From The Horses Point Of View

To truly understand a horses way of thinking we have to look at it from their point of view. I do not mean get on all fours and parade around like a horse. Just think of why your horse gave the reaction they did. Why did your horse stomp their foot or buck. Maybe because your horse didn't understand you.

Our horses are not on the same train of thought as we humans are. Their brains work differently. If they see a scary object they kick at it or run away. We probably wouldn't drop kick a gate and then run away screaming because it scared us. We would investigate it and figure out if it would hurt us.

Horses are just as curious but they have the mentality of a toddler. What they see as scary, isn't scary for us and this causes issues that sometimes horse people will try to cover up in hopes of the issue resolving on its own. But your horse won't just lose that fear unless you work with them on it and don't just beat your horse until they understand because thats wrong and creates even more problems.

Work with your horse fairly. Give them a chance to learn for themselves and give them guidance for a better outcome then the current one. Make them understand in a way that works for them and you. One thing that works for one, won't always work for another. If your horse is scared of tarps then give them an option go through it or go around. As they pass it without it jumping up and biting them they will get curious and they will investigate it on their own and find out that this big "scary" thing is harmless and they will walk over it eventually. Now some horses won't do that even if they are given an option but that doesn't mean that you beat them if they dont go over it.

I can promise you that at the basis of a great horse is great training and the greatest methods of training are in Natural Horsemanship. I use natural horsemanship and so do many other places...that's why our horses are great.

I get my horses point of view because I come to their level and understand them and find a way to make them understand me.

This is what the Corolla Horses see. A beautiful beach. But soon enough the other picture is all they will see...houses, houses, and more houses. Do you think that there point of view on the situation is yeah! Throw some more houses up and drive us from our land! I don't think that they really care about vacation homes or the price tag on them. Thier point of view is priceless.

Growing Up

As you can see from the pictures the little filly I got at five months old is growing up. She is 2 now and stands at 12.3 hands She is a beautiful bay with arabicano markings. Her personality has developed into something amazing. Her name, Matoaka, means Little Snow Feather. Matoaka was Pocahontas's real name. Some believed it meant greedy one which in reality would explain Matoaka. She has to be the center of attention. If your not paying attention to her than you might as well prepare yourself because she will MAKE you pay attention.

I have said before that Matoaka is really strongheaded and that is so true. She is independent from others. She doesn't like people that she doesn't know, so anyone other than me and a few selected people who she knows she is know match against, will be clearly warned of her dislike if they try to be superior over her.

She has overcome numerous obstacles like, water, tarps, jumps, bags, ditches, snakes, birds, deer, longing, and many others while wearing a saddle. She has gone through desensitizing and isn't scared by most things. Within the time of 2 months from now Matoaka will be ridden and my hopes for that are high. Although she can be bad at times it's like she was born too wear a saddle. As soon as she has it on and is going, she becomes the vision of a great horse.

Matoaka has definately grown up into a wonderful horse and especially a wonderful Corolla Horse.

It's The Eye Of The...Holland?

Holland is a Shackleford gelding. Shackleford banks are at the lower end of North Carolina and there is a herd of horses.

I had heard so much about Holland. How athletic, strong, fast and just well rounded for a horse he was. Of course I had learned that with our Banker horses, extraordinary, is something we just have to expect.

I got the feeling from the many postings that boasted over this magnificent horse, that Holland was evidentally a horse that had really grabbed Steve's heart.

I got to spend some time with Holland at the Corolla Wild Horse Days. He was bigger in build than most of our Banker stallions, but not taller. He was calm too. For the tons of people flocked around the pen and the activities going on, he cheerfully munched grass or rubbed his head on Steve while trying to take Steve's hat, and he was still so calm. I haven't had the pleasure of riding Holland yet, but I hear that he is quite something.

Here is a picture of Holland's eye. He looks a little sad with his eye. Maybe because I wouldn't let him have any of my chips no matter how hard he stretched his neck or lips to grab the bag! :)

Purely Carolina

I am from North Carolina. I was born here. I have learned that shoes are completely overated. They only tie down your feet. My horses live in North Carolina, Matoaka was born here just like me. They have picked up on the barefoot policy. They do not wear shoes. They have never been shoed and will never be shoed. There hooves are extremely healthy and will remain extremely healthy.

There is no need for shoes on my horses or anyone elses. I think that if they had them put on, both would only lie down in defiance. No horse ever needed them. But people were careful around there horses feet and this made them weaker and more easily injured and completely took away how natural and sound they were. Sorry if my horses don't get metal nailed to there feet but I wouldn't want that to happen to me and that won't happen to them. Yeah, my horses are purely Carolina horses.

Pushing Forward

June 28, 2009 a very close person to me and my family was in a horrible wreck. I have known Josh since I was born. He is like a brother to me. I have seen him walk away from horrible dirtbike crashes leaving him with concussions, broken bones, and so much more. He seemed invincible.

Josh flipped his truck and was ejected through the drivers window. He suffered a cut on his head and leaving him with over 200 stitches. He also suffered a broken neck. His family and friends were left hoping that the doctors earliest deduction of paralysis was wrong.

He was very thankfully, not paralized, but his vertebrea was crushed and pushing in on his spinal cord limiting his movement. Josh was instantly put into a drug induced coma to keep him from moving but he was still slightly aware that people were there for him like his parents and his sister who stood by him, waiting for news, hour among endless hour. If he heard a familiar voice his heart rate would go up or he would try to move.

Josh underwent 8 1/2 hours of surgery on his neck. The doctors were optimistic that he was going to be ok. It is only 5 days after the wreck, he was only moved out of ICU today, and Josh is walking at a pace that lleaves others in the dust. He can talk and move. He is doing most of the things he needs with little help. The doctors didn't think that he would have come this far so soon. But those who knew how quickly Josh got over something, although still suprised, knew that he would be pushing himself forward through this. Of course Josh is so optimistic himself he swears that he will be out by Monday...who knows, at this rate, he just might be.


We all love Josh so much and this hasn't been easy for his family especially, and friends. In his neck brace and green gown we still think Josh looks pretty cool but he has a very long road to recovery ahead. There is currently the Josh McCrary Recovery Fund set up through the Bank of Hampton Roads and Gateway banks to help him and his family through this as we all know that the best help isn't always cheap. Anyone can donate to this fund at those banks.

Please pray and hope for Josh as we all are.