A Mothers Love

Matoaka was taken from the beach at four months old. She was originally named Barb because she had fish hooks in her ear. They were removed and she was put up for adoption.

She was taken from her mother at a young age. When she came to my place she was pushed out of the herd by my mare Honey. Honey wouldn't allow her to eat, drink, or even come close to any of the other animals. Over time they came to love and rely on each other much like a foal does to their mother. The bond between them is very strong. Nothing comes between them.

Honey would throw herself through an electric fence if Matoaka was in any trouble. She hates it when I take Matoaka away which is a bit of a problem. But as soon as Matoaka is back Honey becomes her old, grouchy, pushy self. She bites, kicks and runs Matoaka away. But sometimes, like when it rains Matoaka will be standing with her head under Honey's letting her block the cold and rain.

That will show you better than anything a mothers love.

They Don't Know They Are There

I was really young when I first saw the Corollas. They were the horses that first sparked my interest in those big four legged animals. I carried a want for a horse for a while.

On June 24, 2006 I climbed into a truck very angry that I was going to have to go to the Indian Horse Festival knowing that my want for a horse would only increase. I saw many horses and one I even came to own for two years.

The very first Corolla I saw at Mill Swamp Indian Horses was Manteo. I was really suprised that one of the ponies from the beaches of my home state was off the beach. I thought they were really cool and carefree horses that didn't really mean anything.

It is amazing to me that alot of people from North Carolina have no idea that there is Corolla, let alone a breed of Corolla Horses. People don't know they are there and they don't care. It is our job to help them realize that there is such a thing out there as Corolla and its own seperate breed of rare horses.

Always A Beach Pony

My little filly regularely shocks me. She is so odd at times it scares me. But one thing she loves to do, no matter what, is go over to the lake. It reminds her much of the ocean or canals at Corolla. Or at least I got that impression when I first brought her home in December and she dove into it in the 30 degree weather.

I have seen numerous pictures of the Corollas in canals during winter eating the grass that grows up. They have the thickest fur and are most tolerant for the cold water or ice.

She loves to get in the cattails and run through them getting the fuzz all over her. I have seen a Corolla in the dunes next to some wild grass that was letting off stuff all through his fur as he rubbed his head playfully in it.

Matoaka prefers to run in the thick sand rather than on the hard ground. Go to Corolla and you will see the herd running along the beach, their speed unnaffected by the sand, and there beauty as amazing as ever.

Matoaka will always remember and love the beach. The Corolla Wild Horses own that ground but due to many things in the developing enviroment around them, they are being driven from it.

They were here before us and they DESERVE to be here long after us.

This picture is of Matoaka's "Ocean."

Me and Matoaka

My name is Katelyn and I am 13. I started riding at Mill Swamp Indian Horses with Steve Edwards and his little riders at the age of 10. I had never touched a horse and the thought of being 5 feet from a wild mustang seemed so absurd. Since then I have purchased an amazing 8 year old paint mare named Honey and a 1 ½ year old Corolla Filly, Matoaka. Introduced to the Corolla breed by Steve Edwards, the horses instantly became a mystery to me. Being able to train a horse and ride it in the shortest amount of time seemed amazing. Next to that there personality was unbelievable to have just been captured. I instantly knew that I had to have a Corolla. Standing in the stall all wet and wide eyed was a dirty little 5 month old bay filly, but to me she was beautiful. I walked in and she only watched me. I crouched down in a corner of the stall and played with the bedding not even acknowledging her. She soon wanted my interest and came to investigate. She playfully bit my hand and rubbed against my thigh. I had to leave her but after seeing the other horses I took a detour through the barn and into the stall. With a mouthful of hay she only looked at me and went back to eating. I knew at that moment that this horse was the one for me.Today she is SO much bigger and hasn’t changed much in personality. She is still the curious, sweet, and determined little filly. She has taken on so much training and is going to be trained for riding next summer. She has tackled many challenges in her training like going through the woods at dark with only me, or being desensitized with the “scary” objects. At the age of 1 she was saddled and had no problems at all while being watched by a crowd. This is only one of the reasons I love the Corollas so much.