Beaches & Adventure Insider

Nice, huh? I took this at Cape San Blas while riding. Credit: Lauren Tjaden, VISIT FLORIDA Adventure and Beach Insider

It’s about as odd as a fin on a fish – which is to say, it’s not odd at all.

A common reaction after viewing my video highlighting horseback riding on the beach on Cape San Blas is that folks want to know where they can enjoy it, too. Here’s a quick guide to Sunshine State beaches where you can get some sand in your boots.

·    Cape San Blas in Northwest Florida is the stretch of sand where I rode in the video. Just give Two-bit Stables a buzz and they’ll have you paired-up with one of their perfect ponies before you can say “giddy-up.”
·    Amelia Island is a laid back Northeast Florida destination with miles of rolling dunes and pristine seashore. This is one of the companies that will take you for a trot there.
·    Saddle up and explore the sands of Fort Pierce with Beach Tours on Horseback.
·    In Bradenton, close to Anna Maria Island, you can go horse-surfing. The adventure features a ride on the beach and swimming the horses in addition to the aforementioned surfing, which is really just trying to stand up on your horse’s back in the water. It’s fun and wacky, but be forewarned, the beach is not a pristine stretch of sand by the ocean like it is in the other locations. Instead, it’s just a very small section of sand on Palma Sola Bay, which is right next to a highway. It’s kind of a kick, truly, but a totally different thing.

If you’ve got your own horse, that’s different manger of hay. If you can BYOH – that’s bring your own horse -- you can also ride on these beaches:

·    Canaveral National Seashore at New Smyrna Beach is pristine and private. Restrictions apply and a permit is required. Check it out!
·    St. John’s County, St. Augustine and Ponte Verde beaches provide 30 miles – of a 42 mile coastline – where you can make some waves on horseback. To obtain a permit, visit the St. John’s County website.