Corolla Wild Horse Fund

06/12/2026

Our little speed demon taking a nap early this morning - and giving his mom a break! (If you missed the video of him zooming around the other day, just scroll down a couple posts and you’ll see it.)

These horses are resting and grazing on a piece of property that a full-time 4x4 resident purchased to keep out of development. It provides cover and safety for the horses along with lots of other wildlife and native plants. Open spaces like this also benefit our human community, and improve our quality of life too.

CWHF is committed to protecting as much of this land as possible, and there are lots of ways that we can work together to make it happen. If you’d like to learn more about how you can become a part of our habitat preservation initiative, visit our website for more information: https://www.corollawildhorses.com/habitat-preservation-initiative/

06/11/2026

The next two days are going to be hot, hot, hot! No one's gonna be in the mood for nonsense - not us, not the horses, and not the sheriff's department. Please give the horses plenty of space on the beach. They are down by the water trying to stay cool and away from the biting flies.

The heat is much harder on horses than the cold, and becoming overheated can cause a variety of issues that could potentially be fatal. Foals and older horses are especially susceptible to heat-related illness. Crowding and pressuring the horses causes them to move around more than they naturally would, which can result in dehydration and exhaustion. Give them 50ft at minimum and if they approach you please back away and do not encourage behavior that could lead to habituation.

If you witness people touching, feeding, or harassing the horses please call 252-453-3633 so that law enforcement can be dispatched.

Everyone stay safe out there! 🏖️

06/10/2026

Ready…set…GO! 🏁

This c**t, born Memorial Day weekend, is giving his mom a run for her money. Luckily she’s an experienced broodmare and very used to these antics. Not her first c**t with the zoomies!

This video is a great example of why it’s so important to take it slow and be aware of your surroundings at all times. Foals are especially unpredictable and still learning how to navigate their new world.

06/05/2026

If you're heading to the beach this weekend please remember to give the horses plenty of space, always be mindful of your surroundings, and if you see something, say something.

The county non-emergency number is 252-453-3633. They can dispatch law enforcement if necessary and will also contact us. We are on-call for emergencies 24/7, and that is the best and fastest way to get in touch with us.

Have fun, but please stay safe and do your part to protect this endangered herd and their fragile habitat!

www.corollawildhorses.org

06/04/2026

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!

06/03/2026

Riptide will be at Dowdy Park in Nags Head on Friday! Free and open to the public - stop by and say hi.

🌞 Family Fun Times kicks off Friday, June 5 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Dowdy Park with a very special guest: Riptide the Horse! 🐴

Come meet a rescued, gentled Banker horse and learn more about the wild horses of Corolla, the rescue farm, and the important work the Corolla Wild Horse Fund does to help keep these incredible horses safe and thriving.

Riptide is a seven-year-old stallion who was removed from the wild as a c**t due to a serious infection that required life-saving treatment. During the program, Director of Herd Management Meg Puckett will share the story of the wild horses of Corolla and the ongoing efforts to protect and care for them.

Bring the whole family for a fun and educational morning at the park! 💚

📍 Dowdy Park
📅 Friday, June 5
⏰ 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
🎟 Free and open to the public

06/02/2026

The scope of our work is massive, and it’s the “big stuff” that gets shared on social media most often.

The life-and-death stories.

The breakthroughs in genetic research and ancestry.

Our efforts to preserve swaths of land that are under constant threat of development.

Protecting a critically endangered and historic herd of horses in the very last place on Earth they can call home.

Big stuff!

But one thing that we don’t talk about often is what it takes to keep the lights on - literally! We have two locations to keep up and running every day of the week; utility bills, internet service, office supplies (can’t mail that DNA sample off to the lab without an envelope!), paper towels and toilet paper, and everything else that comes along with day-to-day life at a nonprofit. Maybe not quite as exciting as new foals and tales of harrowing rescues, but important nonetheless!

By becoming a member at the $50 level, you will be helping us keep our farm, office, and gift shop in good working order, which allows us to accomplish those big tasks way more efficiently! Don’t forget, if you join now during our membership drive you’ll be able to make an additional donation to receive our first ever annual CWHF member t-shirt.

To learn more and get involved, visit our website: https://www.corollawildhorses.com/memberships/

Pictured: Riptide and Louie, two formerly-wild Banker horses who now live at our farm sanctuary.

05/28/2026

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!

Once a horse comes to live at the farm it is cared for like any other domestic horse would be. This includes routine veterinary care, hoof trimming, grooming, and more. This coming Monday we have an appointment with our veterinarian for vaccinations, dental exams, and a few other odds and ends (including trimming Topnotch’s hooves!). The horses are vaccinated twice a year, in the fall and in the spring. One core vaccine that protects against seven different diseases costs about $70 per horse. If you join CWHF as a member at the $75 level you will be covering the cost of Kitty Hawk’s (pictured) spring vaccines!

Join today and you’ll be able to make an additional donation and receive our first ever annual CWHF member t-shirt: https://www.corollawildhorses.com/memberships/

The farm is first and foremost a sanctuary for the more than 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. Your continued support is what makes all of this possible.