo taken yesterday of a wild Banker stallion with a cattle egret. These migratory birds arrive on the Outer Banks every spring and spend the summer following the horses around eating flies and other insects. They are the only ones allowed to ride the wild horses - you’ll often see them perched on the horses’ backs! ... See MoreSee Less

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2 weeks ago

As part of our Spring Fundraiser, join us by video from the 4x4 beach where we speak about the Banker horses’ habitat - and how habitat is more than just grass and water. Humans, houses, and traffic are all a part of their home and have been for many decades. We all share a responsibility to keep the horses safe and ensure they stay wild and free for generations to come.

You make our mission possible! Support the Bankers' future today: www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/ ... See MoreSee Less

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2 weeks ago

Happy Saturday! ☀️

If you’re visiting the 4x4 beaches this weekend please remember to give the horses plenty of space - 50ft minimum at all times. When horses are standing on the beach it’s usually because the biting flies are bad and/or they’re hot. Don’t add to their discomfort by crowding them. It’s not only annoying - stress can cause physical and behavioral issues that can be very dangerous, especially for foals. Watch from a distance and appreciate the fact that you are getting to see the horses in their natural habitat, living wild and free!

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2 weeks ago

Getting down to wire if you’d like to be entered into Middleton Clay Project’s drawing to win a painting done by rescued Banker mare Valentine and a pot made with her hair. 💘 ... See MoreSee Less

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2 weeks ago

This picture is a great example of one of the behaviors we often record when we’re doing field work. This stallion is “snaking” his mares to move them away from a rival stallion just out of frame. This is one of the few times you’ll see a stallion boss his mares around - that role is usually reserved for the lead mare!

Our staff works around the clock, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to keep the horses safe. We are in the field with the herd every day, monitoring the horses for injuries, recording notable behaviors, tracking movement, documenting harem dynamics, collecting DNA for breed conservation, and educating the public. The more we know about the horses, the better equipped we are to shape a sustainable future for them in the wild.

This work is not cheap - we have a fleet of vehicles to maintain, fuel costs, iPads and phones for recording and storing data, signs and banners, and other daily operating costs. The things we can do with this research, data, and the daily observations are endless, but we can only operate within our means. And that’s where your support is critical!

Help us continue to expand our efforts to both protect and learn more about the herd by getting involved today: www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/ ... See MoreSee Less

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2 weeks ago

“In nature nothing exists alone.” -Rachel Carson, Silent Spring

Habitat is not just grass and water; it’s everything that the horses come in contact with as they navigate their daily lives in the wild. For the Corolla Bankers, habitat also includes humans and everything that comes along with us, and this means that everyone who visits the 4x4 beaches has a personal responsibility to be good stewards of the environment. The great news is, it’s quite easy for everyone to achieve this by simply following the rules and using some common sense.

Stay 50ft away from the horses at all times, drive carefully, and clean up after yourself - it’s as simple as that!

Just as we depend on you to help us protect the horses in their habitat, we also depend on your continued support of the work we do to ensure that the herd will be here for many generations to come. This includes education and advocacy, genetic research, field observation and data collection, land preservation, and so much more.

Learn how you can get involved today: www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/ ... See MoreSee Less

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3 weeks ago

It was a beautiful spring day on The Northern Outer Banks! ☀️

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3 weeks ago

Spring open house at the farm is TOMORROW! We’re so excited to get things rolling for the season and hope you can make it to Grandy to meet all of the rescued Banker horses in our care.

Our gift shop will be open, we’ll be screening the documentary The Secret of Corolla followed by a Q&A, authors Jeff Hampton and Bonita Bertovich will be here signing books, and Middleton Clay Project will be here with their horsehair pottery.

More info below 👇🏻 ... See MoreSee Less

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3 weeks ago

If you’ve ever gotten tangled up in greenbrier you know why it’s referred to as nature’s barbed wire - the long vines are covered in sharp thorns and it can grow very dense and become impenetrable to larger animals (including humans!). This native plant provides food and shelter to a variety of animals, including the wild horses. You’d think that the thorns would deter the horses from eating greenbrier, but they can often be found browsing on it like this mare was earlier in the week. Another name for it is horsebrier because of how difficult it is for horses to get through it, but the Bankers may be the one exception to that rule! ... See MoreSee Less

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3 weeks ago

A note from our CEO Chris Winter as we kick off our Spring Fundraiser:

Spring on the Outer Banks. What an exceptional time – filled with hope and renewal. It is during this season that we see foals appearing out of the marshes, taking their first steps as heirs to the extraordinary history of the wild Banker horses. That history is what gets renewed each and every spring here on the beaches in Corolla. We are all privileged to share in this annual ritual, and we stand determined to ensure that future generations have this same opportunity.

With this in mind, today we kick off our Annual Spring Fundraiser. It is my hope that you will join us through the end of May on a special journey with the Corolla Wild Horse Fund.

Our journey is going to start up on the beach, where foals are now making themselves known. We are going to share with you how we manage and protect the wild herd. We are going to soar above the crashing waves and wind-swept marshes to give you our vision for preserving the natural habitat of the horses for decades to come.

Our journey will then take us to the Betsy Dowdy Equine Center in Grandy (the farm) where those horses that have been removed from the wild live and thrive in a very special sanctuary. While at the farm, you will get an up-close look at how we fulfill our mission through daily farm life, equine research and so much more.
As we close the Spring Fundraiser, you will travel into the heart of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. Once there, we will take you on a tour of the many ways that you can engage with us and impact the work of the Fund today and on into the future. You will see clearly how your financial support makes all of this happen.

The best news is that you can make this entire journey with us from the comfort of your own home; there are no bags to pack. By following us on Facebook and Instagram, and receiving our email, you have punched your ticket to take this spring-time trip to the Northern Outer Banks. From today through the end of May, you get the front-row seat!

Kickstart the journey with a gift today: www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/

In gratitude,

Chris Winter
Chief Executive Officer ... See MoreSee Less

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3 weeks ago

Happy Earth Day from the most beautiful, most special place on the planet (if we do say so ourselves)!

The Banker horses are intrinsically tied to this land; without it, they would not exist. Open spaces, clean water, and safety from human encroachment are the keys to keeping the horses wild and free here for many generations to come.

Learn about what we’re doing to protect and preserve their habitat and see how you can get involved: www.corollawildhorses.com/habitat-preservation-initiative/ ... See MoreSee Less

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