A Good Cause

While reading our River Bend email list tonight, I came across this email forwarded to the group by a fellow River-Bender. It's about the wild horses on Corolla. It includes links to visit, including one where you can sign an e-petition in support of the horses. It strikes close to my heart since Bart is such a lover of horses. I have been wanting to take him out to see the wild horses. I hope I still will be able to in the future. (That's Bart above at age 4 with his favorite toy, "Silverhorn" the horse).

> Subject: Corolla wild horses facing genetic crisis
> Date: Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:46:53 -0400
>
> Please spread the word. This isn't just a nameless, faceless herd, this is
> a part of history, personified by my own Corolla Banker Horses, Black Bart
> and Mini Vinnie. Bart and Vinnie came to live with us in July, and they are
> truly amazing horses - Bart is an intact stallion, caught from the wild on
> May 6 when he was seriously injured, and he's one of the most docile, most
> agreeable and most trainable horses I've ever encountered - of any breed,
> any gender. Vinnie is a little character, two years old, smart, funny, full
> of mischief with with a mind like a steel trap. This herd is one of the
> oldest - possibly THE oldest surviving Colonial Spanish herd from the era of
> the Conquistadors. They have made their home on the NC Outer Banks for over
> 500 years - we don't want to lose them now.
>
> From Karen McAlpin, Director of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund:
>
> "I wanted to make you all aware of what is shaping up to be the most
> critical issue ever faced by the wild horses of Corolla. They have survived
> centuries of hurricanes, nor'easters, insects, droughts, floods, and
> development - but they will not continue to survive if USFWS and the NC
> Estuarine Research Reserve continue to insist on a herd size of 60. Recent
> DNA testing has indicated a high level of inbreeding and low genetic
> diversity - a genetic bottleneck. We need to increase the herd size to a
> healthy 120. Our request has been denied.Please go to our website for more
> information and how you can help to save these heritage Colonial Spanish
> horses. http://www.corollawildhorses.com/genetic_crisis.html . We need
> national as well as state support. I hope to have thousands of responses by
> our October 15 meeting with USFWS and NCERR. Please, don't stand by and
> allow our government to position this herd for extinction."
>
> Karen goes on to say:
>
> "Also, if you are not already aware of it, there is a move to amend the
> Unified Development Ordinance to allow commercial development in the 4 wheel
> drive area. If the genetic issue does not push the wild horses to
> extinction, this surely will. It is scheduled for the November 17 BOC
> meeting. If ever there was a time to speak up for the horses - this is it -
> not after they are gone. First commercialization, then - a road. For more
> information go to: http://www.northernouterbanks.blogspot.com/ "
>
> You can also sign an e-petition at
> http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/SaveTheWildHorsesOfCorolla/index.html
>
> My boys will never return to the beach, but I'm sure they appreciate
> anything you can do for their relatives. I know that I sure will.
>
> Thanks for your help, and please forward this. Their time could be running
> out.
>
>
> Karen Thomas, NC