Corolla wild horse dies after nearly 40 years, called ‘a legend’

A wild horse with a long-standing reputation in Corolla has passed on, leaving those who oversee the Corolla Wild Horse Fund to say their goodbyes.

‘Flint,’ a stallion who was alive and enjoying life until this year at the Outer Banks, died recently after spending nearly 40 years on the island.

Onlookers noticed Flint had been slowing down after having lost a significant amount of weight. Veterinarians discovered Flint had no functional teeth and was struggling with a severe sinus infection. It would have been tough for Flint to survive through the winter without intervention, which would have been painful for him.

“Flint, after 40 years of life on this beach, has become a legend now,” read a CWHF post in tribute of Flint. “His story certainly did not die with him; it lives on in his countless offspring and the mark he left on the herd, and in the memories of him that we will share for many, many years to come.”

Based on his teeth and physical traits, officials said Flint was likely in his late 30s.

Flint, who the fund called a foundational stallion, was buried in a remote spot in the woods next to his son, Danny. Those who take care of the horses said Flint’s longevity was a sign of a life well-lived and a token of how he’ll be remembered.