The Outer Banks Spanish Mustang Horses (Banker Ponies) News
Become a Corolla Wild Horse Fund Member -
Help Keep the Corolla Wild Horses Wild and Free!
The Corolla Wild Horse Fund is a non-profit, registered 501(c)3 public charity, whose mission is to protect, preserve, and responsibly manage the herd of wild Colonial Spanish Mustangs roaming freely on the northernmost Currituck Outer Banks. You can be a part of protecting and preserving this historic herd!
Your membership dollars are critical to help us carry out our mission, provide care for injured horses, and give the wild horses a much needed voice. Members receive car window clings and our quarterly publication, Wild and Free. Members at the $50 level or higher are entitled to a 10% discount on CWHF merchandise. Click here for a membership form or to donate online.
CURRITUCK STUDENTS WANT A STATE HORSE
The state of North Carolina has a total of thirty-five official symbols. Just as many other states, North Carolina has a state bird, dog, mammal, flag, flower, motto, vegetable, and tree. The entire Currituck County School district’s fourth grade classes want the state to add a thirty-sixth symbol – a state horse. Nine other states have a breed of horse as one of their state symbols. For instance, Maryland and Kentucky have the Thoroughbred, Tennessee selected the Tennessee Walker, and Idaho named the Morgan horse.
Over 400 students are participating in the effort as part of a state mandated writing assessment. The assessment must have an authentic purpose - like writing a letter to your state legislator on why North Carolina should have a state horse and why it should be the Colonial Spanish Mustang.
Two wild herds of Colonial Spanish Mustangs still roam the beaches and maritime forests of the Outer Banks. A herd of 127 live on Cape Lookout Nation al Seashore, Shackleford Banks (Carteret County) and a herd of 100 roam the northern beaches and maritime forests north of Corolla (Currituck County).
These heritage horses have played an important role in the culture, history and economy of the state for nearly five centuries. In 2007, representatives of the Horse of the Americas Registry, the American Livestock Breed conservancy, and the American Indian Horse Registry came from all over the country to spend several days inspecting both herds. They were so certain that what they were seeing were descendents of the horses brought by the Spanish conquistadors that they deemed both herds eligible for registration as Colonial Spanish Mustangs. DNA testing in 1992 and 2008 further supported these findings.
The Banker strain of Colonial Spanish Mustang is currently listed as critically endangered by the two national breed conservation groups, the American Livestock Breed Conservancy and the Equus Survival Trust. An American icon, the wild horse is rapidly disappearing from our country. Hopefully, the efforts of hundreds of school children will help to bring attention to the need to protect and preserve this dying breed upon whose backs our county, our state, and our country was built.
The letter writing project is also open to students not directly involved in the mandated writing activity. Currituck County students should turn their letters into their teachers. Students wishing to participate in other counties should send their letters directly to the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. Resource information is available on the CWHF website at www.corollwildhorses.org. Click on the state flag icon.
Friday, June 19, 2009
CHARGED!
Remember this name. Kendra James. She is a recent college graduate who I understand is planning on becoming a teacher. She was charged today for failure to report injuring a wild horse on the north beach of Corolla on March 29th. She knew she hit the horse but she drove away leaving him to suffer for hours and hours. It was during an unusually hot spell for March – temperatures were in the high 90’s during the day and the 80’s at night. The insects were unbearable. When found, he literally had a moat of sorts around him. He could only pivot around in a circle on his uninjured left hind leg. He was shaking from the effort to stay upright.
Almost all of us have made mistakes when we were young. Done foolish things that we regret. But this young woman was VERY familiar with the northern beaches. Her parents have owned a home in Carova for years. It is impossible to spend even a short time there and NOT know that there are wild horses on the sand roads and beaches at all hours. She would also have to know that the beaches and sand roads of the northern Outer Banks are very dark at night. There are no such things as street lights on the northern most beaches. The speed limit is 15. She hit a horse, close to the dune line, with enough force to cause a compound fracture. That is hard to do if you are going 15 miles an hour or not impaired in some manner. She stated that she was going 20 – 25 miles an hour and that it was foggy. Even more reason to not be out driving around on the beach in the predawn hours.
She also stated that a group of horses ran out in front of her and she tried to swerve but the sand ruts were too deep. The first volunteer on the scene stated that there were no other prints except that of the injured horse and that tire tracks led up to the horse and then backed off at an angle. Kendra, is an experienced beach driver and, there WERE NO DEEP RUTS on the beach where the horse was hit. I saw that myself.
She finally admitted to hitting the horse to an investigating officer but not until nearly two and a half months had passed. She knew, and she left him. She stated that she “didn’t know who to call.” All she had to do was call 911. What about taking responsibility for your actions? The outcome would have been the same because the break was so bad, but he could have at least been spared the hours and hours of agonizing pain that he suffered.
At 21, everyone should know that it is wrong to severely injure an animal and leave it suffer. I will never understand how she justified not notifying anyone that could help the horse, or how she justified not taking responsibility for her actions. Is this what she will teach her students?
We are so grateful to Currituck County Sherriff Susan Johnson, Detective Vic Lasher, Lt. Jason Banks, and any other police officers who assisted in the arrest. They treated this crime with importance it deserved and sent a message that irresponsible behavior will not be overlooked or tolerated.
Another Senseless Death
Be warned, this post contains disturbing information
I can hardly believe that it has happened again. Another beautiful wild stallion euphemized as a result of a human’s complete and total lack of responsibility or conscience. The beautiful stallion that is featured in the Mary Kolliner photo in the center of our brochure and our Charter member photos is dead. His name was Spec. He was euthanized at 2:30 p.m. on May 23rd. His left hind leg was broken so badly it was snapped completely in two. Dr. Bart Kite examined the leg thoroughly. It was hit from the side with great force and broken inward. There were ATV tracks all around where the horse was originally seen on the beach at 6:43 a.m. It is possible that ATV’s were being used to chase the horse and then hit him. Residents reported hearing ATV’s tearing around at 1 and 2 a.m.
Spec drug himself up over the dunes over a mile from where he was first seen. I have no words to describe what the last few hours were like for those of us who were present, and what they were like for Spec. If there is a tougher horse on the planet than Spec, then it’s got to be a Spanish Mustang as well. Spec did not want to die and he fought and struggled long and hard. It was gut wrenching. It was a waste. It was sickening. He was terrified.
Someone may be on the north beach right now that is responsible for his death. Or perhaps, like the other horse that was hit in April, they left the beach for awhile, they got rid of their damaged vehicle, and they’re counting on others to continue to cover for them.
Please, if you live or vacation on the north beach and you see or hear something that you know is not right – call the Sheriff’s office. You don’t have to give your name. We have lost two healthy, beautiful, stallions in the last 4 weeks. Hit by people who know that they hit them. Left to suffer in agony. Help us hold them accountable. Help us keep another horse from having to die.
IF YOU DRIVE THE NORTH BEACH AT NIGHT – DON’T SPEED. The horses are almost impossible to see at night. THIS WAS THEIR LAND LONG BEFORE IT WAS OURS. They have shared their land and peacefully coexisted with us. IF YOU RENT ON THE NORTH BEACH – ACT RESPONSIBLY. Two deaths in two month is horrifying. Both caused by the irresponsible, immature, and heartless actions of people. IT MUST STOP.
My deepest thanks to former Herd Manager Steve Rogers and his wife Hannah who drove here from Columbia on Saturday morning. Steve was able to use his expert marksmanship skills to dart Spec twice with tranquilizers allowing us to proceed with the next steps. Thanks to Deputy Justin Cartwright for his assistance, to Edna Baden, Kim Hoey, Jim and Ellen Rein, Brian O’Connor, Cameron Gray, and my husband Mike.
Click here to watch a news clip
Friday, May 15, 2009
100 Reasons to NOT Touch or Feed Our Wild Horses
Our current herd count is 100. That is about 30 short of the minimum we need to maintain the genetic diversity and physical health of the wild horses. It is about to get smaller.
Last night I got several calls regarding a stallion that was lying on a sand road in Carova (the northernmost development on the north beach). He had been in the area grazing all day but had been lying on Ocean Pearl Road for about an hour. The initial caller wasn’t too concerned at first because the horses lie down in the sand and rest all the time. What caused him the most concern was watching a woman walk right up to the stallion, scratch him on the forehead, and the stallion made no attempt to get up or show signs that he didn’t welcome the attention. That is not normal behavior for a wild animal. That is what convinced him that something was wrong with the horse.
Long story short – the stallion was not sick or injured - but he is going to have to be captured and removed from the beach anyway. Why? Because he clearly has no fear of humans. He has no fear of humans because it is most likely that he has been approached and or fed so many times that he accepts, and perhaps now looks for, attention from humans. Now this horse has become a danger to humans. If he isn’t already, he will now approach humans and demand to be fed. In 2006 we removed another young stallion because he approached a resident out for a walk, demanded to be fed, and knocked the woman down because she had nothing to give him. Luckily she was only severely bruised. Now he is a gelding awaiting adoption and can never return to the beach that was his home.
Last year we found a young mare dead by a canal. Necropsy results identified alfa toxin poisoning as the cause of death. The horse apparently ate moldy hay that some well meaning but misguided person put out for the horses.
We have only 100 horses. We cannot afford to lose a single horse from the already dwindling gene pool. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW IN CURRITUCK COUNTY TO APPROACH, PET, OR FEED A WILD HORSE. There are 100 good reasons for this.
The horses have a specialized diet that has kept them healthy for nearly five centuries. Our volunteers have found apples, carrots, celery, spinach and lettuce that is being left out or fed directly to wild horses. The other consequence of feeding is painful colic or death but that is another topic in itself.
The link to the Wild Horse Ordinance is on our home page. Spread the word. Save our wild horses. Respect the Wild Horse Ordinance.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
APRIL IS VOLUNTEER MONTH
We started out the month with the loss of a six year stallion. Someone hit him on the beach during the night and left him to suffer. What an incredible act of cowardice. These horses have a will to live that has no equal. He stood, broken, for hours upon hours, shaking from the effort. Again, there were volunteers there to help watch over him, provide support to me, and to bury him after he was humanely euthanized.
The Wild Horse Museum is open year round and April has been a very busy month. We are so grateful for volunteers like Fran Green, Mary Riley, Terry Bell, Barbara Burke, Betty Lane, and Judie Miller who got us through the week before and after Easter.
Speaking of Easter break, someone plowed their vehicle into the gate by the ramp to the beach, completely destroying it. John Doub and Greg Wilson came to the rescue. John donated a brand new stainless steel 18 foot gate and Greg installed it.
Last week, one of our members from Wilmington, DE, arrived for a week with his two daughters during their spring break. They spent three days of their “vacation” crossing things off our long “to do” list. Todd Zeisloft and daughters Morgan and Erin, donated nearly 20 hours apiece. As a result, we have 20 additional wooden horses attached to the trees for our children’s painting activity, fence on the north beach was repaired, inventory was taken, and 52 wooden horses got painted.
More examples of the way in which many wonderful people open up their hearts to help us care for and watch over the horses:
• Bob Green, who has taken the responsibility of scheduling Sanctuary Patrol Officers off Denise’s and my plates.
• Sanctuary Patrol Officers like Brian O’Connor, Bob Green, Kimberlee Hoey, Betty Lane, Sally Baron, Sally Wright, Jennifer Flannigan, and Dottie McGuire who have already given countless hours educating visitors and it isn’t even summer yet.
• Karen Lockwood, who is donating her beautifully hand painted wine glasses for sale in our stores.
• Bob and Kathy Schultz, Lynne Wilson, Kimberlee Hoey, Karen Lockwood, Roy and Fran Hamilton, Fran Green, Mary Riley, Walter Stiff, Betty Lane, Marie Baecher who are leading the planning efforts for our major July 7, 8, 9, fundraiser, Wild Horse Days. There will be host of others in the days before, during, and after who will help with set up, food preparation, activities, and clean up.
• Wrangler Farms owners and staff for all the extra things they do for our horses that reside there.
• Our Board: President: Kimberlee Hoey; VP: Mary Kolliner; Treasurer: Karen Gresham, Secretary: Mary Riley; and members Lynne Wilson; Dr. John Sangenario; Matthew Hewes; Sharon Twiddy; Steve Edwards; and Vance Aydlett.
• A special thanks to board member Steve Edwards for promoting the value of the Colonial Spanish Mustang and the need to protect and preserve the breed, in so many meaningful ways.
We will be honoring the many contributions of ALL our volunteers with a picnic at Wrangler Farms on May 3rd. We will also be celebrating the first birthday of our little filly, Corolla’s Grace, daughter of Swimmer. It is a small gesture in view of the enormous contributions of all those who help in so many different ways. On behalf of Denise, myself, and the horses we love so much – I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Karen McCalpin, Executive Director
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Spring is Here!
The Corolla Wild Horses are celebrating the arrival of spring by trading their coarse winter coats for a sleeker, more beautiful and shiny appearance. They roll in the sand to groom themselves, and when they are finished, the transformation is amazing. Thanks to visiting Elon University student interns Travis and Katie, our Schoolhouse grounds look beautiful also with fresh flowers, fresh paint and a much needed cleanup! Come join us April 10th at Currituck Heritage Park for the annual Easter Eggstravaganza, which will take place from 1:00-3:00 on the grounds of the Whalehead Club. Kids' activities will include an Easter Egg hunt, photos with the Easter Bunny, and a visit from a real Colonial Spanish Mustang! Unlike the wild horses on the beach, you can pet this gentled horse while you find out more about saving this critically endangered breed. Then come see us at the Schoolhouse on Tuesday April 14th for horse painting! This wildly popular activity is for kids of all ages. Wooden horses can be painted for a nominal fee between the hours of 10:00 and 3:00. And last but not least check out our website for information on our 3rd Annual Photo Contest! Enter up to three photos for judging--winners are published in the Corolla Wild Horse Fund official calendar! Entry Forms and Rules are available online or at the Schoolhouse. All proceeds from activities benefit the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. For more info visit: www.corollawildhorses.org
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
They're coming...!
The weather is still cold here at the Old Schoolhouse in Corolla, NC but each day it seems more and more visitors are arriving to see what treasures can be found on this sandy coastline. The staff is putting plans together for this Summer's list of programs and activities. And it doesn't matter if you've been here fifteen times or if you're planning your first, we'll have something new for everyone. The paint, brushes and smocks will be ready for horse painters and our pony pen polished and ready for the weekly visit of a gentled wild mustang. You can check our website (www.corollawildhorses.org) for weekly activity schedules, but year-round the Schoolhouse in Old Corolla Village is the place to learn about the Wild Colonial Spanish Mustangs of the Currituck Outer Banks. Open 10-4 Monday through Friday.
It is believed that the Corolla Wild Horses have roamed the barrier islands of the Outer Banks for the past four centuries. Brought here by early explores, these horses are descendants of Spanish Mustangs.
A proclamation stating that Corolla's Wild Horses are one of North Carolina's most significant historic and cultural resources of the coastal area was signed in 1955 by the North Carolina State Secretary of the Department of Cultural Resources. They are a site not to be missed!
Historical Records
The following historical information and records are abridged from the Corolla Wild Horse Fund website. They originate from sailing journals archived in England and Spain and authored by Dale Burrus, a lifelong Outer Banks resident.
Accounts of Spanish explorations and colonization attempts in the early 1500's state that Spanish Barb and Arabian horses were imported. The colony failed and the Spaniards retreated to their stronger holdings in Florida. The circumstances of the retreat, manner of travel and the coastal topography offer a combination of events conducive to the establishment of feral herds along the barrier islands. Present day Corolla wild horses carry the distinguishing features of Spanish type horses. One striking similarity to the Arabian ancestry is the number of vertebra (one less than most breeds) which occurs in the Banker Horse Breed. Their even temperament, endurance, size, and the startling beauty which crops up frequently in the Banker Horses all point strongly to their dramatic history. They are the remnants of once numerous herds of Spanish stock which ran free along the sandy islands of the North Carolina coast. The Spanish Mustang Registry is satisfied that the Banker Horses, in particular the Corolla strain, are as lineally pure to the 16th century Spanish importations as can be found in North America today, and that they compare closely to the selectively bred South American Spanish derivative stock.
Lucas Vasquez de Allyon’s Expeditions
The Spaniards had trouble with the Indians. It seems they were taking Indian children as slaves and sending them to the West Indies. There was a great Indian uprising led by Corees and the Spaniards were forced to flee to stronger Spanish holdings in Florida, leaving behind all their livestock. (Circa 1521)
Richard Greenville’s Expeditions
On June 23 Greenville's expedition encountered the shoals of a headland which they believed to be, and most probably was Cape Fear. Rounding the shoals with difficulty, they anchored the next day in a harbor which is likely to have been that of Beaufort, North Carolina. They were now clearly probing the coast closely. On June 26, they came to an inlet through the Carolina Banks, called Wococon, which is about in the middle of the present Portsmouth Island. Commanders Lane, of Greenville's expedition stated in his journal, that all their ships went aground on the shallow bar, but were floated off without too much difficulty. However, damage to one of the ships caused a severe blow to the intended colony, since all the corn, salt, meal, rice, biscuits, and other provisions were destroyed or damaged by the salt water. Livestock was either lost, or swam ashore. This was a first and salutary example of the dangers which threatened shipping along this most risky stretch of coast.
John Lawson’s Observations: Early 1700’s
A quote from an English historian, John Lawson says, “The horses are well-shaped and swift. The best of them would sell for ten or twelve pounds in England. They prove excellent drudges, and will travel incredible journeys. They are troubled with very few distempers, neither do the cloudy-faced gray horses go blind here as in Europe. As for sprains, splints and ringbones, they are here never met withal, as I can learn.
Were we to have our stallions and choice of mares from England, or any other of a good sort, and careful to keep them on the highlands, we could not fail of a good breed; but having been supplied with our first horses from the neighboring plantations, which were but mean, they do not as yet come up to the Excellency of the English horses; thou we generally find that the colts exceed in beauty and strength...."
Edmund Ruffin’s Report on Banker Horses: Mid-1800’s
Ruffin said that all of the horses in use on the reef, and on many of the nearest farms on the mainland are of these previously wild “banks “horses. He described them as "all of small size, with rough shaggy coats, and long manes; their hoofs in many cases grow to unusual lengths, they are capable of great endurance of labor and hardship, and live so roughly that any others from abroad seldom live a year on such food and other such great exposure. By the same token, he said when the banks horses were removed to the mainland, away from the salt marshes, many die before learning to eat grain or other strange provider, while other injure or kill themselves in struggling in vain efforts to break through the stables or enclosures in which they are subsequently confined. The horses fed entirely on the coarse salt grasses of the marshes and supply their want of fresh water by pawing away the sand deep enough to reach the fresh water which oozes into the excavation, and which reservoir serves for this use while it remains open".
Federal Writers Project: Late 1930’s
In 1939 a book was compiled and written by the Federal Writers Project of the Federal Works Agency Work Projects Administration for the state of North Carolina. They write "On Cape Hatteras, wildlife is abundant. For years herds of wild horses, cattle, and hogs ranged at will, until the Federal Program of Sand Fixation by Grass Plantings necessitated a strict stock law. In 1938, the county placed a bounty on the few remaining wild horses, traditional descendants of Barbary horses brought over by the Raleigh colonists or saved from wrecked Portuguese ships.
Spanish Mustang Registry Observation: Early 1980’s
In more remote areas of the Outer Banks, some of the pure “Banker Horses” were able to survive. In June, 1982, members of the Spanish Mustang Registry came to the Outer Banks and "due to feats of great endurance", were able to observe the last known bands of “Banker Horses” still existing in the natural state as they have been for the past 500 years - on the Currituck Outer Banks.
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November 2008 Newsletter (PDF)
Corolla Wild Spanish Mustang's Future at Risk (PDF)
We sponsor the Corolla Wild Horse Fund to help keep our friends WILD & FREE
http://www.corollawildhorses.com/history.html