Beach ride tomorrow - any advice? (very excited!!!)

L

libby3011

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 January 2008
Messages
57
Visit site
I am going to experience my first beach ride tomorrow with my little TB who is an ex-racer (albeit not a particularly good one by all accounts so she wasn't one for very long!!)
We've had some major ups & downs in the four months that I've had her but it now all seems to be coming together and tomorrow I will realise one of my life-long ambitions to gallop on the beach. I am soooooo looking forward to it, but have to confess to being a little apprehensive.
How was your first ever beach ride/gallop if you've done one? Anything I should watch out for? Do they sometimes go a bit loopy when they hit the sand? Any advice or stories to share would be very welcome.
laugh.gif
 
My little Benji used to run towards the water as he loved water so much (he was ace xc!) but Connie did get very strong so I used to take her in a gag version of her snaffle and pop it down a ring if she got a bit giddy! Watch your saddle as well, oil it or cream it before you go as my old saddle got a water mark on it that I never managed to get out, think because of the salt content.
Have a brilliant time, Im sure you will!! xx
 
It's enthralling and exhilarating and wonderful, you'll have a ball.
Might I suggest that you wear a pair of sunglasses if poss (a clod of sand/fly in the eye is not nice).
Also, if entering the water to cool off, keep your leg on - I have been dunked twice by horses who thought it would be lovely to have a roll around in the nice cold water.
 
Make sure you have brakes!!!

Have a blast - it had been my dream and I was 45 before I got to do it

You can see how much the bay pony enjoyed it
grin.gif


rhea047.jpg


That was on his second day there - when he realised he was going for more fun galloping and wave jumping and swimming.
 
my 2 exracer were brilliant first time on the beach, but should urs get a bit silly just send them on (lots of trotting), otherwise they will just get het up. Would of warning watch out for the different colours of sand (when the tide is going out) by the sea!! While cantering, my boy would just stop dead if I didn’t keep my leg on!!

Im so jealous, you will have a fab time!!! What beach you going to???
 
Before I went the first time I posted on here to ask what I should know before going... that post is gone now but my report of what it was like is here

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/2441326/an/0/page/1#2441326

And pics
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/2441320/an/0/page/89#2441320

Basically, beware of kite surfers and try and go when there's absolutely no hint of a breeze
crazy.gif


You will have a blast- I have been since that time and it was more fun the second time. I managed to get in one of those wonderful long canters
smile.gif


This is from the second time we went
smile.gif

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/2766963/an/0/page/44#2766963
 
Hold on tight
grin.gif
I did my first beach ride last year and it was amazing! So exhilirating. I went with these guys though - http://www.dunfanaghystables.com/

Advise was if they start to get really wound up, ride them into the sea as it slows them down (but can be quite dizzy feeling)

Hope you both have a great time
grin.gif
 
Sorry for hijacking, but I'd luuuuurve to do Dunfanaghy, been there a lot but never known what to do with the boyfriend while I was horsing...I've done Sligo and Falcarragh and planning to do Downhill with some point-to-pointers in the summer.
Sometimes it's nice living in a tiny country!
 
if you fancy a canter/gallop, unless you know the beach really well then walk the route first to check for any soft-spots in the sand, then canter/gallop it.

Enjoy!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Sorry for hijacking, but I'd luuuuurve to do Dunfanaghy, been there a lot but never known what to do with the boyfriend while I was horsing...I've done Sligo and Falcarragh and planning to do Downhill with some point-to-pointers in the summer.
Sometimes it's nice living in a tiny country!

[/ QUOTE ]

It is fantastic! We went on a weekend break with the NICS Riding Club. The first day we went for a 2 hour ride which is for experienced people as the horses don't go there very often so go crazy! Then the next day we went to a different beach which was a 3 hour ride altogether and was much more sedate and you actually had control over the horse! Lol! I highly recommend it, just leave the OH in the bar
tongue.gif
 
I'm sure he wouldn't have a problem with that! I wanted to go for my birthday in March but the stables and hotel don't open until Easter - it's his birthday in two weeks, wonder if he'll notice me gone for a few hours......
 
Law - my mare coincidentally is Darcey - not a MR though. Named after Darcey Bussell because she's so light on her toes!!! I believe there will be kite surfers there so I'll be on my toes too.
smile.gif


RedVendetta - thanks for the advice about the saddle
smile.gif


jemima-too I've had to wait a while too - hit 40 last year so figured a good as time as ever to have a go. My lucky daughter is getting to do it at age 10
smile.gif


BC_t21 We're going to Old Hunstanton - apparently horse friendly
smile.gif
 
They generally love it but the first time mine went she got scared of the sea & started rearing & spinning! She just got very het up & didn't know what to make of it. Third time she was a little better but then this is a pony that is wary of big scary crocodile inhabited puddles.....
crazy.gif


99% of horses take to it & love it but beware that yours may be very strong the first time & just want to be let go in such a wide open space.

Unless the horse is quite sensible then I'd add a neckstrap (if you don't have a breastgirth etc already) & possibly a stronger bit if yours is a bit strong this time.

Definitely keep your leg on in the water if you decide to go in. It's very tempting for them to get down & roll!!
shocked.gif
crazy.gif
grin.gif
 
I was spoilt as a child as I lived in Formby that had miles and miles of open beach. it really is the most amazing thing to do. Your eyes will be flowing with water from the wind and sand but you will also have the biggest smile on your face.

Just enjoy it, if there are a few of you going then they usually all tend to stop together just make sure you leave lots of room a big cliff looming towards you might take some of the enjoyment out of it. You will probably ahve never been so fast before.

Have to say though I never went in the water, grey and muddy looking water wasn't very appealing
grin.gif
 
Have a great time - my daughter went with PC last autumn.

One word of warning - if you gallop along the edge of the surf watch out for dips. One girl qat PC galloped along and hit a dip and she and the pony somersaulted right under the water. Thankfully neither were hurt and she was soon on again and galloping about
 
I used to take beach rides out every day as a living...
grin.gif

I'd second what the person above says - walk along the beach first to check for any problems in the going, and then go for your gallop.
Also - stay parallel to the water so the sand you are galloping on is consistent - if you suddenly go from the harder wet sand to the deep, dry sand, you can make your horsey lame.
Have fun!
S
grin.gif


PS Did I mention it's bad form to use sunbathers as trotting poles?
smile.gif
 
I can beat that mate..... used to own a trekking centre and took rides on the beach for many years
grin.gif
grin.gif


It actually got boring in the end
shocked.gif


Won't offer any more advice as it's all been said really, however always do your 1st canter away from home and expect to jog for a long time after, oh and waves are scarey aliens.

Enjoy
grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
if you fancy a canter/gallop, unless you know the beach really well then walk the route first to check for any soft-spots in the sand, then canter/gallop it.

Enjoy!

[/ QUOTE ]

and still be careful. We had an absolute blast last year down at the beach. On our very last run we decided to canter/gallop along the waters edge. Somehow, we either hit a bit of soft sand (the tide was coming in) or Crop went in a hole and we went flying, she came down on me and although she was fine I ended up at A&E with 2 broken fingers and a suspected broken hand!!!!

Had a fantastic time though and can't wait to go again...............I'll just stay away from the waters edge cantering along

Have a fab time, you'll love it
grin.gif
 
I used to ride on Cleethorpes beach nearly every day, my advice is dont go at the back as you get splattered, and if you see a breakwater that tempts you to jump it as its only about a foot high CHECK the other side as some have a huge drop!!!
Im realy jealous now! i live in Derby and the beach is a distant memory......sob
 
I remember our first beach ride well. We had stress getting there (brand new sat nav and brand new 4x4 took us the most windey stressful way possible) and when we got to the "car park" it was so rough we had to unload and then park... then I remember his owner's words well, as we were tacking up a very excited horse up."Watch out - He's going to explode - quick - GET ON HIM!!!"

... still makes me chuckle how 1) she clearly has a death wish for me and 2) how I do too as I actually did it!!

Apart from going round in circles a lot and generally not knowing what to look at and head towards first, he was great!
tongue.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top