This week has been rough due to biting flies and a west wind driving the horses out of more secluded areas and onto the beach. This unfortunately draws quite a crowd, especially near the southern barrier fence. We’ve been struggling to keep horses and people safe the last few days, and meeting quite a lot of resistance from folks who are walking onto the 4x4 beach from Corolla.
You must stay at least 50ft away from the horses at all times, but it also goes against the ordinance to “subject to conditions detrimental to its health or general welfare any wild horse within a wild horse sanctuary.” Crowding, pressuring, and following horses on the beach in these conditions is detrimental to their health and welfare, regardless of how far away from them you are.
If our staff asks you to move away and give the horses more space, they are doing so not just to keep the horses safe, but to keep you safe too. Walking amongst these horses with no way to protect yourself is incredibly dangerous. The horses are already irritated due to the flies, they are extremely protective of their foals, and it’s breeding season. You have no way to know that there isn’t a rival stallion just on the other side of the dunes, and in a split second you could end up in the middle of a fight with nowhere to go.
Becoming belligerent and cursing at our staff on top of pestering the living snot out of these horses is a surefire way to get the cops called on you. We won’t tolerate it and neither will the sheriff’s department. Citations have been issued.
We know that the majority of people who read our posts and follow us on social media aren’t the ones out there behaving like this, but this is the best way for us to get the word out. Please share if you are a member of any relevant OBX groups, tell your friends and family who may be coming to visit, and please immediately call 252-453-3633 to report infractions and dangerous behavior.
