Wild Horses of Corolla In the past these wild horses have roamed freely around Corolla and much of Currituck Banks north of Southern Shores. Before N.C. Hwy. 12 was extended from Southern Shores north to Corolla, this village and its lighthouse were more remote than the northernmost reaches of Currituck Banks around Carova are today. Like Carova and the other northern beach communities of today, Corolla was then reached only by boat or by driving up the beach for many miles. But now there are paved roads and thousands of homes on Currituck Banks north of Southern Shores, up to Corolla. It was this explosion of population and traffic which eventually forced the wild horses north, for their own safety, into a protected area away from highways and speeding cars. Sunrise illuminates the fence at Corolla that stretches into the ocean. Just north of Corolla, where Hwy. 12 ends in a 4WD ramp onto the beach, there is a fence that stretches from the ocean to the sound. Its purpose is to keep the horses from wandering south onto the roads where they, like wayward deer, could be hit by cars. North of this fence only 4WD vehicles can make it up the beach past wildlife reserves to reach the communities of homes that have spread northward to the Virginia state line. It is here, around Swan Beach at Penny's Hill, and North Swan Beach, and Carova that these wild horses continue to run free. The herd is now being managed with a plan to limit their number to about 60 horses. These horses may be seen roaming freely along the dirt roads, on the beach, or in people's yards. It's easy to drive right past them foraging in the trees and not even notice them. It is not so difficult to see the wild horses for yourself, if you have a 4WD. If not, there is always a very small chance some might be spotted near the fence on the beach north of Corolla, just at the end of Hwy. 12. But on any given day that chance is very slim. Another option is to take one of the off-road guided tours available to get you up the beach to see some of these wild horses. The best bet, though, is to take a 4WD and go yourself. If you know where to look, there is a very good chance you will see at least one group of 3 to 5 horses. The farther north you go, the more likely you will see some on the beach, or grazing on the dunes in view of the beach. If you don't see them on the beach, you will need to go exploring on the back roads. These roads are strictly dirt and sand. Although many sections of these roads are well packed dirt, and can easily be driven in 2-wheel drive, they can change to deep sand at any point. There are no ditches here, so large, very large, puddles abound. Judicious caution should be used when traveling these roads. Usually there is a sandy path around the worst of the puddles, worn to one side of the road or the other to bypass the water. Depending upon how much rain has fallen in recent days, the puddles may be quite easily driven through, but they might also be deep enough to drown out the engine. It's wise to err on the side of caution. The driver of the big SUV in this photo was not so prudent and quickly succumbed to the hidden danger of the large puddles you can find on the sand and dirt roads around Carova. One puddle can be six inches deep, and the very next one can be two or three feet deep. You cannot tell by just looking. If you see someone else drive through safely, you could chance following their path, but only if you have a real 4WD off-road vehicle. Otherwise, the best advice is "don't try it." Driving these roads and looking for these wonderful wild horses can be a real adventure. But keep in mind that though these are "public" roads for the most part, some are not. The public roads and the private roads all look the same here, so you need to be mindful of signs indicating private drives and roads. Respect the local residents postings indicating private areas. There is room enough for hours of exploring the public paths without trespassing.      Drive slowly, and take time to look carefully down side roads at each intersection to watch for horses in the distance. Keeping an eye out for horse droppings along the roads will clue you in to where they have been recently. This kind of attention to detail will give you the best chance of spotting the horses. It's mostly common sense. If you're in a hurry, you simply don't need to be wandering around on these winding back roads. Besides, many of these "roads" are one-lane paths, and you may go around a curve to find another vehicle coming the other way. So take it slowly. Patience and vigilance will most likely reward you with several opportunities to watch these horses in the wild. Tips on finding the horses, and what to expect going up the beach to Carova are next. Then there is the "Wild Horse Gallery", with many great photos. Next page, > Finding the wild horses The Wild Horses of Corolla Finding the Wild Horses of Corolla The Wild Horses of Corolla in Pictures Gallery of WIld Horses of Corolla Related Links - Corolla Wild Horse Fund Wild Horses of Corolla Photo Gallery - Page One Page Two Page Three Find out what's going on in Currituck at MyCurrituck.com Beach Ramp access map and information   Copyright © 2003 Fred Hurteau * Copyright information and image use policy * To request 6 megapixel digital images for publication, go to the Gallery. Visit these other web sites by Fred Hurteau