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Galloping Down the Beach

December 10, 2012/by Corolla Wild Horse Fund

Latest News

All’s Well and Ends WellMay 23, 2025 - 12:40 pm
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

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Corolla Wild Horse Fund

5 hours ago

It’s a beautiful day to visit the farm! Gates open at 10am. More details 👇🏻 ... See MoreSee Less

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Corolla Wild Horse Fund

21 hours ago

We’d like to say a special thank you this afternoon to North Beach Recovery for getting us out of a couple bad spots over the last week. It’s always something with these vehicles, and we are very grateful to have someone we can always rely on when we’re halfway up the beach and something breaks, blows, won’t start, or all three at once. 😉

While we’re on the subject of vehicles, now is a great time to remind everyone to please air down your tires before driving on the sand. The beach is in pretty poor condition right now because people are not airing down. Fully inflated tires create a washboard effect in the tracks that beats your truck to death. Bad enough when you’re just here for a day or a week but imagine having to drive on it every single day, all summer long. It’s expensive, frustrating, and avoidable. Please be respectful of the people who live and work on the 4x4 and air your tires down!

More information about how to safely drive and park on the 4x4 beach: currituckcountync.gov/beach-parking/

Driving on the beach is a fact of life here - it always has been and it always will be because it is the only way for people to access their homes. It’s very easy to drive safely and not leave a huge footprint if you follow the laws, take it slow, and always be aware of your surroundings. ... See MoreSee Less

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Corolla Wild Horse Fund

2 days ago

Update on the filly who had to be rescued out of the canal a couple weeks ago - she’s doing great! These photos were taken in the last few days and as you can see she is in excellent condition. She hopefully has a long, wild life ahead of her thanks in no small part to everyone who jumped in (literally) to save her that morning.

In case you missed the original story: www.facebook.com/share/p/19qeqWJDzG/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Please remember to give foals plenty of space - crowding and stress can lead to complications that can quickly turn deadly. If you see a horse in distress or witness someone putting themselves or the horses in danger, please call 252-453-3363 so that law enforcement can be dispatched and CWHF notified. Thank you for helping us keep the horses safe! ... See MoreSee Less

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Corolla Wild Horse Fund

6 days ago

Tomorrow brings an end to our spring fundraising campaign. We love the opportunity to spend a month sharing a glimpse into our world serving this extraordinary mission. We love engaging with all of you in a way that we hope brings the Bankers home to you wherever you are.

Our final ask this spring of all of you is to become a member of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. Being a member provides us the funds that make everything you saw this month possible.

If each one of you were to become a member, or encourage a friend to become a member, at any level, your collective impact will continue to ensure the Bankers live wild and free. For those of you that are already members, please feel our gratitude. If you are uncertain as to whether you are currently a member, please reach out to Marley at marley@corollawildhorses.com.

All of us, together, are a powerful force united to protect the Bankers and preserve their habitat.

To become a member, visit:
www.corollawildhorses.com/memberships/ ... See MoreSee Less

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Corolla Wild Horse Fund

7 days ago

The forecast was calling for a 100% chance of rain today but we made it through all 4 hours of the farm open house with barely a drizzle! 🌈 Thanks to everyone who came to visit - we love being able to share these special horses with you.

Same time, same place next week! More info: Mustang Mornings at the Farm ... See MoreSee Less

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Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 week ago

Tomorrow’s forecast is looking pretty crummy ☔️ but the event is rain or shine! Bring a raincoat and come visit with the horses on the farm. Our gift shop will also be open. More info ⬇️ ... See MoreSee Less

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Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 week ago

The wild herd of Bankers has lived here on the Outer Banks for hundreds of years. How can you be part of ensuring they continue to live here freely, not only now but for decades to come?

Join The Wild and Free Legacy Society and be part of a like-minded group of supporters that have committed to having the Corolla Wild Horse Fund named in your planned giving. Through this society, we honor the spirit of philanthropy that nurtures and sustains the Fund’s ability to serve our mission of protecting the wild Bankers. We welcome generous and forward-thinking donors who want to support the long-term impact of the Fund through a planned gift. There are several creative and flexible ways to get involved. Whether you consider naming us in your will, donating land for Banker habitat, or making a qualified charitable distribution from your estate, there is a place in the Legacy Society for you.

All who join the Legacy Society in 2025 will be inaugural members and will have a hand in charting the course for our future. There will be specific Legacy Society communications and an open house in the fall.

For more information, email Chris at chris@corollawildhorses.com or click here: www.corollawildhorses.com/legacy-society/

Establishing a philanthropic vision for your future estate is one of the most profound ways that you can continue to be part of a better tomorrow for generations to come. We are so grateful for your willingness to consider the Corolla Wild Horse Fund in your planned giving. ... See MoreSee Less

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Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 week ago

Today we pause to remember and honor all those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms.

Wishing everyone a meaningful Memorial Day. 🇺🇸 ... See MoreSee Less

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Corolla Wild Horse Fund

2 weeks ago

Well, we had another exciting morning. Let us preface all of this by saying the ladder is no longer around her neck and the mare and foal are both completely fine.

At about 10:30 this morning we received a call that there was a horse with a ladder around her neck. Three of our staff were very close by and found her immediately (she was pretty hard to miss), and several residents had also seen her and came to help. At first we thought maybe if she dropped her head down the ladder would slide off, but every time it hit the back of her ears she would understandably fling her head back up. Luckily she wasn’t all that bothered by it so at least we didn’t have to worry about her panicking and hurting herself or her foal. One of the characteristics of this breed is that they are very level-headed and not reactionary, and this mare was a good example of that today.

We spent about an hour trying to get her into a position where we could get close enough to pull it off but didn’t have any luck with that plan - she was too fast and there is just too much wide open space (this was one of the few times when that is a bad thing!). But we got lucky when she dropped her head to graze at one point and the ladder slipped down over one ear. We all held our breath and thank goodness it fell the rest of the way off. Everyone in the surrounding houses who had been watching from their decks cheered, and so did we. The ladder was retrieved and both the mare and the foal are just fine.

Just another day at the office. 😵‍💫 Sharing here on social media so that hopefully everyone who watched this happen in real time sees the update and can rest assured that all’s well that ends well. If you’ve seen pictures of this posted on other pages or groups, please share the link to this post so that people do not continue to worry!

We’d also like to thank our community for once again jumping in to help when needed. We didn’t even have to ask - you were there and ready to do whatever was necessary to help this horse and we are so grateful. Knowing that we can always count on you makes these very stressful situations a little less stressful.

If you witness a horse in danger or distress please call 252-453-3633. They will immediately notify CWHF and can also dispatch law enforcement if necessary. ... See MoreSee Less

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Corolla Wild Horse Fund

2 weeks ago

DO YOU OWN A RENTAL COTTAGE?

As we continue to share our spring fundraising campaign with all of you, these final weeks will be all about how YOU can be involved with us. Just a few days ago, we shared the story of Horse Sponsorship. Today, the focus is primarily directed at those of you who own rental properties OR those of you who come stay at a rental property.

We have an amazing program called Owners Are Donors. Through Owners Are Donors, you pledge a certain amount for each week that you rent out. It could be as little as $20 per week! As part of this program, you will receive a personalized graphic for your cottage’s slideshow, a hand-made steel horse plaque to display in your cottage, and a CWHF membership decal. There is no better way to let your guests know that they are staying at a cottage that protects the horses.

For those of you that are guests, we encourage you to share this program with your owners. They may not be aware of this opportunity!

For more information, click here: www.corollawildhorses.com/owners-are-donors-program/

We love partnering with rental property owners through this program. ... See MoreSee Less

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Corolla Wild Horse Fund

2 weeks ago

Did you know that we currently care for 20 resident Banker horses at our farm on the mainland?

When a wild horse has a potentially fatal injury, illness, or becomes severely habituated, the Corolla Wild Horse Fund consults with our veterinary team and makes a decision in the horse's best interest regarding intervention.

From our youngest rescue who turns four in July to our oldest mares in their thirties, each formerly wild Banker has a unique personality and circumstance that led them to live on the farm. While rescued Bankers have been candidates for adoption before, most of the current rescues require specialized care and will remain with us for the rest of their lives.

Over the years, our horse sponsorship program has had a significant impact on our ability to meet each horse’s needs with ease. By sponsoring a Banker, you help cover costs of rescue, veterinary treatment, medicine, hay, horse trailer maintenance, and essential upkeep of our barns and pastures. On average, the Fund spends around $250 per month on hay for just one horse. Multiple that by 20, throw in medical costs, veterinary check-ups and more, and you'll see why every dollar is essential in providing these horses' the best care possible. We could not do this work without your support.

Become a horse sponsor today or give a sponsorship as a gift: www.corollawildhorses.com/horse-sponsorships/ ... See MoreSee Less

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Corolla Wild Horse Fund

2 weeks ago

At about 8:00 this morning a resident called to report a foal alone in one of the canals, and then almost immediately after that another person called to report a very distressed mare not too far away. We mobilized, and our staff headed over to where the foal was while a resident kept an eye on the mare so we wouldn’t lose her if she moved. The foal was successfully guided out of the water and then reunited with her mother after a short ride in our truck. She is nursing and behaving normally (though understandably exhausted) and we will of course keep a very close eye on her over the next couple of days. Hopefully all’s well that ends well!

We like to extend a very big thank you to Neal for calling and reporting the lone foal, Ronda and Cherissa for keeping track of the mare, Kimberlee for calling in reinforcements, Roy, Kurt, and Jay for getting the foal out of the water, into our truck, and back to her mom, the Currituck County Sheriff’s department and our wonderful telecommunicators at Currituck County Emergency Management, and everyone from Carova Beach Volunteer Fire & Rescue who heard the call and came to help. Apologies if we missed anyone - so many people jumped into action it was hard to keep track! We are so appreciative and grateful for our community here on the 4x4 - it takes a village and ours is the best!

If you witness a horse in danger or distress, please call 252-453-3633 - they will immediately call us and can also dispatch law enforcement if needed. We are on call 24/7, 365 days a year for emergencies. Please do not hesitate if you think something may be wrong. Always better safe than sorry! ... See MoreSee Less

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Corolla Wild Horse Fund was live.

3 weeks 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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Corolla Wild Horse Fund

3 weeks 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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Corolla Wild Horse Fund

3 weeks 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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Corolla Wild Horse Fund

3 weeks 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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Corolla Wild Horse Fund

3 weeks 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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Corolla Wild Horse Fund

3 weeks ago

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

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Corolla Wild Horse Fund is at Betsy dowdy Equine Center.

4 weeks 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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Corolla Wild Horse Fund

4 weeks 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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