Have you ever dreamed of horse riding on the beach? Inhaling the salty air, listening to the sea breeze, quiet rhythm, hearing the waves, and seeing the water from a different angle will leave you captivated, and your pulse pounding is an experience that will fully immerse you in nature and make you feel free. Where are the best horse riding beaches?

Moreover, beach riding can be wonderful for you and your horse training, hard sand is perfect for galloping, trotting, and cantering. It is fantastic for increasing muscle tone, endurance, and stamina.

Horse Riding Beaches: Horse Riding Tips

If you are conscious of a few aspects of regulation and safety, beach riding may be a delightful experience for both you and your horse.

Be Aware of Beach Restrictions Advance

Make sure that riding on the beach is allowed. It could be restricted to specific times, days, or places, and there could be bylaws in place. Riders will benefit from time restrictions because they will be at quieter times, such as early morning and late evening when there will be fewer other users to avoid.

If there are any areas where riding is prohibited, make sure you know what they are and stay away from them.

Pre-training for going to the beach

Make sure your horse is confident at home & away. We recommended these horse riding confidence building exercises. Get your horse used to strange things around his feet & legs (seaweed anyone?!) We recommend polework training.

Necessary Precautions on Beach Riding Day

Before you ride your horse on the beach, take a walk down to it and take a look around to make sure it’s safe. Be prepared to abandon your beach ride if it appears to be too dangerous, such as if the surface is rough or if there is a lot of broken glass. If you want to ride somewhere else, you’ll need to have a backup plan ready, so you don’t waste your time.

Remember that the sun’s reflection on the sea might be very bright, which can impair your or your horse’s vision. If at all feasible, ride away from the sun.

Bring Some Water for Your Horse

Just because the beach is near the water doesn’t imply there will be enough fresh water for your horse to drink. Expect the horse beach to be devoid of water unless you know of a nearby tap for spraying off sandy feet. Bring several liters of water so your horse can wet his whistle.

Keep An Eye on The Hooves

Before and after a beach riding holiday, pay a visit to your farrier. If your horse wears pads, place a silicone packing (or a mixture of pine tar and oakum) between the pad and the sole to keep sand out. Alternatively, carve a cross or circle in the middle of the pad to allow sand to escape.

Horse Riding Beaches: Be Careful About Water

On all horse riding beaches, you need to keep an eye on where you’re going. The rushing speed of the waves can make both horses and humans dizzy and “seasick.” If you or your horse seem to be acting strangely, get out of the water and onto firm sand.

Ride Slowly

When we go for a horse ride, we imagine ourselves in the movies or riding beside professional riders, and we feel compelled to gallop at full speed. The best thing to do, at least at first, is to move slowly; it’s necessary for the animal to become familiar to us and for us to become used to him.

Swim With Caution

Swimming with your horse in the ocean may be the ultimate beach experience, but gradually introduce your horse to deep water and choose a warm day with quiet surf. If you use a tie-down or a standing martingale, your horse could drown. Shea advises riding bareback and barefoot for safety reasons, as saturated saddles and boots can weigh you and your horse down.

Post-Riding Clean Up

When you reach home after your horse riding beach adventure, you might want to give your horse a good washing. Begin by washing your horse’s coat thoroughly. Clean and treat any scrapes or abrasions with antiseptic to help prevent infection, as sand and seawater can hold bacteria. Document your day out in an equestrian journal. Finally, share your photographs on Facebook to show everyone how much fun you had together!

10 Best Horse Riding Beaches in the World

One of life’s greatest delights is horse riding on the beach, something even non-equestrian’s fantasies about. Whether it is your first time riding on the beach, or you are exploring a new area, these spots provide something for everyone.

Cape San Blas, Florida

Cape San Blas, a peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico and St. Joseph Bay, with some of Florida’s most gorgeous beaches. Cape San Blas, with its 20 miles of white-sand beaches, is a favorite among local equestrians since the beaches are still relatively uncrowded.

Horse Riding Beaches: Redcar Beach, Yorkshire

In the North Yorkshire region, Redcar Beach is a famous destination for horse riders. Redcar’s award-winning flat sandy beaches run eight miles south-east and north-west and were previously the preferred beach for Cheltenham Festival-winning trainers to practice their racehorses.

Rainbow Beach, Queensland

This beautiful stretch of coastline is surrounded by a national park and is only a three-hour drive from Brisbane. You may ‘horse around’ on the sand and in the surf while seeing dolphins and breaching whales.

Corpus Christi, Texas

The beaches of Corpus Christi are stunning. Horse riding in Corpus Christi is a great way to see the state’s largest coastal city, which has nine beaches that follow the Texas Gulf Coastline. Horseback riding operators in Corpus Christi welcome riders of all ability levels who are unable to bring their horses.

Formby Beach, Lancashire

Formby is an excellent location for a moderate beach ride with your horse. The Lifeboat Road car park is the only parking option for horseboxes, and the Lifeboat Road walk is the sole way for horses to get to and from the beach. For an inland ride, from Lifeboat Road to Wicks Lane in Formby, there is a brief length of public bridle route that runs through the woods.

Horse Riding Beaches: Deauville

The stylish beach resort of Deauville is one of the most ideal destinations to explore on horseback. Few cities hold the horse in as high regard as Deauville, and horseback riding is an integral part of the local culture. The town and it’s famed La Touques racecourse were founded at the end of the 19th century by the Duke de Morny and have been equestrian hotspots ever since. Deauville is blessed with a beautiful beach where you may enjoy sunset horseback riding.

Carousel Horse Farm Casco, Maine

Carousel Horse Farms invites riders out to visit Popham or Pine Point beaches between October and March. Pine Point Beach, Maine’s longest continuous beach, is a flat sandy beach. Popham Beach is part of a state park, with Hermit Island and Fort Popham on either end. Up to four people in a group can ride along the rugged Maine coastline for a fixed cost.

Pavones, Costa Rica

This modest surf town on Costa Rica’s southern Pacific Coast is home to some of the greatest and longest waves in the world. When there is a good swell, experienced surfers from all over the world will be in the ocean to take advantage of the waves.

Pavones also has Playa Pavones, a beach perfect for long rides down the beach at low tide. If you are seeking a different option, Playa Rio Claro is a terrific place to start. Its location near the Panamanian border makes it ideal not only for beautiful horseback riding but also for watching surfers glide through its ferocious waves.

Horse Riding Beaches: Camber, East Sussex

Camber Sands is a popular horseback riding beach. Riding is only permitted at low tide, and the summer season runs from the last Thursday before Easter Sunday until the first of October, inclusive. During this time, riding is allowed on weekdays in the early mornings (off the beach by 8.30 am) and evenings (after 7 pm).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to ride your horse to the beach?

Horses are not permitted on most public beaches, so you will have to find one that does. Consider the beaches that are closest to you first. If you know of a beach that accepts horses, go to their website to find out what days and times of the year they allow them.

Is seawater good for horses?

The load-bearing part of training in the Sea walker is beneficial to Laminitis horses since the cold water cools their feet and soothes inflammation.

What do you wear horseback riding on the beach?

On a beach ride, you will want comfortable clothing that will dry fast if you get wet, depending on how daring you want to be and how ready your horse is to go into the water. Jeans are not recommended for beach riding. Wear your oldest riding attire and synthetic tack if possible.

What time can I ride my horse on the beach?

During the peak season, which is normally from April to September, most authorities prefer that, horses not be taken on the beach between 10 am to 6 pm.

On the seashore, where can I see wild horses?

For decades, wild horses have roamed the protected beaches and salt marshes of Assateague Island, a 37-mile-long barrier island that separates Maryland and Virginia.

Have you had fun at the beach with your horse? Let me know in the comments!