Caroline, a 12-year-old mare, died while mating. (Credit: Corolla Wild Horse Fund)
COROLLA, N.C. - A wild horse in North Carolina died instantaneously while mating on a North Carolina beach, a nonprofit said.
The Corolla Wild Horse Fund said the 12-year-old wild mare named Caroline died Thursday.
The nonprofit said around 5 p.m. local time, witnesses saw a stallion aggressively chasing her and trying to breed her. That was when Caroline fell to the ground and died.
A necropsy revealed the wild horse had broken her neck. No other injuries or abnormalities were found internally.
"Her injury was in line with the behavior reported and while it is a devastating loss, it was the result of natural wild horse behavior." the nonprofit said in a Facebook post.
"Caroline’s death should serve as yet another reminder of just how truly wild and dangerous these horses are - especially when hormones are involved," the post continued.
This story was reported from Los Angeles.