Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 week ago

As you come around the curves near the end of the paved road in Corolla you will pass multiple signs that say different variations of “stay away from the horses.” Right at the cattle guard there is a very large sign saying citations will be issued for infractions. There are more than 20 very large, permanent signs lining the dunes the entire 11 miles up, along with several scattered behind the dunes too. In addition to that there are yard signs everywhere. Probably at least a hundred of them, if not more.

It is literally impossible to miss one of these signs. Not a single person who drives or walks onto the beach can say they didn’t know the rules. It’s in your face before you even hit the sand. And despite all of that, what you see happening in the photo below (taken today) continues to occur. In fact, there is even a large sign just outside the frame of this photo.

Here are just a few reasons why this kind of behavior is a problem:

1. The dunes are an incredibly fragile, important part of our ecosystem. Walking on them damages years and years of work by locals to build them up and stabilize them. It destroys grass that’s been meticulously planted sprig by sprig. And it’s also private property. If you are walking on a dune that is not directly in front of a house you own or are renting, you are trespassing.

2. You do not know how many horses are on the other side of that dune. You could suddenly find yourself surrounded by ten horses with nowhere to go if they decide you’re a threat, if they spook, or if another stallion comes along and a fight breaks out. The people in this photo have put themselves and their children in great danger.

3. Today was hot and buggy. The horses have been miserable and doing their best to combat the biting flies and the heat. They are already uncomfortable and irritated, and these people are making things even worse for them.

4. Habituation can lead to horses being removed from the wild. Horses that become overly familiar with people can be very dangerous, especially if they’ve been fed. There’s an even greater risk of this happening to foals.

Last summer a group of local Currituck kids attending a day camp came to an open house at the farm. We were standing in the barn with Junior, who was rescued after nearly choking to death on an apple, talking about what the wild horse rules are and why they’re important. Nearly every child could name off a reason why people should keep their distance - feeding can make them sick, it can cause them to become aggressive, you could get kicked or bit, and on and on. After everyone else was finished one little girl raised her hand and said with an air of great finality, “Because the sign said not to.”

Because the sign said not to.

If you witness this kind of behavior, please immediately call the sheriff’s department at 252-453-3633. Even if a citation is not or can not be issued, sometimes being corrected by a deputy is enough to scare people into following the rules. They can also get in touch with us directly and quickly should we need to respond for the horses’ safety and wellbeing.

We are fast approaching Memorial Day weekend and the true start of the busy season. It’s absolutely critical that every person who is visiting the northern beaches this summer does everything in their power to keep the horses safe.

This endangered herd already faces so many natural challenges to their survival; preventable issues caused by human negligence should not play a factor in their lives. We want the horses to remain accessible so that people can come see them in their natural habitat, and in order for that to happen everyone needs to be responsible and respectful. Your actions have far-reaching consequences.

For more resources, please see the Community Wild Horse Toolkit on our website:
www.corollawildhorses.com/community-wild-horse-toolki ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

2 weeks ago

It’s been brought to our attention that a photo of an elderly wild stallion, Theo, has been posted in a local Facebook group and people are understandably concerned about his body condition. We want to provide some information and context before the conversation spirals any further.

Theo is very old for a wild horse; we believe he is most likely close to 30 years old or even in his early 30s based on physical characteristics and our photographic records dating back to the early 2000s. Over the last couple years we have watched Theo age like a typical wild stallion. This past winter was particularly rough for him, but it is also normal (and healthy) for horses to have cyclical weight gain and loss throughout the year. They bulk up over the summer and then burn those fat reserves over the winter, and it is very typical (and also healthy) for them to enter into spring on the thin side. This is often even more noticeable in older horses who may also have other issues related to aging (worn down teeth, for example) that can make keeping weight on difficult for them.

While Theo’s body condition may be alarming for some people to see, it is not currently life-threatening and he is still behaving normally for a wild horse of his age. We have been monitoring him very closely over the last few months and our vet has also been consulted and is aware of Theo’s condition and history. At this point in time we have no plans to intervene because Theo simply does not need our help. He is living out a normal life cycle for a wild horse and it is our responsibility to give him the chance to do that. As long as Theo is able to get to water, graze, and otherwise behave normally we will continue to monitor him from a distance. If at any point our management team and veterinarian determine that Theo has reached the end of his life and needs to be humanely euthanized to prevent further suffering, we will step in immediately.

Theo deserves the chance to die as naturally as he has lived - free, and without ever having human hands on him. That is what we hope for every single one of the wild horses, but unfortunately not often the case. Theo is very lucky that he has lived such a long, good life and while it may be hard for us to watch, we have to remove our emotions from it and focus on doing what’s best for the horse from both a wildlife management and veterinary perspective.

We appreciate that so many people care about Theo, and we also appreciate your trust in us to do what’s best for him.

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Corolla Wild Horse Fund

2 weeks ago

Join us in welcoming the newest member of the herd, a colt named Ezra. He was born about a week ago to a very experienced mother and both are in excellent condition. All of this mare's other foals have been black with no markings so we were excited to see that this little guy was not only chestnut, but also has a star on his forehead. Color and markings make absolutely no difference to the horses, but they sure make it easier for us to identify them when they're older. 😉

If you are lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the family, please remember to stay at least 50ft away from them at all times regardless of whether you're on foot or in a vehicle. Crowding them can cause unnecessary stress and can also habituate the foal during this very critical stage of his development. Causing a traffic jam around the horses is dangerous for them, other drivers, and pedestrians - please be sensible, respectful, and law-abiding if you are driving on the beach this spring and summer.

Ezra is the third foal born in 2024. The first was Eros, a colt born in February, and there is one other foal that we estimate to be about a month old. We have not yet been able to determine if it's a colt or a filly. That group lives primarily in the marsh and we do not see them often, but they did bring the foal out to the beach very briefly one afternoon a couple weeks ago. Mom and foal both look healthy, which is the most important thing!

If you'd like more information about how to be a good steward for the horses and their habitat, check out our Community Wild Horse Toolkit for lots of educational resources: www.corollawildhorses.com/community-wild-horse-toolkit/

Your support is what allows us to fulfill our mission to protect and preserve this critically endangered herd. Please consider becoming a member or making a donation today: www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/ ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 month ago

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Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 month 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!

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Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 month 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

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

2 months 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

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

2 months 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