Shackleford's Wild Horses

Shackleford's Wild Horses. . , Shackleford Banks is one of the few places on the Eastern United States where you can view wild horses. The horses have Spanish ancestry and their origins likely date from colonial times. These charismatic animals display behaviors which are fascinating to watch. You may see a foal stopping its mother to nurse or a dominant stallion herding his harem of female horses. The horses are federally protected. The National Park Service and the Foundation for Shackleford Horses jointly manage the herd., Observing the Horses , . Use caution A spooked horse can trample and injure people. , . Keep a safe distance of a least 50 feet and be prepared to move if they seem unsettled. , . Observe the horses with binoculars or a camera with a telephoto lens. , . Keep dogs on a six-foot leash. Pets can be injured by wild horses., (captions) , Stallions will fight to retain control of their harems. Often these confrontations are resolved by posturing., The island you see in front of you is part of the Rachel Carson Reserve, not Shackleford Banks. The Reserve has its own herd of wild horses. To see Shackleford's wild horses, take the ferry from the nearby dock or go by private boat., Horses will eat marsh grasses growing in salt water. They drink fresh water from the surface and access ground water by digging holes in the sand and then waiting for water to seep in.