Croatoan is a wild stallion captured in March of 2007. He is about 12 years old. He was remarkably easy to train to saddle. He was ridden in the 2007 Christmas Parade by a 10 year old rider. His fast trot is more pleasant to ride than the canter of many modern horses that I have ridden. He is 13.2 hands and carries my 230 lbs frame with no difficulty. I rode him 25 miles the last Friday in July, with about 18 of those miles trotting. He has produced some beautiful colts this summer.
Sampson came to us when he was in his second year. He was 13.2 hands and has grown a full hand in the past year. He has a super slow lope that he falls into as the other horses trot or gait. He is handling long trail rides better than any of the horses. All of our Corollas and Shacklefords are now under saddle except for two, Secotan and Red Feather. Red Feather is the only Corolla that I have seen that has been difficult to train. Trade Wind, a five year old stallion, gaits at a very fast speed. His peculiar gait is more Paso-like than the others. Manteo, the little black stallion is ridden many miles each week by young riders.
Wanchese is a Shackleford stallion that we obtained last spring. His athleticism stands out even as he grazes. All four of these stallions are so gentle and well trained that they are ridden weekly in long rides with several mares.
On July 4, 2008 we carried two Corolla stallions and two geldings down to Duck, N.C. for the Parade. Only Croatoan had ever seen a parade before. Their behavior was perfect.
They are not sprinters. They are tireless, healthy, have remarkable hooves, and have the personality of milk goats. Throw in the fact that their gaits are as smooth as glass and these nearly extinct horses are everything that I am looking for in a horse.
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