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Monday, September 21, 2015

Wild Horses of Corolla aka Part 1 Vacation Photos

Last Tuesday I posted a WANT ad for a new assistant.  Click here if you missed it.  Well GUESS what the old gray mare aka Mom went on a mission to find me a new assistant! MOL MOL.  

They traveled to each destination via a very luxurious Motorcoach with Globe Treks....more details on this wonderful company at the end of today's post.



The first stop of their Outer Banks tour was to visit.......

Corolla Wild Horses

Descended from the Spanish Mustangs brought to the Outer Banks by early explorers, the Corolla Wild Horses have roamed across the Currituck Outer Banks for approximately 400 years. These horses are such a significant cultural and historic resource to our area that the Spanish Mustang was designated as the official state horse of North Carolina in 2010.
These wild horses roam freely in Corolla and are most commonly found in the four-wheel-drive areas of the beach. It is illegal to intentionally come within 50 feet of the horses, so that means no petting or feeding, but they can be appreciated from a distance on one of our wild horse tours. We have several tour companies that can get you within picture-taking distance while also giving you a great history lesson about the horses and the area itself.

My peeps road in a Humvee owned by Wild Horse Adventure Tours. 
 They road about 8 miles down a paved road
 all of a sudden they were on the beach riding on the sand
and for sure you needed to fasten your seat belts and enjoy the ride.

There is no stopping allowed on the beach for about a mile and a half...
once there you go behind the dunes sand paths and to find the surprise of your life..
the most gorgeous, healthy wild horses.


When the Spanish approached the NC coast 400 years ago they let the horses off the ships into shallow water.  The Spanish followed them in boats.  Once on land they found the local
natives to be unfriendly.  The Spanish got back in their boats quickly.  Horses do not get back on ships out of water so they left them on the island to survive on their own 
AND THEY DID.  They adjusted to vegetation there and found fresh water in different parts of the island where they live today.
 As you can see they are gorgeous and healthy and thriving

 The picture below is of one if the stallions...the locals call the Egret a cattle egret.
These egrets and the wild horses live quite happily together.  The horses
attract insects...the egrets follow the horses around eating the insects.




This beautiful horse walked on the right side of the humvee where Mom was sitting.
Mom said it looked up at her with the most gorgeous brown eyes!!
All of the houses on the island are built up on pilings to allow for water to run under during storms. They all have carports not garages like the house below. Several years ago the resident awoke to find a mare in their carport...she had just given birth.  The name on the house
was Sweet Caroline...so the locals named the baby Caroline.
 There was an egret just out of the photo running quickly to keep up with the handsome black stallion.  


Handsome stallion and one of his lovely ladies


look at that gorgeous flowing pony tail
 After looking over all of the applications and photos, I have decided
this handsome fellow is quite suitable to fill in for the old gray mare...MOM....the next time
she takes leave without prior approval
Mom here:  I know nothing about horses (tame or wild),.  I know they are majestic animals.
After seeing these beautiful creatures I have learned they are smart and SURVIVORS!!
They know how to look after themselves and adjust.  There are approximately 100 horses in the Corolla herd....we did not see any 'wild' (LOL) they are all very calm.  Meandering along
about their business pretty much ignoring the humvee and the cameras..  Best time to see them is early morning.  We were there around 9 am.
Ramona, my friend, these photos are for you!!! I know
you enjoyed seeing them as much as I enjoyed taking them.

ALL OF THE PHOTOS YOU SEE THIS WEEK WERE MADE POSSIBLE BY THE MOST EXCELLENT
GLOBE TREKS AND 'OUR STATE MAGAZINE'
please click on the links above to visit their websites

WE THANK MR. GREG SUTTER, tour manager and guide and owner of GLOBE TREK 
and MS. JENN WHITE, tour host and
 Sales manager of ADVERTISING 
OUR STATE MAGAZINE
We would also like to give a great big round  of applause
to Mr. Joe Warren he is the best Motorcoach Driver
we know. This motorcoach was huge!!
Bravo to you three for your
Excellent attention to details all week and herding
24 excited humans all over the Outer Banks of NC.

39 comments:

  1. Omgosh I love horses!! XXOO MaddiethePug

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  2. Didn't realise they were down there as well. SHE always wanted to go to Chincoteague for pony penning day.

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  3. Oh those horses are so beautiful. How amazing that they survived. What an interesting post.
    Cheers, Gail.

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  4. What beautiful horsies and their coats are so sleek and shiny!

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  5. We didn't know about the wild horses on the Outer Banks. We had heard about the wild ponies on Assateague Island, but that's different, isn't it?

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  6. Horses looks so healthy ! and skinny !!!!
    me must eat grass for diet !

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  7. Oh I am so jealous that you got to do that. Those horses do look wonderful What fun to see them all. I really enjoyed the pictures. You know that horses are my first love. Just gotten too old to take care of them. The donkeys make a good substitute. That was fun seeing all that.

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  8. Amazing photos of those horses. They just look so healthy for being out there on their own. Thank you for sharing.

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  9. THANK YOU! You do know me Cecilia. What a wonderful tour. How I wish we were closer.

    Beautiful animals and I'm so thrilled they are protected and taken care of.

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  10. that is a beauty of a tour bus and just riding in the humvee on the beach would be and adventure. add in the horses you saw and that is a tour i would take. i don't usually do guided tours, but the horse tour i would... My friend Rich has a close friend that live on that island in a stilt home.

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  11. Very cool post Madi's Mom! Love the pictures and the horses are beautiful. Looks nice and green there too!

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  12. Those horses are just gorgeous and it sure looks like a fun place to visit!

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    Replies
    1. HEY MADI!
      WOW, THOSE HORSES ARE TOTALLY GORGEOUS! MY MOM IS LOVING THE PIX. I BET IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE THOSE AMAZING MUSTANGS LIVE AND IN THE FURS AND IN THE WILD. THANKS BUNCHES FOR LETTING US SEE THESE!
      GRR AND WOOF,
      SARGE, POLICE COMMISH


      PeeS: I couldn't seem to find your regular comment box, so I'm leaving this as a reply to your last commenter. BOL/MOL

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  13. Oh my, horses are such beautiful creatures. How wonderful that they get to live free and wild on the outer banks. Such a beautiful setting to see such beautiful creatures.
    Oz

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  14. Hari OM
    Madi, I think you have chosen a good looking non-mare for your sub-assist!!! Meanwhile, thank you for letting mum share the joy of her wonderful, amazing, astonishing trip!!! Hugs and whiskeries, YAM-aunty xxx

    Pee ess - I know you don't check the writery blog so much, but again today would be a good day... jus' hintin'....

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  15. It's so fascinating to see those wild horses. Love it
    Snorts,
    Lily & Edward

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  16. WOWOWOWOW!!! Our Mama is jumping up and down in her seats over these beautimous photos!! We love the horse egrets...all the horsies and Mama wishes HER pony tail was half as nice as those ponies tails are!!
    What a lovely tour...thanks to your Mama for taking us along!
    Smileys!
    Dory, Jakey, Arty & Bilbo

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  17. Those are amazing photos and we loved hearing all about your trip!

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  18. Looks like a grreat trip! What pretty horsies. I would've had fun playing with them.

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  19. Looks like a grreat trip! What pretty horsies. I would've had fun playing with them.

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  20. What an absolutely pawsome trip. The horses are beautiful to say the least.
    hugs
    Mr Bailey, Hazel & mabel

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  21. How we enjoyed learning about this beautiful place filled with those gorgeous BIG DOGS!!! Mom says she would like to vacation in that gorgeous house too:) Thanks for sharing - the horses are just beautiful.

    Woos - Ciara and Lightning

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  22. The horses look lovely and healthy. We have Dartmoor ponies running wild on the moors here and people can be fined if caught feeding them because it encourages them onto the roads. They still do it though.
    Looks like a lovely trip.

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  23. What a cool post. Mom loves the Outer Banks.

    The Florida Furkids

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  24. Hi! Sammy (actually, Pam) sent me the link to this blog post. My hubby (Motor Man) and I live in southeast Virginia, but we own a beach house in the Outer Banks. A few years ago, after discovering the wild horses, we bought a 4 wheel drive vehicle just so we could drive up on the beach. If you'd like to see some of my photos, I'd love to have you stop by my blog. There's a category just for the wild horses.
    Those horses are nothing less than amazing -- so beautiful.
    Dianna

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  25. Oh what a lovely lot of horses! They are beautiful! We see horses round here. They are ridden up and down the road. xxxx

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  26. madi....how kewl iz thiz....glad yur mom & dad hada awesum time N we hope they sneeked a poneez home for ewe !! ♥♥♥

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  27. They are truly magnificent animals. Lee has always enjoyed riding and where the BAR is meeting has wonderful horse trails having ridden there many times since it is just 135 miles from our door. Lee's grandfather had the only truly match set in Warren County for years. We would love to see the Corolla Wild Horses, it is wonderful they are protected.
    Thanks for being a friend
    Sweet William The Scot

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  28. I agree that they don't look wild. That is amazing that they manage to survive out there. I am so jealous that Flat Sammy got to see them instead of me :)

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  29. The tour photos did not disappoint!! What lovely photos of the horses, sand, and houses!
    Looks like your assistant is doing a good job since she got home, too. MOL!
    >>Smoochies<< from your besties at Angel Prancer Pie.

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  30. Gweat fotos. Weez luv da horses. Have a pawsum day.

    Luv ya'

    Dezi and Lexi

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  31. Looks like a fun trip! The Mom says she's seen "wild" horses on Cumberland Island in Georgia before. They are very beautiful. Thanks for sharing these photos with us!

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  32. Oh we love seeing the horses! What a fun trip.

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  33. I've seen the island, but we didn't have time to take a tour that day. We definitely go back for a tour. The horses are beautiful! Love the Sweet Caroline story. I believe there's a song called Sweet Caroline.
    This is a good time of year to head over to the coast since it's cooling off.
    Glad you enjoyed yourself! I know you must miss Madi so much when you're away. :)
    hugs,
    Marie

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  34. Our Mom thinks the horse is the most beautiful and awesome animal on the planet. So, why is she afraid of them?

    Hugs, Laila, your LLS and Minchie your BFF

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  35. Whut beeyoutifull horses!! Whut a fun trip fur yer Momma!

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  36. That looks like it was a great trip. Our mom would love to see those horses too.

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Please leave a meow or bark for Angel Madi...her assistant (aka Mom) will respond in a timely fashion. =^..^=
Life is short, spend it with those who make you laugh
“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.” (Leo F. Buscaglia)
TONS OF HUGS
Cecilia and Angel Madi
Email: candb214@att.net