Dos and Don’ts of riding at the beach

Dos and Don’ts of riding at the beach 

All of us at one point dream of riding our horses at the beach, the waves crashing, water in our faces and the sand beneath us but what about safety and making sure that both ourselves and our horses enjoy the experience and come home safe and sound.  

Tips to enjoy your trip to the beach 

• Choose the right tack – many people like to ride bare back at the beach, this way you don’t tend to ruin any gear or weigh your horse down in the salt water. If you do choose to use a saddle, make sure you have good safety stirrups you can quickly get your feet out of!  

• Helmet – horses spook no matter how experienced or quiet they may be. Wind, new sounds, and other animals on the beach can make the most sedate horse nervous. 

• Take a friend or tell someone where you are going – ideally ride with a friend, as this provides companionship for your horse and help in case of an emergency 

• Sunscreen – protection from those dangerous UV rays, for both you and the horse! 

• Permission – ride at an allocated horse beach or well know safe beach for riding, seek permission with local authorities to ride if unsure. 

• Choose the best time to ride – try to avoid the heat and ride early in the morning or later in the afternoon, preferably not in the heat of the middle of the day. Beach riding is taxing for a horse so try to make it as easy as possible.   

• Obstacles – look out for submerged logs or rocks under the surface of the water or just under the sand. Avoid uneven ground, seaweed or patches of extremely deep (quick) sand (if unsure check with locals). Pick your path carefully and remain aware of your surroundings. 

• Weather – check the weather forecast before you leave, monitor tides and check the water is nice and calm on the day you wish to ride. 

• Fitness – be mindful of your horses fitness level. Riding on the beach is very strenuous, make sure your horse is fit enough to handle what you ask of them. Riding in deep sand can cause significant injuries to muscles, tendons or ligaments if your horse is not fit enough for the conditions. It may help to ride closer to the water where the sand is firmer. Keep swimming to a minimum until you know your horse is fit enough to handle the exercise. 

• Ride safely – you may not realise, but horses can easily be knocked over if a wave hits them on the side, if you do encounter waves turn their rump to wave, they can maintain their balance better.  

Be patient when taking your horse to the beach for the first time. If you can, even go with an older more experienced horse. Don’t push your horse to enter the water if they aren’t ready, going to such a new environment is already stressful for them let alone getting used to waves crashing around their legs. When you do enter the water stay on top or beside your horse this way you will stay out of the way of their legs when they begin to swim, and never wrap the reins around hand or wrist. Keep an eye on how tired your horse is and give them plenty of rest breaks. After your ride thoroughly check your horse for wounds or swelling, wash off the salt water and provide them with plenty of electrolytes.  

Remember riding at the beach is a privilege, so always be courteous and respect the environment you are riding in. Be mindful to not disturb the local area, take all your rubbish with you when you leave and be courteous to other users, pass at a walk, always maintaining good control and enjoy the day.