Shackleford Banks and Cape Lookout

So we decided one weekend to go see the Shackleford Ponies.  We took the ferry from Harker's Island on the Outer Banks and got dropped off on Shackleford to go look for the wild horses.  As luck would have it the horses were there to greet us as we stepped off the ferry.  But they didn't stay in that spot for long so off we went searching the Island for more horses. 

You wonder how they can survive out there - but they must be doing okay as they have been living there for 400 years!

 There are different groups - each stallion has his own brood of mares.  Separate yet together on the same island.

 We were going further and further into the interior of the island looking for more horses and came across a spot where they clearly hang out.  The grass was all trampled down which resulted in a large cleared area.  And... we stumbled upon this horse skeleton.  Hmm... maybe this is not someplace we should be.  A bit too much intrusion?  So we eased on out of there.

 Cape Lookout in the background.  Can you see the little foal?

It was a great day!  There is just something special about those horses that live out there without any intervention from us.  Wild as wild can be.  Nice.