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The Banker is a feral horse that has existed for centuries on the islands of
North Carolina's Outer Banks. The area is known for its lack of vegetation and
water. The horse population survives on the marsh grass and by scratching
through the sand for water seepage. Today there are very few Bankers left due to
environmental problems and management agencies.
These horses stand between 13 and 14.3 hands high and are found predominantly
in brown, bay, dun, and chestnut. The Banker carries many of the same
characteristics as the influential Spanish mustang-type. Unlike most wild
horses, however, it is generally friendly and calm.No one is certain of the
exact origin of the Banker Horse, but there is no doubt that it is of Spanish
stock. The region was first colonized by Spanish explorers in the 1520s, and
later again in the 1580s by the English. Both were known to have brought stock
over. Whether these animals escaped, were released, or saved from shipwreck is
uncertain. Whatever the case, by the 1700s horses were well documented on the
Outer Banks. Because of the relatively isolated environment, the horses remain a
relatively pure stock.
Many of the horses that still do exist are alive thanks to the efforts of
Dale Burrus, a Banker Horse enthusiast. Not only has he collected and preserved
the horse, he has also sought to keep the wild population in their natural state
on the islands. Differences between naturalists and horse enthusiasts are still
present, leaving the future of the horse uncertain.
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Horse Breeds page
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