Horseback Riding on the Beach

Horseback riding on the beachHutchinson Island offers one of the few places in the State of Florida where you can enjoy a horseback ride on the beach. The St. Lucie County Tourism Office and the St. Lucie County Mosquito Control division are responsible for managing and monitoring horseback riding on the beach at Frederick Douglass Memorial Park in St. Lucie County. If you have any questions on the following rules and regulations, please call the Tourism Office at 1-800-344-8443.

If you have own your own horse and would like to ride at Frederick Douglass Beach, please see the rules and regulations below.

Check list for St. Lucie County Residents 
(be sure all the forms below are signed and mailed to us)

□ Application

□ Waiver Indemnity Agreement

□ Rules and Regulations Acknowledgement Form

□ Copy of Driver’s License

□ Check or money order ($50)

Check list for Non-County Residents  
(be sure all the forms below are signed and mailed to us)

□ Application

□ Waiver Indemnity Agreement

□ Rules and Regulations Acknowledgement Form

□ Copy of Driver’s License

□ Check or money order ($200)

If you do not own a horse, you can still enjoy a ride on the beach by making reservations with the County’s partner – Tours on Horseback. 

Rules & Regulations

Cost:

  • $50 for St. Lucie County residents for up to two (2) horses. Each additional permit is $50 per horse. Limit 3 permits (4 horses) per person.
  • $200 for non-St. Lucie County residents for up to two (2) horses. Each additional permit is $100 per horse. Limit 3 permits (4 horses) per person.

Terms of Permit:

  • The first permit issued is good for two horses. Each additional permit issued is for one horse. Limit 3 permits (4 horses) per person.
  • Permit holders are permitted to ride their horse(s) one (1) Saturday and one (1) Sunday along with two (2) weekdays per month.
  • Permit holders can only ride their horses after sunrise and before sunset on their scheduled day(s).
  • All permit holders must call the Tourism office at least 48 hours in advance to schedule their riding reservation.
  • Permit holders are NOT permitted to accept money or charge participants to ride horses on their permit.
  • When a ride is scheduled through the Tourism office, permit holders are required to be present and keep the permit form on hand during the entire period of the permitted activity. Permit cannot transfer from one person to another.
  • Persons must be at least 18 years of age to purchase a permit(s).

Permit Stickers and Gate Keys:

  • All permit holders will be given a permit sticker indicating the permit holders permit number and expiration date. All permit holders are requested to place this sticker in a conspicuous place on their vehicle or horse trailer (i.e. back bumper, back window, inside windshield, etc.).
  • Permit holders will be charged a duplicate fee if stickers are lost or stolen.
  • All permit holders will be issued a gate key which will provide access to the designated vehicle and horse trailer parking for permit holders only. Please be sure to lock the gate when entering and leaving. All permit holders are required to park in the designated horseback riding parking area when participating in the horseback riding activity.
  • Permit holders will be charged a duplicate fee if keys are lost or stolen. Horseback riding on the beach

 

 

 

 

 

Riding Horses on the Beach:

  • All horses must be equipped with a tail bag and/or riders must clean up manure deposited by their horse(s) in the parking area and on the beach.
  • Pursuant to Section 773.06 Florida Statutes a child who is younger than 16 years of age must wear a helmet that meets the current applicable standards of the American Society of Testing and Materials for headgear used in horseback riding and is properly fitted and fastened securely upon the child’s head by a strap.
  • All riding is limited to the area south of the designated beach access.
  • Riders are to follow the beach access trail from the parking lot down to the water’s edge; from there, riders ride south up to a distance of approximately one and one-half miles (1 ½) until they reach the end-of-trail marker that indicates the turnaround point.
  • Horseback riding is limited to the water’s edge and NEVER ON THE DUNE. Riders are only to ride on the wet hard packed sand surface in and near the waterline. Horses are permitted to ride in the water.
  • All riders are strictly forbidden to ride on the vegetated dunes so as not to disturb the dune plants and endangered species of sea turtles that nest on the beach.
  • Riders are to respect the sunbathers, swimmers and others by maintaining clearance when riding.
  • Riders are to observe and obey all signage instructions and conditions along the beach, in the parking area and along the beach access.
  • Under Florida Law, an equine activity sponsor or equine professional is not liable for an injury to, or the death of, a participant in equine activities resulting from the inherent risks of equine activities.
  • Permit holders must have documentation of a negative Coggins test for all horses.

VIOLATION OF ANY OF THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS MAY RESULT IN REVOCATION OF YOUR PERMIT WITHOUT REFUND.

Documents for Horseback Riding on the Beach