Corolla Wild Horse Fund

1 day ago

It’s been a little over six months since Topnotch was relocated to our farm and he’s made such amazing progress in that time! These photos were taken yesterday during his training session (and check out the comments for a video).

We’ve been taking our time with him, letting him settle in, learn some boundaries without putting too much pressure on him, earning his trust, and making sure that he’s in good physical condition. That patience is really starting to pay off! He will now voluntarily follow us into the round pen and is learning how to lunge, lead, and we can even touch his face now (carefully and briefly, but it’s still major progress!). He’s such a fun guy to have around. He’s incredibly smart and enjoys attention, and he’s got a wicked sense of humor for a horse. You just can’t help but smile when you’re around him, even when he’s threatening to eat your fingers for breakfast. 😉

Come visit Topnotch, Blossom, and the rest of the gang at our farm open house tomorrow. We're open from 9am-1pm, and there’s a suggested $10 donation per vehicle at the gate. Our gift shop is stocked with lots of new merchandise for 2026, you can sponsor any of the rescued Banker horses in our care, chat with our staff about the work that we do, and catch a screening of the documentary The Secret of Corolla at 10am and 11am. Hope to see you there!

More info: www.facebook.com/events/1609189420288071/1609189426954737 ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

2 days ago

Last week a tour guide noticed a horse acting frightened of something, and when he stopped to get a better look he noticed a drone flying very close to the horse. He snapped these photos and then reached out to us in concern. We’d like to use this opportunity to talk about drones, the horses’ reaction to them, and how operators can fly them safely without bothering the horses.

The wild horses are extremely desensitized to most things. They live around people, vehicles, fireworks, kites, low-flying military aircraft…you name it. Not much ruffles their feathers and even fewer things actually scare them. But there is one thing that almost always seems to make them nervous and uncomfortable - drones. The movement is fast and erratic, drones can appear out of nowhere in places the horses are not used to being disturbed, and they make a buzzing noise that the horses really dislike. Drones can be a useful tool in some situations, but for the most part we find them to be one of the more invasive, disruptive things the horses must deal with in this day and age.

From a prey animal’s perspective, a drone following them is no different than a predator chasing them, *and* it can chase them into places the herd has historically perceived as safe.

The horse in these photos was very close to a swath of federally protected land that is some of the last acreage on the northern Outer Banks still largely untouched by humans. It is one of the only places left for the horses to go where they are unlikely to be disturbed by people. They deserve the solitude and safety this area provides them; a place for them to be truly wild and free. Mares use this land as a nursery, stallions retreat there to recover from injuries caused by fighting, and old horses go deep into the marsh to lay themselves to rest. It is a sacred circle of life that has been taking place here for hundreds of years and we should all be extremely protective of this pristine habitat and the privacy it affords the horses and other wildlife.

The Currituck County Wild Horse Ordinance states that no one should come within 50ft of the wild horses, and this applies to drones too. The ordinance also states that it is illegal to “subject to conditions detrimental to its health or general welfare any wild horse within a wild horse sanctuary, or to cause or procure such action.” Circling and chasing the horses with a drone, getting closer than 50ft to them, and/or disrupting their natural behavior is not only detrimental to their welfare, but it is also illegal.

If you are operating a drone around the horses, please stay at least 50ft away from them at all times and be aware of their reaction to your drone. If they look up at the drone or begin to move away from it, you need to back off and give them their space.

Technology is a wonderful thing and has helped us better protect and preserve this herd and their habitat in many ways. But we will never use technology at the risk of the horses’ wellbeing, or just because we can. In the last decade or so, drones have become one of those advancements that can give us closer, easier access but we must ask ourselves at what cost, and for what purpose. Those are questions we continue to grapple with, and our stance may change (multiple times, even!), but one thing that will never change is our dedication to the horses’ safety, wellbeing, and autonomy.

www.corollawildhorses.org ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

2 weeks ago

Let’s talk about sleep! 🥱

🔹Horses are polyphasic sleepers, which means they sleep in multiple short periods throughout the day.

🔹They have a unique anatomical feature called the stay apparatus that allows them to lock the joints in their hind legs. This enables them to doze while standing up. You’ll often see them doing this with one hind leg cocked, and just the toe of the hoof touching the ground.

🔹However, in order to achieve REM sleep, horses must lie down.

🔹They require between 30-45 minutes of REM sleep each day.

🔹Horses take turns resting - someone is always keeping watch! This is why you often see several horses standing over one who is lying down.

🔹Foals sleep a LOT, just like human babies. Sometimes up to 10 hours a day! As long as mom is standing nearby, the baby is probably just snoozing. However, if you come across a foal that is down and alone, that is cause for concern - definitely give us a call.

Everyone needs good sleep in order to stay healthy, and horses are no exception! ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

2 weeks ago

We are very sad to report that yesterday morning wild stallion Surfer suffered a fatal kick to the head. His injuries were localized and consistent with a kick from another horse. There was no other trauma to the rest of his body and nothing indicative of human interference. It’s likely he wasn’t even in a serious fight with another stallion; it was an unfortunately well-placed kick that could have just as easily come from a mare.

Surfer was about 15 years old and DNA testing has identified three offspring he produced - Riptide (who lives at the farm now) and Rabbit (who is deceased) in 2019, and a colt in 2022 who is still alive in the wild. His dam Mimosa passed away in 2024 due to age-related issues, and his sire was a stallion named Tyreek who was DNA tested in 2007. On his dam’s side, Surfer’s pedigree goes all the way back to iconic stallions Little Red Man and Star.

Surfer was beloved by staff, residents, and visitors alike. He was stunningly beautiful and charismatic, and carried himself with an air of confidence that always made him stand out. He was very wild and very driven, and today we are taking great comfort in the fact that he died of natural causes without ever having human hands laid on him.

We hope that Surfer’s death serves as a reminder of how fragile life can be for these horses. Even under the best of circumstances, nature can be very unforgiving. Surfer’s genetics were invaluable to the long-term health of the herd, and now his four-year-old son is left to carry on that legacy. We can’t control nature and there’s no guarantee that he will make it into adulthood and produce foals of his own, but we can control our own actions. Please help us give this youngster - and all of the horses - the best possible chance by not habituating them, driving slowly and carefully, and being good stewards of the environment.

Rest easy, Surfer. You will be missed.

*Media has permission to share information and photos contained in this post, with credit to CWHF. ... See MoreSee Less

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

4 weeks ago

No, you’re not seeing double and no, we do not have twin foals - just two in the same harem who look nearly identical.

We have not collected DNA on any of the horses in this group yet so there is no way to know if these foals have the same sire or how closely their mothers are related. Could be genetics, could just be coincidence. Right now it’s easy to tell them apart because they are sticking to their moms’ sides, but in a few months it may become more difficult. We’re hoping that one filly’s mane ends up laying to the right, and the other to the left. 😉

None of the wild horses are branded or tagged in any way; they are identified by markings and colors, scars, territories and associations, and other unique characteristics. But this is not an exact science - only DNA can say with absolute certainty who a horse is and who they are related to. Once these fillies are at least a year old we will collect tissue samples and get their DNA on file so that we, and all other herd managers into the future, will always be able to identify them.

These photos are also great examples of how foals are born a different color from what they’ll be once they’re grown up. Their newborn coat is usually lighter, which helps camouflage them when they’re very young. They shed this baby coat when they’re several months old and that’s when you can start to get an idea of what color they’re going to be as adults. Did you know that it’s actually quite rare for a horse to have a true black coat? Most are actually very dark brown. The only 100% foolproof way to know if a horse is truly black is - you guessed it! - DNA.

Please give these youngsters plenty of space! They are easily habituated at this age, they tire and dehydrate easily, and can get separated from their families in times of stress. Stay 50ft away at all times and if they approach you, please move away from them! ... See MoreSee Less