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 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.

New Outer Banks Wild Horse Study

Posted on September 23, 2009

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A study to determine the effects of Corolla’s wild horses on the forests and wetlands of Eastern North Carolina will begin in early 2010. The study will span about two years and will be conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and North Carolina State University.

The researchers will explore the affects of grazing mammals – horses, feral pigs and deer – on the maritime forests, marshland and wet meadows within the study area by monitoring enclosures in which each of the species has been excluded. One fenced area, which has already been developed, excludes all three species.

The current wild horse herd count is around 100, 40 more than the number stated in a 1999 management plan. The Corolla Wild Horse Fund, set up 1989 by concerned citizens to heighten awareness of the presence of the wild horses in the area, is growing increasingly concerned about maintaining genetic diversity in the herd. The group unsuccessfully petitioned the Fish and Wildlife Service last year to increase the herd size further to at least 120 to boost the gene pool.

New Law Restricts Human Contact with Wild Horses

Posted on July 14, 2009

2 Black Wild Horses

A new ordinance has been enacted that restricts visitors to North Carolina’s Outer Banks from approaching the wild horses in Corolla.

The Currituck Board of Commissioners adopted a new ordinance last week which requires that people stay 50 feet away from these horses.

A law that was passed in 1989, restricted people within 50 feet of a horse while trying to feed the animal. The new ordinance restricts any contact with the horses at all.

County officials have reported complaints this year concerning people mounting their children on the horses and taking pictures. They have also reported that a women walked with the herd and disregarded warnings from officials. This law will help Currituck County ensure the horses’ safety.

Outer Banks Students Hope to Help the Wild Horses

Posted on June 19, 2009

Swan Beach Herd - Swan Beach Students in Currituck and Dare counties of North Carolina’s Outer Banks have begun a letter writing campaign aimed at making the OBX wild horses the official state horse for North Carolina.

The wild horses have been on the Outer Banks for hundreds of years; it is believed they arrived with Spanish explorers, but due to increased development and a growing tourism industry, not to mention a lack of protection on a state and local government level, the horses are endangered. The students hope to help the horses survive by drawing increased attention to their plight and generate state-wide support as the official state horse.

A formal event will be held in November to hand all of the letters over to N.C. lawmakers.

Environmental Tours on the Outer Banks

Posted on January 28, 2009

In addition to world-class beaches, the Outer Banks offers an abundance of outdoor activities and gorgeous natural environments, including maritime forests and wild horses.

One popular tourist activity is to tour these natural environments to get a first-hand view of nature on OBX. These natural conservation areas are open to the public, but to get the full experience many tourists take advantage of guided tours. Some of the guided tours are taking on a futuristic appearance with off-road Segway tours! Back Country Outfitters offers Segway tours of historic Corolla Village and the Spanish Mustang Reserve.

Segways are two wheeled vehicles that allow the user to cover more ground that you could on foot. Segway Tours are growing in popularity in cities such as Paris, San Francisco, Chicago, New York. Taking a Segway tour is also an eco-friendly way to explore our beautiful coastland area. The vehicles run on electricity and produce no emissions. It only takes a few minutes to learn how to operate a Segway, and then you are free to explore!

Outer Banks Wild Horse Study

Posted on October 28, 2008

The proper size of the wild horse herd on the Outer Banks continues to be a contentious subject.

Currituck County officials, The Corolla Wild Horse Fund, and the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge have been debating the size of the herd for years. The three parties agreed on a management plan in 1999 which set the limit of wild horses to 60, but as of September the count is up to 101. The Wild Horse Fund feels the size of the herd needs to be increased to at least 120 to 130 to encourage long-term health. A recent study conducted by a genetics expert indicates that the wild horses have a low genetic diversity stemming from the breeding patterns of a small herd; this low genetic diversity can lead to defects in the future. The National Wildlife Refuge is concerned about the impact the wild horses, especially a larger herd, have on the surrounding environment.

A recent article by Jeff Hampton in the The Virginian-Pilot points out that additional science will soon be added to the debate. “The Corolla Wild Horse Fund plans to commission a study led by North Carolina State University that would examine the effect of the herd on marshes and grasses crucial to waterfowl habitat,” said Karen McCalpin, executive director of the fund. The study would also measure the impact of humans and feral hogs in the area.

Larger Herd for Outer Banks Wild Horses?

Posted on September 22, 2008

Wild horses are a rare sight in today’s day and age. The northern tip of the Outer Banks is fortunate to provide a home to 60 wild Spanish mustangs. The horses roam freely in a 12,000 acre area on the northern beaches of Corolla (Carova Beach), just south of the Virginia border.

The horses are thought to be descendents of mustangs brought to the New World by Spanish explorers. It is believed that the horses were stranded here or swam ashore during ship wrecks.

The Outer Banks wild mustangs are a major piece of Outer Banks history, culture, and economy. The horses are a large tourism draw, and offer a reminder of the significance of the Outer Banks and horses to the growth of the New World.

It is believed by many that the horses are facing increased dangers.

The Currituck Board of Commissioners is holding a meeting in October offering residents of Currituck County an opportunity to voice their concerns and advocate changes. The meeting will focus on the herd management program that critics feel is hurting the mustangs due to its lower restrictions on herd size.

The current management plan limits the herd size to 60, but many feel that restriction should be almost doubled. There is growing concern that the current restrictions may be harmful to the horses’ long-term health.

It is believed that the herd has survived on inbreeding. This inbreeding has not adversely affected the mustangs’ beauty or health yet, but over time, this inbreeding could lead to a wide variety of issues detrimental to the mustangs’ health and wellbeing.

Horse advocates are asking that the management plan be amended to allow the herd to grow to 110 mustangs. In addition, it is recommended that an exchange program be set up with the wild horses on Shackleford Banks. The Shackleford Banks horses have the same genetic makeup as the Corolla horses, and surprisingly that herd is 120 strong covering only 3,000 acres. It is suggested that several mares and stallions be exchanged between the herds to limit inbreeding and protect the overall health of the herd.