Guest Post: Outer Banks Photographer Stumbles Upon Wild Horses

Posted on June 21, 2011

This past Saturday, we had the Seaside Vacations’ photographer cruising around in the 4×4 area snapping some fab photos of Sail Away, a gorgeous 9 bedroom home 8 miles down the beach!

While she was out there, she stumbled upon a group of the OBX wild horses, and she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to capture the moment. Below is a recent post from her blog, Drama Train.

Thanks for the great pictures and great blog post Whitney!

She’s a wild one

The Outer Banks is one of the strangest places on earth. Where else do you drive 8+ miles on the beach to get to your gorgeous million dollar vacation home (or slightly less expensive year-round home) all while dodging other vehicles, dogs, children, grown men acting like children & wild horses?! Carova beach is one of the strangest and coolest places on earth, I’m sure of it. Even though I have spent my entire life living here I still find myself in awe staring at those amazing giant creatures (the wild horses, not the grown men that have had one too many brewskies doing the macarena in the shore break) just walking up and down the beach living their lives even though humans have taken much of it from them. I was “working” down there this weekend so I had the opportunity to whip my camera out and take a few shots of them walking past my car. Remember if you’re ever vacationing down in Carova, North Carolina please stay 50 feet+ away from the horses, it was their beach first. ENJOY & SMILE…

Whitney Norko Photography - Outer Banks Wild Horses

The Whalehead Club Easter Egg Hunt

Posted on April 22, 2011

What better way to get out and enjoy Good Friday than a good old fashioned Easter egg hunt? We hit the road down to Corolla today to check out the Whalehead Club’s Easter extravaganza to get us in the Easter spirit and let you guys be part of the action.

From horseback riding, to sack races to the Easter Bunny, everyone seemed to be having a great time and enjoying the beautiful scenery the club has to offer. We got some great pictures and video and are excited to share it with you.

Have a great Easter and keep watching for more videos on all the fun things to do on your Outer Banks vacation!

Outer Banks “Night at the Races”

Posted on March 7, 2011

Outer Banks - Night at the Races - 2011

Great food, great friends, and a great cause!

Get a group together and join the Corolla Wild Horse Fund, as they present their 2^nd Annual Night at the Races. The event will host former Jockey, Jeffrey Carle, for a fun-filled night including heavy hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, prizes, raffles and more.

With 100% of the proceeds benefiting the Colonial Spanish Mustangs, come out and help keep them wild and free.

Wild Horse Days on the Outer Banks

Posted on July 7, 2010

Outer Banks Wild Horses - Mare & Two Foals

Sponsored by the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. Wild Horse Days celebrates the presence and significance of the wild Colonial Spanish Mustangs living on the Currituck Outer Banks.

Activities will take place at the Wild Horse Museum, Currituck Heritage Park, and the Corolla Light Town Center.

Tuesday, July 6: Starting at 10 a.m. at the Wild Horse Museum:
Games and painting activities for kids of all ages; see beautiful silver jewelry being crafted by a local artisan, Lynne Wilson; enjoy a variety of food and sweet treats; wine tasting for adults; vote for your favorite wild horse photo for the 2012 calendar; hair braiding and face painting; live music; carriage rides.

Wednesday, July 7: Starting at 10 a.m. at Currituck Heritage Park:

10 a.m to 11 a.m.. – Kids (or adults!) ride the North Carolina State Horse,
the Colonial Spanish Mustang
11 – 11:20 Police K9 unit demonstration
11:20 – 11:45 Dressage demo on Cayuse Gold, a Colonial Spanish Mustang
11:45 – 12:15 Wild Horse Training demo by Mill Swamp Indian Horses
12:15 – 1:15 Colonial Spanish Mustang rides
1:15 – 1:35 Dressage demo
1:35 – 2:05 Wild Horse Training demo
2:05 – 3:00 Colonial Spanish Mustang rides

Animal Lover’s Assistance League will have adorable, adoptable pets.

Wednesday, July 7: Starting at 11 a.m. at Corolla Light Town Center:
Giant silent auction with over $10,000 worth of merchandise. Just to name a few:

One week at an oceanfront beach house in Whalehead ($3450 value)
Two night stay plus breakfast at the Hilton Garden Inn ($500 value)
Wine Tasting for up to 18 people from Native Vine ($360 value)
Green fees for four at the Currituck Club ($400 value)
Portrait session and one 11×14 canvas portrait from Lorenz Fine Photography
($545 value)
Restaurant gift certificates from North Banks, Route 12, Mike Dianna’s Grill Room,
La Dolce Vita, Flying Dutchman and more
Gift certificates from Ocean Treasures, Farmer’s Daughter and more
Gift baskets from Bacchus, Corolla Wine Cigar and Gourmet, Lovie’s Kitchen
Lots of horse related items including a horse quilt from The Cotton Gin ($300 value), Barbara Livingston horse photos, ceramic horse lamp from Dolphin Watch Gallery

Games for children, music.

Thursday, July 8: Starting at 10 a.m. at the Wild Horse Museum:
Games and painting activities for kids of all ages; see beautiful silver jewelry being crafted by
a local artisan, Lynne Wilson; enjoy a variety of food and sweet treats; wine tasting for adults; vote for your favorite wild horse photo for the 2012 calendar: hair braiding and face painting; music; carriage rides; pet a gentled Mustang.

Call 252-453-8002 for more information.

Outer Banks Wild Horse Tours Could Be Limited

Posted on July 7, 2010

Outer Banks Wild Horses

The Outer Banks wild horses are one of the most popular OBX attraction, and Currituck County is considering the possibility of limit professional tours to see the wild horses.

Currently, there are eight companies operating tours that are comprised of 45 vehicles with the capacity to carry as many as 324 people. Permitted tour businesses include a golf cart tour in Corolla, two kayak tours along the Currituck Sound shoreline, and two Segway tours. In addition, a company with two 24-person buses is seeking a permit.

The drawback is that County Commissioners are finding it difficult to keep track of these budding businesses, and as a result, they are considering a moratorium on new horse tours to give an opportunity to assess the number of people on the tours and the number of vehicles.

The Outer Banks is one of the few locations to glimpse the magic of wild horses, and a balance must be struck between allowing access to these gorgeous animals and preserving the private setting for the horses…and the local residents.

Outer Banks Wild Horses to be Named North Carolina’s State Horse

Posted on June 7, 2010

Outer Banks Wild Horses - Mare & Two Foals

As an update to a previous post entitled Outer Banks Wild Horses to be Named State Horse, the general assembly ratified a bill last week to name the Outer Banks Wild Horses the state horse of North Carolina.

These horses are believed to be the decendants of Spanish mustangs that would have first arrived to the OBX in the 1500s. The estimated population of wild horses is somewhere around 100 mustangs in Corolla, and about 140 in Carteret County.

People who have studied these amazing animals have realized that the group that is located in Corolla splits into smaller groups of a lead stallion, a few mares and a young horse. These horses have become one of the top attractions of tourists to the Outer Banks.

The great idea to name these majestic animals the state horse was thought of by students at Shawboro Elementary School in Currituck County. The governor is expected to sign the bill into law soon.

Larger Herd for Outer Banks Wild Horses? – New Legislation Proposed

Posted on March 25, 2010

Outer Banks Wild Horses - Mare & Two Foals

The size of the herd for the Outer Banks wild horses is regulated by state legislation, and the size has been a hotly discussed topic over the years. The current legislation places the limit of horses in the herd at 60, but many believe this limit is too low to preserve the horses health and longevity.

Many horse supporters are celebrating a bill that has been introduced by US Rep Walter Jones. The legislation, introduced last Wednesday, would require Federal and State government to form a new herd of horses that should not contain less than 100 horses in the Corolla area.

According the Karen McCalpin, director of the Corolla Wild Horse fund, the herd is too small. A genetic study that was conducted by Texas A&M University determined that the herd needs more horses to avoid genetic defects and protect the herd’s health and safety in the future. McCalpin said. “On Ocracoke Island (the herd) is down to less than 20. This (bill) is going to enable us to manage the herd at a genetically healthy number. Without genetic health you don’t have physical health.”

The bill still has quite a long way to becoming law, but Walter Jones getting his foot in the door with the bill is a big step toward the health and well-being of the wild horse population on the Outer Banks.

New Pony Arrives on the Outer Banks

Posted on March 24, 2010

The Ocracoke pony herd has a new member. Paloma was born Monday morning to Spirit, who is a full-blooded Ocracoke pony. Children from the Ocracoke School named Paloma, which means “dove” in Spanish.

Ocracoke Pony

“Night at the Races” on the Outer Banks

Posted on March 15, 2010

Outer Banks Night at the Races

Regulation Starts for Outer Banks Wild Horse Tours

Posted on February 24, 2010

Outer Banks Wild Horses

As of 2010, guided tours in search of the Outer Banks wild horses will have new regulations to comply with. Tours to see the OBX wild horses will be required to have permits, a guide, and a sign on the tour vehicle. Commissioners approved the requirements in September.

Two nonprofit companies have been issued their permits over the last week and four others have applied. In the past, driving in this area has been considered a nuisance to many residents of the Carova area, reporting trespassing and reckless driving. The goal of the newly adopted regulations is to increase safety for all the residents of the area, including the horses.

As a membership benefit, the Corolla Wild Horse Fund plans to offer a private tour in one vehicle driven by herd manager Wesley Stal-lings, “You’re going with the guy who sees these horses on a daily basis,” said Karen McCalpin, director of the nonprofit. “It’s almost like a National Geographic experience.”