Image #356 Reflections (Finished) Corolla Herd from The Outer Banks of North Carolina

"Reflections"
Corolla Wild Horse
8 by 10 inches Original Watercolor
by Linda L Martin Artist
$350.00

The Corolla wild horses are actually genetically mustangs. After having been tested at the onset of the current preservation efforts, it was found that the highest portion of their DNA came from the Barb and Arabian Horses of Spain, probably brought into the area from trading with the Spanish Settlers that settled in  Florida and South Georgia during the 1500s.

These small horses  are sometimes called Banker Horses or Banker Ponies because of their size. Usually they are about the size of a mid-sized pony when running in the wild. The reason they are so small is because of their diet of marsh grasses.Their thin bloated belly appearance is caused by drinking brackish water. In-fact  in the whole of the Outer Banks island system there is no fresh water for wild things, except when the occasional  rain storm fills in the gathering pools. At one time, before development encroached in to the range of the horses, they also would dig through the sand to find fresh water according to one account of their history.

A wild Banker Horse grazes  next to
a housing development. These horses
desperately need  the protection
of an uninhibited range. Since the
development of residential areas along
the islands of the Outer Banks of
North Caroline, the horses not only
have to compete with thousands of
tourists, but also huge numbers
of houses cluttering their habitat.
Photography by Kim Galluzzo.
Used by Permission

Unlike the  Chincoteague  and Assateague ponies  in Virginia, Banker Horses are found in solid colors of bay, chestnut, Chestnut with Flaxen Manes and Tails,  black, brown, and buckskin. They do, on occasion, have some white markings, sometimes on their faces and/or their legs below the knee. The horses are currently managed by the Corolla Wild Horse Fund.

Like all the wild horses on the Eastern barrier Islands of the United States, the Corolla herd is not protected under the Wild Horse And Burro Act. To read more about the Corolla herd and what they are doing to have the herd legally protected, you can read about the history and goals here: http://www.corollawildhorses.com/facts-and-history/

Reference photography for tonight's painting provided by Kim Galluzzo.

Image #355 Corolla Herd from The Outter Banks of North Carolina First Half.

I am a little over half way through the first painting of the 5 for this series of  the Corolla Wild Mustangs and will write more about the horses and some of the challenges they face tomorrow. This is the first image. I will reveal the name and details tomorrow. Please enjoy.

First half of the First Corolla Wild Horses  Painting
More details and the completed painting tomorrow.

Tonight I start on the first of a new collaboration with Photographer Kim Galluzzo. Kim visits the Corolla Wild Mustangs of Currituck County, North Carolina once or twice a year to photograph the herd. Since I started the Mustang A Day Challenge in December of 2010 I have been looking for a prolific photographer to work with on all of the Outter Banks Herds.  Kim has provided some very nice images for me to work from and will share some of her experiences as we move through the creative process. Thank- you, Kim for working with me on these very special Heritage horses.