North Carolina: Corolla wild horse herd loses stallion Flint to old age

The Corolla wild horses lost a legend Monday when stallion Flint was euthanized for age-related conditions.

The Corolla Wild Horse Fund had been keeping an eye on Flint, who was in his late 30s, for some time and preparing for the right time to enable him to transition comfortably.

When the herd management team found him last Thursday he was noticeably more listless and increased drainage was seen coming from both of his nostrils. An odor indicative of a tooth infection was also detected.

After consultation with the organization’s veterinarian, Flint spent the weekend at the Fund’s farm eating soft grass and receiving antibiotics and painkillers.

“He really enjoyed getting scratches around his ears, eating as many sweet, ripe persimmons as we’d give him, and resting his old body in the sun,” The Fund wrote today on Facebook.

X-rays on Monday, however, revealed that none of Flint’s teeth were functional and he was also suffering from a severe sinus infection.

The Fund made the decision to humanely euthanize him. Flint was buried in a quiet spot in the woods at the farm next to his son, Danny.

“The history of the Outer Banks is told in legends — from the Lost Colony to Blackbeard to ponies in the hulls of grounded Spanish ships. The stories are woven into the fabric of what we know to be the true history — inseparable and true in their own right. There have been horses over the years whose stories have become legendary — Black Bess, Star, Little Red Man, Amadeo, Chaos, Raymond. They help us tell the history of the Banker horses and their relationship to this land, to us and to each other. They serve as reminders of the strength, adaptability and steadfast perseverance that has allowed this herd to flourish here for hundreds of years. They are a testament to the work that CWHF has done to protect, preserve and responsibly manage this endangered breed,” The Fund shared today on Facebook.

After nearly 40 years living on Corolla beach, Flint is now a legend also, but his story did not die with him. Flint’s story will live on in his offspring, the mark he left on the Corolla herd and the memories shared of him.

“Rest well, Flint. It was truly an honor.”