The Virginian-Pilot
©
COROLLA, N.C.
A wild horse had to be euthanized this weekend after it was struck by a vehicle and injured.
Sometime overnight from Friday to Saturday, the horse, named Spec for the white at the top of his tail, was “hit with a great force,” and the very thick part of his left hind leg was broken in half, said Karen McCalpin, executive director of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. His leg was held together with skin and ligaments.
McCalpin said there were hoof prints and ATV tracks all over the area where the horse was struck. Spec was known to stay off the beach and away from people – usually spending his time in the residential area near the fire station, McCalpin said. The injury was also too severe to have been done by another wild horse, McCalpin said. Based on that information, there is speculation that the ATV riders may have chased Spec out to the beach where he was hit.
Despite the broken leg, Spec tried to get back to his home turf off the beach McCalpin said. He dragged himself about a mile over sand dunes before he could move no further.
A passer-by found him near mile marker 22 at about 6:45 a.m. Saturday, McCalpin said. He was euthanized later in the afternoon.
“It was an injury beyond anything any horse could recover from,” McCalpin said. “His leg was dangling.”
The Currituck County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident, but needs help from the public.
“This horse suffered terribly,” McCalpin said.
“There’s nothing that has affected me as much as this one. What a waste.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s office at (252) 453-8204.
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"The fact the horse was hit
"The fact the horse was hit and was not reported…that’s the crime. Karen McCalpin, executive director of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund said, “This horse suffered terribly,”. What would you expect her to say?"
Let's look at it another way. Let's say you were hit by a car/atv/truck and your leg was broken severely enough that it was only together by flesh. How would you like to debate your pain level then? Sound fun?
Regardless of intention the primary goal of driving anything is to NOT hit things. Cigarette ashes cannot 'make' you do anything. Your cigarette, your responsibilty. Enough of the suggestions to move the horses. They have moved enough. Companies are now renting ORV's to tourists. This has to be reined in.
Something about horses
Again, I know this because I grew up on a horse farm. The most common way for a horse to breaks its leg while in the wild is when it is being chased by something. Horses' legs do not break for no reason, and if that happened, something chased it to cause that to happen. So people can say maybe it wasn't the ATV's fault, and if you do, then you have not been around horses enough to know.
Learn your facts
If you haters of ATV's & 4X4's new what you are talking about you would know that 99% of, off road enthusiast are your biggest conservation supporters and activist. Why? To ensure we have an area to enjoy our hobbies and that others will have access to the wilderness. That’s right without our efforts you would not have access to most beaches and parks because we built the trails and roads that get you there. How do you think the materials to build those houses got there? Your welcome. Because you have a phobia of these vehicles you label us as ignorant rednecks destroying everything in sight. Catch the idiots that did this if this stories ASSUMPTIONS are correct and stop prosecuting all of us legal off-roaders.
richardm
I challenge you to provide a quote from a post of mine where I was
"promoting jets to fly over Currituck."
We do try and police Swan Beach and Corova
but get threatened and cussed out by the people when we approach them. As far as calling the cops with plate numbers, get real, we would have been on the phone all day this past weekend as most vehicles where speeding over the 15 MPH law when around pedestrians. And to the brain surgeon who blames us who live or own property in OBX for the problems. You again, do not know what you are talking about! We have gone to more civic league meetings, court house meets, etc. over the years and can bet you did not attend any of them. We help create studies, worked with police, fire and the country to improve life on the Outer Banks. We do not have a structure on the beach, and yes, ever year our community fights to keep the size of the homes small and build huge mansions. Its an uphill battle you have no knowledge of, but are welcome to come on down and participate in all the civic work that we do. Oh, and pay the taxes we pay, which gives us a right to have a say.
If you really care.....call
If you really care.....call Senator Basnight and demand that it be a felony, punishable by minumum 6 months jail for time first offenders, to harass in anyway, the wild horses in North Carolina.
Who cares
Life goes on, and on, and on.
We don't know
...what truly happened but someone does and should come forward. It is highly unlikely that someone deliberately wanted to run their vehicle into a full-grown horse. We've all seen the damage hitting a deer can do. They may have been speeding, drinking or not paying full attention. It was probably a younger driver who was terrified at what happened. That said, I live in Virginia and have frequented Hatteras often through the last 30+ years until the stupid beach closures came into affect. Yes, I drive a 4x4. I've read several of these posts that indicated there were witnesses to the reckless behavior this past weekend. Why didn't you report it? When on the island, I have never had a problem calling in a vehicle description and/or tag number when I saw someone acting like a fool. I have also flagged down rangers to report fishermen keeping undersized catch. There aren't a lot of ways out of the area making it easy for an officer to locate and stop the driver. It isn't enough to simply vent about what others should do. YOU need to step up.
Move 'em
Best way to protect the horses (notwithstanding a loss of protection for tourist dollars based on their presence in Carova) would be to move them across the border to False Cape. Not many tourists or homes there. If the viability of the herd is the highest priority, get them out of harm's way (as was done in Corolla a few years back).
slow down!
First of all, this incident is reported as an assumption that a vehicle hit the horse. In all probability it was an accident that has NOTHING to do with “a dangerous environment”, “flying down the beach destroying dunes and kill wild horses” or “getting crushed by massive 4x4’s that take over the beach”. Jeezz people, get a grip on your emotions.
Also, what will not solve the problem is “Permits for all visitors and property owners”, “Gates installed to allow only owners access”, “vehicle Passes that you have to pay $75-100 a Season in order to drive on the beach in Corolla and Corova” or a total ban on driving the beach or the back roads. Close beach driving, put a hard pack road in and see how the horses fair with the traffic then. Brother! I’ve never heard anyone hysterical when they thin the herd.
This place in inhabited by a special breed of horses which ARE protected and loved by everyone. There are more folks than you know looking out for them, me being one. Although a tragedy, these things happen and will continue to happen. Along with the sheriffs, we police ourselves at the beach, do you? Have you ever made a call or stopped someone actin