How Wild Horses Winter on Cumberland

The wild horses of Cumberland Island, Georgia, are one of our biggest attractions on our sightseeing and narrated history boat tours. The horses may be more popular with our guests than the dolphins, sea turtles, and wild eagles. How wild horses winter on Cumberland Island show us that even though feral horses are remarkably resilient animals that have adapted to the region’s mild climate, winter can offer harsh challenges.

I often refer to our little neck of the woods, Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, as Paradise. Where you can see sea turtles and dolphins along downtown Fernandina’s working waterfront in the mornings, and as evening closes in you may see deer or racoons or hear the call of owls and coyotes. However, even Paradise can lead to seasonal challenges for the wildlife that surrounds us, and, in this article, we are going to look at how wild horses winter on Cumberland Island.

Horse Apparel
When the temperatures start to drop, the fashion scene for horse apparel becomes their naturally grown winter coats. This denser layer of hair acts as insulation against the chill of cooler temperatures and also helps to repel the rain and wind, both of which are common on this barrier island, especially in the winter.

Equestrian Diet
Scenic Cumberland Island displays beautiful images of green and golden landscaping, and maritime forests. In the winter, vegetation becomes scarcer. The equestrian diet in winter offers them a smaller menu, consuming what is available. Their diet includes feeding on marsh grasses and coarse brush. Their strong teeth enable them to graze on the tougher and more fibrous plants that are heartier through the colder months, including tree bark. When it is warm and food is abundant, the horses build up their fat reserves to get them through periods of limited forage. The wild horses winter on Cumberland because generations before them became well-adapted to extracting maximum nutrition from the sparse and lower quality winter forage available.

Fresh Drinking Water
Fresh water from storms is found in depressions year round. Seeking out these spots, as well as known ponds, and streams, the horses have learned to seek out these reliable sources of fresh drinking water during the colder months.

Shelter and Security
Horses use the island’s dense maritime forest and sand dunes as a natural shelter from the cold winds. They often seek shelter together on Cumberland Island along the shorelines traveling to the dense maritime forests, as seen in the image. The Cumberland Island horses know to use the warm sunlight to regulate their temperatures. They warm themselves during the day and then retreat to forested areas at night for protection. By huddling together, the horses conserve body heat and maintain a sense of security by gathering in groups.

Winters in Southeast Georgia are generally mild, however cold snaps and storms can stress the horses, especially if combined with strong winds and/or heavy rainfall. Though they adapt their diets in the winter, fewer nutritious plants during the winter can lead to weight loss and other health challenges. Though Cumberland Island is not always Paradise, the ability for how the wild horses winter on Cumberland is a testament to nature’s resilience.

The feral horses have lived on Cumberland Island for centuries, not only surviving winters, but also the unique challenges of an isolated and dynamic
coastal ecosystem. Their ability to adapt is one of the reasons they remain an iconic part of the island’s natural and cultural heritage.

Experience the majesty of Cumberland Island’s wild horses firsthand. Book your tour today!

Categorised in: Amelia Island