In the past week, two very special and beloved horses passed away; both animals led remarkable lives, yet neither ever cantered into the show ring. We want to celebrate their lives here because as we know, every horse is special and deserves a long and healthy life.
The first is Dusty, a 25-year-old mare who lived out her years as a wild horse on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. A stunningly beautiful horse with a dappled coat and flaxen mane, the Foundation for Shackleford Horses posted on Facebook that Dusty was the daughter of Dionysus, who the group says was arguably “one of the most prepotent and dominant stallions on the island in his time.”
There are approximately 100 wild horses living on the Outer Banks, according to the National Park Service. Evidence suggests that horses have roamed the area for centuries.