Getaways

8 Great Beach Rides

Enjoy the sand and surf on the back of a horse with our guide to eight great beach rides.

By Cate Lamm & Kara L. Stewart

Have you always dreamed of riding in the sand, crashing waves thundering in your ears, and the smell of salt water and freedom in the air? Here’s an at-a-glance guide to eight beach rides.

1. Florida’s Amelia Island State Park offers riders beautiful beaches, salt marshes, and coastal maritime forests.

2. Carousel Horse Farm is a beautiful New England vacation destination for both your and your horse.

PHOTO BY HELEN PEPPE

3. Equine Adventures offers two-hour beach rides that explore trails on North Carolina’s Outer Banks and Hatteras Island.

PHOTO COURTESY OF EQUINE ADVENTURES

4. Green Acres Beach & Trail Rides in Pacific City, Oregon offers challenging rides to experienced riders.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GREEN ACRES BEACH & TRAIL RIDES

5. Ocean Acres Horse Hotel in Grayland, Washington, offers accommodations for you and your horse, as well as miles of pristine beaches to ride on.

PHOTO BY CHARLES HILTON

6. Ricochet Ridge Ranch offers stunning rides along California’s Redwood Coast in Mendocino County.

PHOTO BY CLIXPHOTO.COM

7. At Sea Island, Georgia, you’ll trot along five miles of pristine private beach with an expert guide.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SEA ISLAND

8. On the six-day Willamette Coast Ride in Oregon, you’ll travel through wine country, forested coastal range mountains, and the awe-inspiring Pacific Coast.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WILLAMETTE COAST RIDE

Beach-Riding Safety Tips

Here are three beach-riding safety tips from Lari Shea, founder of Ricochet Ridge Ranch in Fort Bragg, California. Start slow. Beach sand can be very deep and easily strain or sprain a horse’s tendons, so don’t go too fast or too far unless he’s not only fit, but also used to going in deep sand. Be wave savvy. Even if your horse calmly crosses creeks and puddles, he might be afraid of the ocean waves, especially if the waves are crashing, or there are riptides or an undertow. Horses seem to sense that danger. It’s best to head straight into the water and straight out. If you take your horse into the water broadside, relatively small waves can easily knock him off his feet. Watch water depth. Don’t go out where the water is hock deep—when the waves come, the water will be up to his belly. Of course, you should get him used to being around waves over the course of several rides before you actually take him in the water.

PHOTO BY CLIXPHOTO.COM