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.
Junior is home and doing well!
Junior’s Emergency Surgery
We are so proud of Meg, our Director of Herd Management!
Blossom is doing great!
Corolla Wild Horse Fund Announces Appointment of New Chief Executive Officer
Your support in action – seven interconnected paddocks
Rest Easy, Cora Mae. Your Legacy Lives On.
Rest Free, Thicket.
Welcome, Drifiter!
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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
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.- likes love 215
- Shares: 26
- Comments: 2
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
More horses! ... See MoreSee Less
85 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
282 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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28 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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112 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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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.4 CommentsComment on Facebook
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!
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/
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5 CommentsComment on Facebook
I am member already! I will Send donation. I know it’s Busy time of year… New ponies etc….
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In town for Spring Break? Come see us in Corolla! We’re in the historic village right next to the chapel. ... See MoreSee Less
10 CommentsComment on Facebook
We will be in town the week of 4/1. Will your hours be similar?
Handsome Dewey
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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, 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 feeding our ambassador horses at the farm, your contributions make a huge impact!
Get involved today: www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/
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1 CommentComment on Facebook
👏👏
Your support saves lives! While we strive to keep every horse wild and free for its entire life, sometimes that’s not possible. In the case of life-threatening illness or injury, we will provide care and support for horses that need it.
The wild horses sustain all kinds of injuries and issues in the course of normal, day-to-day life that we will monitor but not intervene to treat. So when we do decide to remove a horse from the herd due to a medical issue, it’s always something very severe that requires extensive treatment. Often these horses require hospitalization and months of rehabilitation, and some even require medication or other support for the rest of their lives. And of course we also have the horses at the farm to care for, most of which are with us because of long-term medical issues or advanced age.
We are so lucky to have your support when it comes to the big emergencies, and also the daily care of the rescued horses. They are an important part of our off-site educational and research programs, but most importantly they are deserving of the care and sanctuary that the farm provides.
Get involved today: www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/
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5 CommentsComment on Facebook
The Banker horses are considered critically endangered by equine geneticists and organizations like the Equus Survival Trust and the Livestock Conservancy. WIth only a couple hundred of these horses left in the world, they are facing extinction without purposeful, responsible breed management.
Half of the world’s breeding population of Banker horses live right here on the beaches of Currituck County - what an incredible and special honor! It’s up to all of us to be stewards for the breed, and treat them with the respect they deserve.
We can’t take for granted that they will be here forever, and we all must fight every day for their continued survival. Your ongoing support allows us to monitor the herd and practice responsible management, protect their natural habitat, learn more about their genetics through our work with DNA, and develop off-site breed conservation efforts.
Become a member today and be a part of this legacy: www.corollawildhorses.com/support-corolla-wild-horse-fund/
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7 CommentsComment on Facebook
This breaks my heart, had no idea they were endangered. One of the highlights of my life was being able to go and see them in person, such a beautiful experience being in their presence, but being careful to give them their distance and being respectful of the regulations in place to protect them. I do hope we can help the Corolla Horse breed EXIST for a very long time. 🩵🩵🩵
Corolla Wild Horse Fund we rarely see pictures of or hear about Gus. He used to hang with an older mare if remember correctly her name was Tahka (mispelled). Has he ever acquired more mares or sired any foals. He was brought in to add some genetic diversity.
are you still letting them foals or are you wtopping that
More signs! Today we’d like to thank Charlie, Jennifer, and Frankie at the Food Lion in Corolla for letting us put these in the produce section near the apples and carrots.
When we say apple and carrots kill wild horses, we mean that literally. In 2020 we lost yearling colt Danny after he choked on an apple that he was fed, and in 2021 we had to remove Junior from the wild when the same thing happened to him. Luckily Junior survived, but what a sad and preventable thing to lose his freedom over. Feeding also habituates the horses and can cause aggression, which has also led to removal.
Please follow the rules so that both you and the horses stay safe!
You can find more educational resources in our Community Toolkit: www.corollawildhorses.com/community-wild-horse-toolkit/
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63 CommentsComment on Facebook