Saying Goodbye to Junior: Well-Loved Wild Horse Euthanized in Corolla, N.C.

Junior, a well-known wild horse from Corolla, N.C., was euthanized on Tuesday, June 11th due to severe colic. Despite recovering well from a colic surgery earlier in the year in February and not experiencing any complications or relapse, Junior fell ill on Tuesday.

Junior was the lead stallion of the “blonde harem” that lived around Penny’s Hill on the beach. His father, Amadeo, passed away in 2020 and his mother, Blossom, is still a resident of the farm. Junior was in his 20s at the time of his passing and had been rescued in 2021 after nearly choking to death on an apple.

The Corolla Wild Horse Fund released a statement expressing their gratitude for the time they had with Junior and for the peaceful passing he experienced at home, underneath a pine tree where he often grazed. They described him as kind, sensible, respectful and well-mannered but also stubborn.

The staff encouraged people to share their favorite memories and stories of Junior on the Corolla Wild Horse Fund’s Facebook page. For more information about the wild horses, visit the Corolla Wild Horse Fund’s website. Junior will be greatly missed by all who knew him.