At times the wild Spanish mustangs of Corolla have to be captured for medical treatment. When it is necessary for the Corolla Wild Horse Fund to do so, the horse may not be returned to the wild. The risk, however slight, that it could bring back a germ that would erase one of only two herds of wild Spanish mustangs east of the Mississippi is too great a risk to take.
We rehabilitate and train these horses and breed them domestically, not as a replacement for the wild herd, but as a safety net in the event that the wild herd is destroyed by bureaucrats, developers, or a natural catastrophe. The off site breeding program is designed to insure that these horses, which are the state horse of North Carolina and are among the rarest and oldest distinct genetic grouping of American horses, will always be with us.
This is Croatoan, an older wild stallion that was removed from the wild because he was swimming out to areas where he could be struck by a car. He is typical of the Corollas in that he is so gentle natured that, although an older stallion when captured, he is ridden by beginners and small children.
He has fathered some beautiful foals, including Mokete, the first pure Corolla produced in the offsite breeding program. (He has also produced some spectacular 1/2 Corolla foals that are great horses but are not part of the off site breeding program because their mothers are modern horses.)
We have horses available for placement to those who wish to participate in the off site breeding program. In addition, we offer the free breeding services of our stallions to outside mares. All Corollas and Shacklefords are eligible to be registered in the Horse of the Americas Registry. Any offspring of my stallions that are not from draft stock mares can be registered with the American Indian Horse Registry.
Exactly what can one expect from a Corolla Colonial Spanish mustang? I can only speak from experience. They are the easiest horses to train with which I have ever worked. They are strong, easy keeping horses with incredible endurance. Many of our horses have completed rides of 50 miles in a day.
Tradewind, the 2011 Horse of the Americas Registry's National Pleasure Trail Horse of the Year, is a 12.2 stallion, weighing 626 pounds in peak condition. In 2011 he carried me 206 hours in the woods, the vast majority of those hours either trotting or cantering. This does not include the many hours that others rode him on the trails.At the time my weight was from 212 to 222 pounds. He did so even though he was captured because he was utterly crippled with founder. He is now wonderfully recovered and has produced two beautiful colts.
Look back over the stats in the paragraph above. Most people who are only familiar with modern horses would think these achievements are impossible. I am afraid that they would be impossible with most modern horses. In reality, he is typical of the horses of Corolla.
If you are thinking about getting a horse don't settle for second, or third or fifth best. Become part of the Corolla offsite breeding program and ride a spectacular, and nearly extinct, horse.
If you would like to come and ride with us and see what these horses are like just send me an email.
Extinction lasts forever and the clock is ticking.
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