OUR MISSION
To protect, conserve, and responsibly manage the herd of Corolla wild horses (Bankers) roaming freely on the northernmost Currituck Outer Banks, and to promote the continued preservation of this land as a permanent sanctuary for horses designated as the State Horse and defined as a cultural treasure by the state of North Carolina.
By sponsoring Virginia Dare, your commitment will help cover her care, including feed, hay, supplements, medicine, regular farrier service, veterinary care, pasture maintenance, and so much more. Sponsoring Virginia or any of the horses that reside on the CWHF farm is an exciting and highly personalized way to support the Fund and its mission.
- Limited edition print painted by Virginia Dare
- Exclusive digital download of the new song “Queen of the Pack” written about Virginia Dare, from singer-songwriter Janet Martin
- Embossed presentation folder with glossy photo of Virginia Dare
- Official certificate in sponsor’s name
- Educational materials about Virginia Dare and the Corolla Wild Horse Fund
- Quarterly updates via email address provided
The Secret of Corolla is the story about the Wild Colonial Spanish Horses found on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and how they have made those islands their home.
It’s a story of perseverance. Not just by the horses, but also by the people who call this very special place their home.
Through devastating hurricanes, swarms of biting flies and mosquitos, and the constant pressure from developing the islands into prime beach vacation property, these horses, and the people they share the islands with have found a way to live together in a most uncommon accord. They have created an incredibly remarkable and uniquely wondrous place.
CWHF Community Cares Partner is how we acknowledge, highlight, and thank local businesses and individuals who embrace the CWHF, our mission and support us diligently. These partnerships are vital to our cause. Together we create shared visions and projects benefiting the horses. We offer goodwill and support to each other while working together to keep our beloved Banker mustangs wild and free.
Elvis has arrived!
It’s a Girl!
Hello, Ezra!
Raymond has a companion, again.
Junior is home and doing well!
Junior’s Emergency Surgery
Fly Over the 4×4
Welcome Little One!
We are so proud of Meg, our Director of Herd Management!
Facebook Feed
Open house starts next week! Join us every Wednesday through the summer and meet the rescued Banker horses in our care. Click below for more information. Hope to see you there!
Mustang Mornings is sponsored in part by Currituck Outer Banks 🏖
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If you’ve been following us for a while you probably remember hearing about Alma, the young mare who was ostracized from her harem when she was two years old. She was a little lost for a while, but eventually found a group that accepted her.
We are very excited to announce today that Alma had her first foal! She is currently with the harem that Eowyn is a part of, which is great. It’s always nice when foals can grow up with each other. We hope that Alma stays with this harem - they are very stable, and the stallion is very protective. Alma is being a good mom and her colt, who we’ve named Elvis, is perfect! He was most likely born Sunday night or Monday.
We are so glad that we did not intervene and remove Alma from the wild when she was struggling to find her place in the herd. It was difficult for people to watch, but we knew that in the grand scheme of things she was safe and just needed a little more time to mature and figure things out. These situations are often beyond the scope of our control and sometimes you just have to trust that nature will work out like it should, one way or the other. In this case, it seems to have worked out for the best and we are very excited to welcome Alma’s first foal to the herd.
New foals are very exciting, especially when they are out on the beach, but please do not let your excitement get in the way of following the rules. They are in place to keep you and the horses safe. Remember to give them plenty of space - 50ft at minimum. If you’re wondering if you’re too close, you probably are. Always err on the side of caution and help us make sure Elvis, Eowyn, Ezra, and Eros have a long, bright, WILD future ahead of them!
www.corollawildhorses.org
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174 CommentsComment on Facebook
They’re all just beautiful! Welcome to the world baby Elvis! So happy Alma found a herd! 🩷
Love this
Congratulations on Elvis' arrival! "I'm all shook up'' 😘
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
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60 CommentsComment on Facebook
It’s common sense. They are wild horses. It is a privilege to see them. If they want to touch a horse go to a farm.
Waaaaay too early in the season for this nonsense. And yet, here we are.
I was at a VRBO last summer and saw a man getting way too close to Cowboy and his harem. I didn’t know who to call about it then. Perhaps you could make a push for the vacation home owners to add this phone number to their info sheets in the houses? Yes, I know there are signs, but none visible from where we were staying.
It’s a girl! This is the foal we first saw a couple weeks ago but were unable to determine the sex of. Today we confirmed it is indeed a filly.
Her mother’s name is Arwen and the stallion they’re with (most likely the sire but only DNA will tell for sure) is named Rohan. So since it’s an E year we of course had to go with the name Eowyn for this filly. Someone on staff is kind of a big Lord of the Rings fan. 🫣😉 And literally translated, Eowyn (pronounced ay•uh•wn) means “joy from horses” in Old English.
Please remember to give the horses plenty of space at all times - especially the foals. They are very fragile, impressionable, and unpredictable. Parents can also become aggressive and protective if they feel threatened. Help us ensure that Eowyn and the rest of this years foals grow up healthy, safe, wild, and free.
www.corollawildhorses.org
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94 CommentsComment on Facebook
Love the LOTR names! This is very fitting in light of Bernard Hill (King Theoden) passing away. 😢
Any idea what week she was born? We were vacation in OBX the week of April 7-14th and took a tour to see the wild horses. They told us a fold had been born but the mom have not weight her out. Wondering if it might be her!
What’s an E year?
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.
www.corollawildhorses.org
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450 CommentsComment on Facebook
Keeping a horse wild is your mission. And everyone needs to remember that when they speculate, I wish they would just message you all directly with a question or picture instead of riling up armchair warriors! Thank you for continuing to educate those who likely know less about the herd here or equine medicine.
Thank you for allowing him to live his life free versus taking him away from what he knows. I am sure the people are attempting to do the right thing but he is living as he should.
Appreciate when explanations are provided. Gives great insight. Thank you. Glad Theo is living his best life!
We had such a wonderful time visiting today! Thanks for having us. 💜 ... See MoreSee Less
38 CommentsComment on Facebook
What a good girl Rita is. Y'all have done a wonderful job with her. It makes my heart happy to see the residents and staff enjoying Rita's visit so much. Thank you for all you do for the horses!
This is my favorite post of the whole day ❤️❤️❤️
God bless beautiful Rita and everyone who cares for her ❤️🙏🏻
Calling all property owners! If your trash cans aren’t secure, now is the time to fix that. Over the last couple years we’ve worked diligently with Currituck County to get the ordinance updated and now all trash cans are required to be animal-proof. Please do your part to help us keep the horses (and other wildlife) safe and healthy! ... See MoreSee Less
5 CommentsComment on Facebook
Lisa Golding check these out for the beach house. Show dad
These are great trash containers
They are so worth saving wildlife!!!!🐴🐢🦌🦝🐰🦊!!!!!❤️❤️👍🥰
More horses! ... See MoreSee Less
93 CommentsComment on Facebook
Do they swim?
My dad lives in Corolla I love seeing the horses
I would love to be there right!!
On the beach with wild Banker horses ... See MoreSee Less
306 CommentsComment on Facebook
Makes my heart so happy to see these beautiful animals
We were there on Monday and so many were on the beach. Such a beautiful place to live
Love these lives!!! Must be a bad fly day with everyone on the beach. Goodness what a sight!
Guess who's featured in one of the questions in the Our State Magazine quiz this month? The one and only - Raymond! 🤩
Raymond is the offspring of a domestic donkey and a Banker mare, and while he may not be genetically the same as the horses, he is still a Banker through and through. He's in his 30s and now happily retired at our farm sanctuary but lived most of his life wild on the northern Currituck beaches. He serves as a symbol of the Bankers (both horses and humans!) ability to adapt and thrive in an often hostile environment, and represents a way of life here that is quickly being lost to time.
Come visit Raymond and the other rescued Banker horses at our weekly open houses, which take place every Wednesday from 10am-2pm all summer long. The first one is May 22.
You can also sponsor Raymond and help cover the cost of his care here at the farm. Because of his age and health issues, Raymond requires a specialized diet and veterinary care, and your support helps us keep him happy and comfortable. Sponsorships also make great gifts! Learn more: www.corollawildhorses.com/horse-sponsorships/
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31 CommentsComment on Facebook
Raymond is one of the bankers that my grand kids sponsor each year… we love seeing updates and backgrounds of all the horses, at the sanctuary and in the wild!!!! 💕
Love me some Raymond too. I've heard about the wild Horses long ago. Read about him in Our State Magazine, fell in love with him. We also fell in love with the Corolla Wild Horse Fund, We became members, and joined. Words can never say how much we appreciate The CWHF, and what they do. 💖 Many Thx from my wife and I...!!!
Will the farm still be open on Wednesday’s the first week in September? I would love to be able to visit.
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/
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117 CommentsComment on Facebook
Love, love, love.
Always get so excited and happy to hear there is a new baby in the herd! Thank you for the “birth announcements” and the constant reminders of how we ALL should behave around the horses! I know you sometimes get tired of repeating this message but it can’t be said enough if we are to protect these beautiful endangered horses. Can’t thank you enough for all that you do for our beloved horses and for sharing your posts and pictures with us. Please don’t forget to let us know about the marsh baby when you learn more! Thank you, CWHF!! ♥️🐴
Commenting to say I love the one letter/year theme! Keep up the work Corolla Wild Horse Fund. Your work is amazing!
Check out this behind the scenes look at how Middleton Clay Project makes horse hair pottery! When we groom the horses at the farm we collect their hair, and then Mike and his team create these amazing, one-of-kind pots with it. Photo of the finished product in the comments!
You can purchase horse hair pottery at our shop in Corolla, or order directly from Middleton Clay Project’s website: www.middletonclayproject.com
Part of the proceeds from every sale comes back to CWHF!
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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
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13 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 ❤️
Don't forget our Spring Open House is this Saturday from 10am-2pm. Details below 👇 Hope to see you there! ... See MoreSee Less
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Wish I lived closer!
I might be home for that
Be there! Reservations made!
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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)
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
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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?
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/
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16 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
Eclipse report from Grandy. As with most things, the horses are completely unbothered. 😉 ... See MoreSee Less
12 CommentsComment on Facebook
Junior looks fabulous, looks like he's doing well 👌
❤️ looking amazing Junior ❤️
Junior knows best.
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/
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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!