By Meg Puckett, herd manager Corolla Wild Horse Fund

IT’S A BOY! Ok, we’re like 99% sure.

We’re estimating the little one to be about a week old. His mother is North Star, and her parents are Virginia Dare and Lucky Duck, who both live at the rescue farm now. This colt is carrying on his family’s legacy!

There were two names we couldn’t decide on. The first choice was Arthur, or Arturo. Our second choice was Ananias, after Ananias Dare, father of (human) Virginia Dare, of Lost Colony fame. Rather than choosing between the two, we figured a special boy like this deserve a special name. So welcome to the world Arturo Ananias Dare!

After a decade of carefully managing the herd by collecting DNA data, targeted contraception, and thoughtful record keeping, we are able to track entire families. We are now in a position where we are ready to work with genetic specialists to create a registry of Corolla horses that documents family lines like this one. This will help us determine matches for captive breeding as well as help us manage our targeted breeding program for the wild horses.

Arturo is a special foal for many reasons – the first of 2020, the first for North Star, a ray of light during a dark time in the world, and a healthy addition to a herd that needs new members. But perhaps the most special thing about him, particularly to those of us who fought to keep his grandparents and uncle Mateo on the beach and then worked hard to make sure their transition to captivity was filled with understanding and love, Arturo is proof that life goes on.

This foal’s mother is North Star, and her parents are Virginia Dare and Lucky Duck, who both live at the rescue farm now. [Meg Puckett photo] Legacies continue with careful management, and even the horses that can no longer stay in the wild leave their mark on the herd. They all have a story, and a purpose, and we are dedicated to protecting them for many, many generations to come.

You can be a part of the herd too! Learn about ways to get involved HERE.

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