Going to the Beach for the first time (advice please!)

[Law]

Thanks all
I've heard back from my friend and it looks like we'll be going together sometime soon in the next fortnight

Last time I rode on that beach i had a fall and injured my shoulder - 3 yrs later i'm still having physio for it

Thankfully it was a different horse and further down the beach so fingers crossed it goes ok

 

[buzzles]

I'd go with someone, purely because it's safer if you have a fall. I take my fellow nearly weekly now and he loves it. He's a divil for taking off but surprisingly had never taken off at the beach, I think the fact there's so much space means he settles as he knows there's no restrictions to when he has to stop, he can go 3 miles before he runs out of beach and I know he'll never make it that far

. Oh and when you're going into the water for the first time walk along the sea and try and go in at an angle. The first time I took my boy he was standing head on to the sea and was staring at a bouy out on the water and didn't notice the waves coming towards him. When he did realise he got such a fright and tried to run backwards really fast and his legs got tangled up and he sat down.

If he'd stayed still I would've been fine but he then spun around and I fell off into the sea

. It's the only time I fell off him in five years and have never lived it down

. Seriously though and not to discourage you from going, but don't go too mad as there have been some very serious accidents horse riding on the beach. Enjoy yourself, it shouldn't be too busy at this time of year and try to go on a calm day as there won't be too many big waves.

 

[brighteyes]

Take it steady and if you do open up for a gallop, back-track over where you have ridden and you'll be sure of the going. It does, as was pointed out, change in an instant. All ours behave beautifully and it's a wonderful place to go. We have lots of kite-fliers to dodge!

 

[Chex]

I took Chex to the beach once and decided it would be fun to play in the sea. We rode into 2 inches of water and he rolled

covering himself, his tack and me in water and wet sand

. So my advice would be to take a change of clothes